Life, Loss and Puffins

An exhilarating and emotional novel about grief,hopefriendshipand taking life one beautiful and spontaneous day at a time by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde. Freakishly smart. That’s the unwelcome box Ru Evans is put into for life. After allshe taught herself Euclidean geometry at age sevenhas an eidetic memoryand is about to enter college at thirteen years old. Boarding at a house near campus 150 miles from homeRu meets seventeen-year-old Gabrielan outsider himself wholike Ruhas trouble making friends–until they form a fast sibling-like bond. Finding a relatable someone in the world to talk to is a first for both of them. But when Ru’s mother dies and the threat of living with her miserable aunt loomsRu hatches an escape. It’s an impulsive road trip that takes Ru and Gabriel from California to Canadawhere Ru can fulfill her ultimate dream: to see Atlantic puffins in the glorious wild. Mile by mileRu discovers the joy of friendshipfound familydark night skiesand the aurora borealisand she basks in going from being a smart person to just a person. Though she knows they’ll be in trouble when they’re caughtfor the short time they are navigating twist by twist of an unknown roadthe freedom is liberatingand she is living for what feels like the first time.