Romancing the Dark in the City of Light: A Novel - Hardcover

Jacobus, Ann

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250064430 ISBN 13: 9781250064431

Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin, 2015

Synopsis

Haunting and beautifully written, with a sharp and distinctive voice that could belong only to this character, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unforgettable young adult novel.
Summer Barnes just moved to Paris to repeat her senior year of high school. After being kicked out of four boarding schools, she has to get on the right track or she risks losing her hefty inheritance. Summer is convinced that meeting the right guy will solve everything. She meets two. Moony, a classmate, is recovering against all odds from a serious car accident, and he encourages Summer to embrace life despite how hard it can be to make it through even one day. But when Summer meets Kurt, a hot, mysterious older man who she just can't shake, he leads her through the creepy underbelly of the city--and way out of her depth.
When Summer's behavior manages to alienate everyone, even Moony, she's forced to decide if a life so difficult is worth living. With an ending that'll surprise even the most seasoned reader, Ann Jacobus' Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unputdownable and utterly compelling novel.

About this title

About the Author:

ANN JACOBUS graduated from Dartmouth College, and earned her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She's published short fiction, essays and poetry, teaches, and blogs regularly about writing and YA. Jacobus lives in San Francisco with her family. Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is her first novel.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 9 Up—Summer Barnes has moved to Paris to be near her mother and repeat her senior year of high school. The Paris American International School is the fifth school she has attended in four years. Summer has to acclimate to a new environment while she struggles with her father's death, her mother's absenteeism, and her own alcoholism. She hopes to graduate high school and college by age 22 in order to inherit her grandfather's fortune. After Summer enrolls in school, Moony and Kurt fall for her. Moony is a likable senior who tries to keep Summer out of trouble. Kurt is mysterious and encourages her demons. But there is more to Kurt than meets the eye. He seems to follow Summer and anticipate her needs. Although Summer knows Moony is the right choice, Kurt seems to have a destructive influence over her. Dealing with her problems and being caught between two such different guys, she begins to wonder if her difficult life is even worth living. In this realistic fiction title, Jacobus has created three strong characters. Summer and Moony are believable, flawed, and well-crafted teen protagonists. They each have their own complications and struggles. Many young adults will be able to relate to one or both of these characters. Savvy readers may pick up on clues along the way, making the ending less surprising. VERDICT The short chapters will appeal to reluctant readers, and the seamless pacing makes this book hard to put down.—Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

About this edition

• Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1250064430
• ISBN 13: 9781250064431
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288