Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature

Your best friend hates you. The guy you liked hates you. Your entire group of friends hates you.

All because you did the right thing.

Welcome to life for Mena, whose year is starting off in the worst way possible. She's been kicked out of her church group and no one will talk to hernot even her own parents. No one except for Casey, her supersmart lab partner in science class, who's pretty funny for the most brilliant guy on earth.

And when Ms. Shepherd begins the unit on evolution, school becomes more dramatic than Mena could ever imagine . . . and her own life is about to evolve in some amazing and unexpected ways.

"Brande tackles fundamentalist thinking and the hot-button issue of evolution vs. intelligent design in her ambitious YA debut. Mena, an immediately likable narrator, spends the first week of high school dodging social and academic landmines. She's been banished from her fundamentalist church, where some members now face a lawsuit because of her, and her intimidating classmates/former church friends aren't about to let her forget it. The author's slow revelation of the back story will hook readers from the start: what could this nice girl possibly have done? 'I did the right thing,' Mena tells herself on the opening day of school after her ex — best friend shoots her the 'Look of Death.' 'And someday the truth shall set me free. Just not, apparently, today.' When the narrative moves forward to introduce a dynamic new science teacher, Mena faces controversy once more. Luckily, a brainy (and cute) lab partner and his outspoken older sister help Mena find her footing. Brande stacks the decks against the creationists — their followers bully a kid they think might be gay; they turn on their children; they behave badly in general — but the fluid storytelling offers thought-provoking situations and ideas. Ages 12-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Mena's year is starting off in the worst way possible. Her best friend hates her and no one will talk to her except for Casey, her supersmart lab partner. When their science class begins studying evolution, school becomes more dramatic that Mena could ever imagine.

Robin Brande has been a trial attorney, yoga instructor, black belt, entrepreneur, community college professor, Wilderness First Responder, insurance agent, outdoor adventurer, Girl Scout leader, and Sunday school teacher. This is her first novel.