Astrid is about to start her last year of high school. And her first.

When her dad loses his job, Astrid's homeschooling comes to an end. Until now, she has lived within the confines of a tightly controlled, contracted world where there's no room for anything . . . except following her father's rules and pretending that everything is normal. As Astrid and her mom tentatively expand their world, they struggle to break free of their ingrained wariness and self-doubt. But with hope, new friends, and the strength of a promise, Astrid has a chance to find out what she wants, whom she loves, and who she really is.

Winner of the inaugural Walker Books Manuscript Prize, this is a brilliantly written YA debut that deftly explores timely issues with insight, humor, and pathos.