Much to her displeasure, Tally is paired with Ava as her roommate on an overnight seventh-grade field trip to Washington, D.C. Tally is blunt, judgmental of others, and protective—in a somewhat smothering way—of her two best friends, Spider and Sonnet. Tally scorns girls like Ava, popular and preoccupied with appearance. Ava is so preoccupied, in fact, that Tally begins to suspect that Ava’s habits (keeping daily lists of numbers, exercising excessively, restricting her diet) may be signs of an eating disorder. Such behavior is puzzling to Tally, who unapologetically loves her own body the way it is. Tally may like not Ava very much but she realizes Ava needs help. She struggles over what to do, the situation all the more challenging because Ava is desperate to keep her illness a secret. A novel for older children and young teens that doesn’t glamorize eating disorders in the least is also matter of fact about adoption, body image, and mental health as it explores acceptance of one’s self and of others. (Ages 9–13)

“A poignant and often hilarious slice of middle-grade life.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers will root for big-hearted Tally.” —Publishers Weekly

Thirteen-year-old Tally discovers several surprising things about her roommate—including the possibility of an eating disorder—during a seventh-grade class trip in this timely novel from the author of Star-Crossed and Halfway Normal.

During a class trip to DC, thirteen-year-old Tally and her best friends, Sonnet and Caleb (a.k.a. Spider) are less than thrilled when they are assigned roommates and are paired with kids who are essentially their sworn enemies. For Tally, rooming with “clonegirl” Ava Seely feels like punishment, rather than potential for fun.

But the trip is full of surprises. Despite a pact to stick together as much as they can, Sonnet pulls away, and Spider befriends Marco, the boy who tormented him last year. And Marco just might “like” Tally—what’s that about?

But the uneasy peace in Ava and Tally’s room is quickly upended when Tally begins to suspect something is off about Ava. She has a weird notebook full of random numbers and doesn’t seem to eat anything during meals. When Tally confronts Ava, Ava threatens to share an embarrassing picture of Tally with the class if Tally says anything to anyone about her suspicions. But will Tally endanger more than her pride by keeping her secret?

This is one class trip full of lessons Tally will never forget: how to stay true to yourself, how to love yourself and embrace your flaws, and how being a good friend can actually mean telling a secret you promised to keep…