Exiled from Canada to Los Angeles, Katy can’t believe she is spending the summer with her father—punk name: the Rat—a recovered addict and drummer for the band Suck. Even though Katy feels abandoned by her mom, even though the Rat’s place is a mess and he’s not like anything she’d call a father, Kathy won’t make a fuss. After all, she is a girl who is quiet and polite, a girl who smiles, a girl who is, well, beige. Or is she? From the author of BOY PROOF and THE QUEEN OF COOL comes an edgy L.A. novel full of humor, heart, and music.

Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices List
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers
ALA Best Books for Young Adults


“Castellucci mixes details of the L.A. punk scene with memorable characters and witty dialogue… Consider this pure Nirvana.” — Booklist