Astunningdebutnovelaboutthatuncertainsummerafterhigh-schoolgraduation.Emilyhasfinallyfinishedhighschoolinthesmalltownwhereshehaslivedherwholelife.Atlast,shethinks,heradultlifecanbegin.Butwhatifyouhavenoideawhatyouwantyournewlifetolooklike?Whatthen?WhileLincolngetsreadytogobackpackinginAustralia,Melissapacksforuniversityontheeastcoast,andanewguynamedTylerprovideswelcomedistraction,EmilywonderswhethershewillendupworkingforeveratPamela’sCountryCatering,cuttingthecrustsoffpartysandwichesandstuffingmushrooms.Isthisherfuture?Beingknownforeverasthelocalgirlwhosemotherabandonedherintheworstwaypossibleallthoseyearsago?Visitingherspaceygrandmother,watchingnatureshowsonTVwithherdadandhangingoutwithRobertthegroceryclerk?Listeningtothedistanthumofthehighwayleadingoutofthetowneveryonecan’twaittoleave?Withpoeticproseandakeeneyeforthequirksandironiesofsmall-townlife,JaneOzkowskicapturesthebittersweetuncertaintyofthatweird,unrealsummerafterhighschool--atimethatisfullofpossibilityandcompletelyterrifyingatthesametime.CorrelatestotheCommonCoreStateStandardsinEnglishLanguageArts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3Describehowaparticularstory’sordrama’splotunfoldsinaseriesofepisodesaswellashowthecharactersrespondorchangeastheplotmovestowardaresolution.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6Explainhowanauthordevelopsthepointofviewofthenarratororspeakerinatext.
