Carmen Rodrigues bewegt sich in der urbanen Wildnis Virginias, wo sie tagsüber schreibt und nachts unterrichtet. Ihre Arbeit befasst sich mit Themen, die bei jungen Lesern Anklang finden, und erforscht die Komplexität des Erwachsenwerdens. Durch fesselnde Erzählungen untersucht Rodrigues Identität, Beziehungen und die Suche nach Zugehörigkeit in der Welt. Ihre Prosa wird für ihre Ehrlichkeit und ihre Fähigkeit geschätzt, die Essenz jugendlicher Erfahrungen einzufangen.
Die 16-jährige Ellie hatte etwas Besonderes an sich. Etwas Dunkles, Charismatisches, Gebrochenes … Jetzt ist sie tot. Gestorben an einer Überdosis Tabletten. Zurück bleiben ihr Bruder Jake, ihre beste Freundin Sarah und deren jüngere Schwester Jess – und vierunddreißig Zettel von Ellie in einem Schuhkarton. Vierunddreißig Hinweise, die Ellie hinterlassen hat. Vierunddreißig Geheimnisse eines viel zu kurzen Lebens voller Schmerz. Auf der Suche nach dem Warum müssen sich Jake, Sarah und Jess nicht nur ihren eigenen Abgründen stellen, sondern auch dem, was Ellie so lange vor ihnen verborgen hat …
Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera, this stunning novel, told through the lens of a guy in love with the cosmos (and maybe two girls), explores the complicated histories that bring us together and tear us apart. In the summer before eighth grade, Marco Suarez kissed his best friend Sally Blake. This was his first spark. And since then, whenever he’s thought about that moment, he’s traveled through a wormhole—of sorts—to relive those brief seconds when time sped up (or, rather, his view of time distorted) and he kissed her. And then, at the end of that year, she disappeared, leaving in that way that people sometimes leave—alive and well and somewhere out there but gone, nonetheless. She never even said why. And now in their senior year, Sally unexpectedly returns and Marco is shaken. Still, he holds tightly to his carefully choreographed life. A life that is full of reasons why first sparks don’t matter: Reason 1: He has a girlfriend. Her name is Erika Richards. Reason 2: He’s leaving on a full scholarship to college. Reason 3: He’s busy with his friends and making money to help support his family. But as Marco navigates the final days of high school, he learns that leaving home is never easy and a first spark is hard to ignore.
Set against a backdrop of glitz and glamour, the story follows a girl whose life starkly contrasts with the opulence surrounding her. As she navigates her struggles and aspirations, the novel explores themes of identity, ambition, and resilience in a world that often values appearance over substance. Through her journey, the protagonist reveals the complexities of chasing dreams while grappling with harsh realities.
After Ellie dies of a drug overdose, her brother, her best friend, and her best friend's sister face painful secrets of their own when they try to uncover the truth about Ellie's death.
