When she is caught in the backseat of a car with her older brother's best friend &mdash Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of school slut, she longs to escape a life defined by her past. With subtle grace, complicated wisdom and striking emotion, The Story of a Girl reminds us of our human capacity for resilience, epiphany and redemption.

"Zarr's involving yet somewhat anti-climactic debut opens with a bang as Deanna Lambert recalls the moment that caused everything in her life to change: "I was thirteen when my dad caught me with Tommy Webber in the back of Tommy's Buick." Following this incident with the then 17-year-old boy, Deanna is shunned by her father and labeled "the school slut" by her peers. In her small town, the tag sticks, and continues to define Deanna's life for the next three years. Now 16, she lands a summer job only to discover that Tommy works at the same place. But seeing him sparks flashbacks, and through them Zarr give readers insight into how Deanna was drawn to Tommy, and the complicated feelings the teen experienced ("I don't mean anything corny like I fell in love.... It was more a feeling like when I'd get picked first for volleyball"). The author credibly explores Deanna's confusion about how good it feels to be with Tommy and her thoughts that she should be feeling something else. The narrative is less credible when she erupts at her best (girl)friend, Lee — paving the way for Deanna to kiss her longtime best friend, Jason (who is also Lee's boyfriend) — and also when Deanna confronts Tommy after a makeout session. Although the loose ends are tied up at the end, readers may find Deanna's character somewhat contradictory. But Zarr convincingly creates a teen trapped by small-minded people in a small town." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information)

"[Story of a Girl] is a heartbreaking look at how a teenager can be defined by one mistake, and how it shapes her sense of self-worth. This is realistic fiction at its best." School Library Journal

"This involving, touching first novel will resonate with those who have made mistakes and those who have not." Kirkus Reviews

"This is a thoughtful, well-executed debut from an author who understands how to write for teens." Booklist

Sara Zarr was raised in San Francisco, went to high school in Pacifica, and now lives with her husband in Salt Lake City, Utah. Story of a Girl is her first novel.