by Jack Kerouac
First published 2009
In the stifling summer of 1950s New England, Maggie and Jean dream of escape. Maggie, a high school senior, is torn between the promise of college and the allure of Jean's gentle affection. As the pressure to settle down mounts, the young lovers must decide whether to follow their hearts or succumb to the expectations of their small-town world. In this bittersweet coming-of-age tale, Kerouac captures the restless spirit of youth on the cusp of adulthood.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Massachusetts, New England
Period: 1938-1939
208 pages · Paperback