The Accidental Bad Girl

After getting caught with her best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Grant Powers, 17-year-old Kendall Evans starts her senior year at Brooklyn’s private Howell Preparatory School branded as a “slut.” Her best friend, Audrey Khalil, won’t speak to her, while Grant is unscathed by the scandal. Kendall plans to keep her head down until she can escape to Rice University’s accelerated astrophysics senior semester program, but she’s wrongly accused of stealing “doses” from drug dealer Mason Frye. With help from fellow outcast Simone Moody and theater geek Michael “Gilly” Gilbert, Kendall sets out to clear her name and discovers that her inner “bad girl” may not be so bad after all. Kaplan’s sharply written, twisty thriller, narrated by the savvy Kendall, deftly explores the shades of gray between “good” and “bad” and the freedom of self-acceptance and shines a light on issues such as rape culture, bullying, and enduring sexual double standards. This love letter to any girl who’s ever been labeled “bad” will enthrall readers. Ages 14–up. [em]Agent: Ali McDonald, the Rights Factory. (May) [/em]