Synopsis: It's time to meet your new roomie.
When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.
As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.
National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.
Release Date: December 24th, 2013
Number of pages: 288
The authors were able to capture the thoughts of both girls
in a switching point of view storytelling manner and I thought this highly
benefited the novel because then the readers could connect with each girl
individually while also having that outside looking in sort of viewpoint.
The story starts from the point of view of Elizabeth or “EB”
and she lives in New Jersey and is flying all the way out to Berkeley
California to go to college. A daunting task on its own, she also must deal
with the fact that she might possibly run into her gay dad (who separated from
her and her mom when she was a little girl). Elizabeth must also navigate
around her mom and her mom’s constant slew of boyfriends, one of whom may ruin
her relationship with a new boy that she has just met. Add to that the fact
that this new boy she met is only moving to Chicago to go to college and she
may not want to leave after all…? Well, like any other normal teenage girl
embarking on a very important part of her life, she’s confused.
Alternately, Lauren is her future roommate who lives in San
Francisco and is simply moving across the Bay to go to Berkeley. However, this
short trip also seems huge and daunting considering that she is extremely close
with her family and also has just met a guy who will be going to college in
Chico (about 3 hours away from Berkeley). Lauren’s struggle to come to terms
with the fact that she will have a roommate after she specifically requested a
single is overcome by the fact that she and Elizabeth have a common need; the
need to have an outsiders opinion on the happenings of their lives during the
summer. Both girls are going through a similar experience with lot’s of tears
and goodbyes and having each other to email back and forth not only helps solidify
a friendship before they even get to college, but also connects them on a
deeper level of understanding.
Personally, as someone who has moved away from home for
college I know what it’s like to feel scared and confused but also excited to
get out and see a new part of the world. I think the authors totally and
completely captured the scary transition between college and high school. And
that’s what makes this book unique. I’ve never read a story where it discusses
the transition between high school and college; the characters were always in
one situation or the other already. It was a very refreshing read and much
deeper than I thought it would be. I found myself laughing and coming close to
tears along with the girls as they navigated their last summer’s at home. And I
think these girls will get along a lot better than my roommate and I did!
As much as I would love for their to be a sequel, and I
doubt there will be, I actually like how the book ended, as it keeps the
characters in that sort of limbo of the summer and let’s the readers decide
what will happen next. I 100% recommend this for girls who are going to be
going to college next year or are already in college and want to reminisce
about that first year. Above all it’s an adorable story.
