Synopses & Reviews
A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream—she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control. Both poignant and raw, White Lines is a gripping tale and the reader won’t want to look away.
Review
"[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
Review
"This involving, touching first novel will resonate with those who have made mistakes and those who have not." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"This is a thoughtful, well-executed debut from an author who understands how to write for teens." Booklist
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
Soon to be a Lifetime Movie
I was thirteen when my dad caught me with Tommy Webber in the back of Tommy's Buick, parked next to the old Chart House down in Montara at eleven o'clock on a Tuesday night. Tommy was seventeen and the supposed friend of my brother, Darren.
I didn't love him.
I'm not sure I even liked him.
In a moment, Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of -school slut, - Deanna longs to escape a life defined by her past. With subtle grace, complicated wisdom, and striking emotion, Story of a Girl reminds us of our human capacity for resilience, epiphany, and redemption.
Synopsis
When you cant trust anyone, how can you ever feel safe? In seventh grade, Maggie Camden was the class outcast. Every day, the other girls tripped her, pinched her, trapped her in the bathroom, told her she would be better off dead. Four years have passed since then, and Maggies tormentors seem to have moved on. The ringleader of them all, Raleigh Barringer, even moved out of town. But Maggie has never stopped watching for attacks, and every laugh still sounds like its at her expense. The only time Maggie feels at peace is when shes hiking up in the mountains with her best friend, Nick. Lately, though, theres a new sort of tension between the two of thema tension both dangerous and delicious. But how can Maggie expect anything more out of Nick when all shes ever been told is that shes ugly, shes pathetic, shes unworthy of love? And how can she ever feel safe, now that Raleigh Barringer is suddenlyterrifyinglyback in town?
Synopsis
I was thirteen when my dad caught me with Tommy Webber in the back of Tommy's Buick, parked next to the old Chart House down in Montara at eleven o'clock on a Tuesday night. Tommy was seventeen and the supposed friend of my brother, Darren.I didn't love him.
I'm not sure I even liked him.
In a moment, Deanna Lambert's teenage life is changed forever. Struggling to overcome the lasting repercussions and the stifling role of "school slut," Deanna longs to escape a life defined by her past. With subtle grace, complicated wisdom, and striking emotion, Story of a Girl reminds us of our human capacity for resilience, epiphany, and redemption.
Synopsis
Mina is seventeen. A virgin. And pregnant. Mina is top of her class, girlfriend to the most ambitious guy in school, able to reason and study her way through anything. But when she suddenly finds herself pregnantdespite having never had sexher orderly world collapses. Almost nobody believes Minas claims of virginity. Her father assumes that her boyfriend is responsible; her boyfriend believes she must have cheated on him. As news of Minas story spreads, there are those who brand her a liar. There are those who brand her a heretic. And there are those who believe that miracles are possibleand that Minas unborn child could be the greatest miracle of all.
Synopsis
Stereotypes, sexuality, and destructive rumors collide in this smart YA novel for fans of Sara Zarrs Story of a Girl, Siobhan Vivians The List, and E. Lockharts The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her schools production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the plays critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca.
Though The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca cant help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything
even if some of it is just make believe.
Synopsis
Anna and Abel couldn't be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It's a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his "enemies" begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?
Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.
About the Author
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.