Watching Traffic

In her first novel, Ozkowski captures the momentousness of the summer after high school. Eighteen-year-old Emily is spending these months in her small Canadian hometown, working for a catering company that mainly serves funerals. Her friends Lincoln and Melissa are heading to Australia and college on scholarship, respectively, but Emily is aimless. Even though it's been 15 years, everyone in town still thinks of Emily as "Suicide Baby," after her mother killed herself in a hotel room with Emily by her side. When she begins dating Tyler, new in town from Toronto, his unawareness of her personal history sets Emily free, allowing her to regain some faith and confidence, and repair her relationships with her friends, especially Melissa, who is trying to accept that she's a lesbian. While the plot slides into melodrama on occasion, Ozkowski's thoughtful novel covers substantial emotional ground with authenticity. The burden of potential and the simultaneous blessing and curse of facing an abundance of possibilities at once are themes that will resonate with readers facing the uncertainty of their own futures. Ages 14%E2%80%93up. (Aug.)