Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Story of a Girl is the first of the books we’ll book slam this summer. It is on the New York City teen summer reading list, too. Check your local Queens Library location for a copy or click here to request one from Queens Library online.

Story of a Girl was a National Book Award finalist (a very cool big deal!), got lots of really good reviews, was a 2008 Best Book for Young Adults and more (while you're there, check out the rest of Sara's website, including her blog where she gives the Book Slam a shout out!).

About the Book:
It's been three years since Deanna's dad caught her in the backseat of a '77 Buick with Tommy. She was 13, Tommy was 17, her brother's best "drug buddy."

Three years, and Deanna is still considered the Terra Nova High School slut even though it was only ever Tommy. Three years and her father still can't look her in the eye.

This is the defining moment in Deanna's life, but only part of her struggle. The only good thing about her life at home is that her brother, Darren, and his girlfriend, Stacy, live in the basement with their baby. Both Deanna’s parents work long hours in soul-crushing jobs, the house itself is a wreck and just being there makes Deanna miserable.

But she has a plan, to get a job and save up as much money as possible, then convince Darren and Stacy they should all move out together. Nothing ever goes as planned, though. Deanna takes a job at a strip-mall pizza place only to find out Tommy (yes, THAT Tommy) works there, too.

On top of that, things between Deanna and her best friend Jason get weird--romantic weird--threatening her friendship with her other best friend Lee (who is also Jason’s girlfriend).

Why this Book ROCKS:
There’s a realness about Deanna and her story that just blows you away when you read it. She’s still being punished in a lot of ways for something that happened when she was pretty young, something that the adults in her life could have handled way better. But as worn down as she is by it all, Deanna still has hope. She’s super tough on herself, but she’s honest with herself, too, so you really feel connected to her.

Already read the book? Use the Comments to tell us what you think. The trivia questions for Story of a Girl will be posted on Sunday July 13th!

And don't miss our interview with Sara Zarr in the next post!