Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber

If you ever need a good young adult to read, check out the Morris Award winners.  Given to the top YA books published by new authors, the award is a varied list of anything you might like.  This title was a 2011 winner and has been on my list to read since.  Who can resist the glowing suitcase on the cover?

It's 1926 in Missouri and Iris is shipped off to be an old lady's "companion" for the summer while her dad is busy with his new girlfriend and shoe store in Kansas City.  Iris's life isn't that great, and the change of pace is actually a plus for her.  She's fifteen and learning a lot about life.  It's a classic coming-of-age story, told in 1926 Missouri, so that's a plus for me!