by Andrew Smith
First published 2014
Finn Easton counts miles instead of minutes. This strange habit helps him feel real rather than fictional, since his father wrote him into a famous cult novel. Finn has his best friend Cade Hernandez, who might be crazy but is definitely loyal. He also has Julia Bishop, the girl he loves. When Julia moves away, Finn feels lost and angry. He decides to escape by driving to Oklahoma with Cade to visit their future college. The road trip takes an unexpected turn when an accident forces them to become heroes. This detour changes everything they planned. Finn and Cade must figure out how to control their own stories instead of letting others write their futures. The journey teaches Finn that being real means making choices, even when those choices are scary.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
Setting: Oklahoma
Period: 21st-century
277 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster