Dear Universe

High school senior Chamomile Myles splits herself between two worlds: in one, she’s a mediocre student in Massachusetts, just measuring time by the days until prom. In the other, she and her mother go along with her father’s denial about the Parkinson’s diagnosis he received two years ago, despite his ever-increasing need for care. Cham is terrified of what might happen should her two worlds touch, which is what occurs when her classmate Brendan shows up at her house as a hospital “volun-cheer.” Though Brendan’s presence initially unsettles Cham, his kindness and empathy, along with the way he acts as he pleases with insouciance—wearing a tutu to school, for example—eventually become a comfort. As her father’s condition worsens, and Cham’s attempts to compartmentalize her life cause upheaval in her social life, she learns both to lean on Brendan and that she has more support available than she ever expected. Gonsalves (Love & Other Carnivorous Plants) crafts an authentic read for teens trying to create normalcy at school while struggling with issues in their personal lives. Ages 14–up. [em]Agent: Danielle Burby, Nelson Literary. (May) [/em]