by Sara Zarr
First published 2018
Deanna Lambert's father catches her with an older boyfriend in a restaurant parking lot in Pacifica, California. The incident spreads through the small town like wildfire. At thirteen, Deanna becomes branded with a label she cannot shake, even as years pass. The hostile stares follow her everywhere, including her own home where she finds no refuge. Deanna must wage a difficult battle to change how people see her and find a way to break free from the humiliating role of the local promiscuous girl. Her struggle becomes one of reclaiming her identity and dignity in a community that refuses to let her move beyond one moment in her past.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: reclaiming-identity, social-stigma
Setting: Pacifica, California
Period: contemporary
272 pages · Paperback · Ya!