Alternating chapters of prose and comics (illustrated by Eisner Award-winning graphic novelist Nate Powell) are interwoven in Cecil Castelucci's extraordinary YA novel about jealousy and grief, and how they cut us off from the ones we love.
Every summer the trucks roll in, bringing the carnival and its infinite possibilities to town. This year Tessa and her younger sister Lulu are un-chaperoned and want to be first in line to experience the rides, the food . . . and the boys. Except this summer, jealousy will invade their relationship for the first time, setting in motion a course of events that can only end in tragedy, putting everyone's love and friendship to the test.
Castellucci's deft shifting between straight prose and graphic novel visualize how Tessa processes the events of the summer, seeing herself and her friends as freaks personified by characters from Greek mythology.

Cecil Castellucci grew up in New York City and is the author of such young adult novels as Rose Sees Red, Boy Proof, and The Year of the Beast, as well as the comic books The Plain Janes, Janes in Love, and Shade: The Changing Girl. Currently, Cecil Castellucci lives in Los Angeles. You can learn more about her at misscecil.com.

Cecil Castellucci's profile page

Nate Powell's profile page

• Long-listed, Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
• Short-listed, PEN Center USA Literary Award Finalist
• Long-listed, Tri-State Reviews Committee Books of Note - Master List

“Sophisticated readers will eat this . . . right up.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This is a book teens will likely read and reread.” —Publishers Weekly
“A poignant and entertaining mixture of storytelling and nightmare.” —VOYA