Grit

Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Mystery * A Kirkus Best Book

Raw and moving, this contemporary realistic debut novel will leave readers of E. Lockhart and Gayle Forman breathless as it unflinchingly unfolds the tragic secrets being kept in a small, deceptively idyllic town.

“Gorgeously written and helmed by a protagonist with an indelibly fierce heart." (starred review from Kirkus)

“Keen plotting, evocative writing, and dynamic characterization make French a writer to watch.” (starred review from Booklist)

Seventeen-year-old Darcy Prentiss has long held the title of “town slut.” She knows how to have a good time, sure, but she isn’t doing anything all the guys haven’t done. But when you’re a girl with a reputation, every little thing that happens seems to keep people whispering—especially when your ex-best friend goes missing.

But if anyone were to look closer at Darcy, they’d realize there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. Staying out late, hooking up, and telling lies is what Darcy does to forget. Forget about the mysterious disappearance of her friend. Forget about the dark secret she and her cousin Nell share.

Forget about that hazy Fourth of July night. So when someone in town anonymously nominates Darcy to be in the running for Bay Festival Princess—a cruel act only someone with a score to settle would make—all of the things that Darcy wants to keep hidden threaten to erupt in ways she wasn’t prepared to handle…and isn’t sure if she can.

What happens when the girl everyone whispers about is the only one who knows the truth?

• Young Adult Mystery: A raw, atmospheric thriller about what happens when Darcy’s ex-best friend vanishes, leaving a trail of clues only she can piece together.
• Small Town Secrets: In a deceptively idyllic Maine town, everyone has something to hide. But Darcy’s secret from a hazy Fourth of July is the most dangerous of all.
• Complex Heroine: Labeled the “town slut,” Darcy Prentiss uses her reputation as armor. But a cruel nomination for Bay Festival Princess threatens to expose the girl she’s desperately trying to protect.
• YA Thriller: Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Courtney Summers who love character-driven suspense and a mystery that will keep them guessing until the final page.