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.

Alternating chapters of prose and comics are interwoven in this extraordinary novel that will break your heart and crack it wide open at the same time.

A Banks Street Best Books 2013
PEN Center USA Literary Award Finalist 2013


“…a poignant and entertaining mixture of storytelling and nightmare.” — VOYA

“…sophisticated readers will eat this….right up.” — Kirkus Reviews