Return to Paradise (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Write a summary of the plot or a synopsis of this book.

Characters edit see section history

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• Caleb Becker: he's a troubled teenager who was sent to juvie after pleading guilty to a hit and run that lelft his neighbor crippled for life. Caleb wasn't responsible and took the fall for his sister. in the previous book, he left his family and the town of Paradise, leaving behind his almost girlfriend Maggie, the girl next door.
• Maggie Armstrong: brave girl who is trying to move on after the boy she's been in love with since forever left her behind. Maggie is aware that Caleb wasn't the one behind the wheel the night of the accident, she blames Caleb for never telling her she'll have a chance to confront him once and for all
• Damon Manning: Damon is the person in charge of the Re-START program, he knows Caleb very well since he was in charge of him when the ex-con left juvie. Damon is a big black guy with a huge heart and really cares about the kids he's taking care of, especially Caleb. in this book, we learn more about his past and why he does what he does for the troubled teens.
• Lenny: He's part of the Re-START program, he's lewd and apparently got busted because he drove a car into a lake. Becomes Caleb's friend.
• Leah Becker: She's Caleb's twin sister, used to be Maggie's best friend until the accident.
• Matt: Part of the Re-START group and is Maggie's friend. Caleb gets a bit jelous of him.
• Trish: Part of the Re-START group
• Julio: Caleb's ex cellmate in juvie. Gang member.
• Erin: Silent girl with a tragic past. She has a lot of tattoos and is part of the Re-START group.

Quotes edit see section history

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• “"I want to see you two hug," Dex says."You're kiddin' me, right?""I'm not kidding. I think you should hug Lenny."I don't move my hands out of my pockets. "Yeah, umm, I don't think so." I want to say no fucking wayto Bigfoot, but hold back.Lenny opens his arms out wide and smiles at me. "Come to Papa."”

  Caleb, Lenny and Dex

• “How do you come back home after running away? If I open the door and just walk in like I used to,they'll think I'm an intruder. A stranger.”

  Caleb Becker

• “She looks down at the carpeting. "I meant no, I, uh, don't have a boyfriend."Lenny leans forward. "Why not?"She shrugs."Maybe if you smiled it would help."What is this, the Lenny Self-Help Show?”

  Leah, Caleb and Lenny

• “"I'll sleep on the floor," Lenny chimes in, apparently having no problems begging. "Unless you want meto sleep in bed with Leah." Lenny holds his hands up when all of our heads snap up at his last comment."Just kidding."”

  Lenny

• “This is the girl I draw strength from. She's got more power than she thinks, and she taught me the definition of resilience.”

  Caleb Becker

• “Julio leans into me and says so nobody else can hear, "These are your friends? They're all fuckin'lunatics."And this is coming from a guy who's been in jail for robbery and money laundering.”

  Caleb Becker, Julio

• “If you tiptoe into cold water, you're missing out on the rush of plunging head first.”

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• I'm wondering if paradise is just some word in the dictionary with the definition: this doesn't fucking exist.

  Highlighted by 31 Kindle customers

• One of my professors said if you tiptoe into cold water, you're missing out on the rush of plunging in headfirst.

  Highlighted by 19 Kindle customers

• 'If you let him go and he doesn't come back to you, he wasn't yours to begin with. It's a lesson I learned in first grade.'

  Highlighted by 18 Kindle customers

• 'That's what they all say, until some good-looking Spanish dude comes up to you and whispers some romantic Spanish shit in your ear and asks you out.'

  Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers

• 'Don't waste a single day thinkin' you're a Beek, or you might as well be locked in here like me.'

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

• But she makes me nervous, because I also love her. I love her for everything she is and wants to be.

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

• Love isn't about honesty. It's about protecting the people you love from things that will hurt them. That's love.

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

• 'Are you bending over like that on purpose?' I ask her as I gesture toward her chest. ''Cause I've got damn good view of your tits right about now.'

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

• 'That's 'cause you don't act it. If you think you're cool and act like you're the shit, everyone'll start treating you like you've got it goin' on. You get what I'm sayin'?'

  Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers

• Julio leans into me and says so nobody else can hear, 'These are your friends? They're all fuckin' lunatics.' And this is coming from a guy who's been in jail for robbery and money laundering.

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Chicago
• Illinois

Organizations edit see section history

• Re-START Program: Add a description of this organization.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Leaving Paradise.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Simone Elkeles (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Sexual encounters, profanity

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance
• Books › Teens

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history