A raw and powerful coming-of-age novel that illuminates the importance of human connection in overcoming the darkness within.
“Haunting, hopeful and masterfully crafted.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Following in the footsteps of It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Thirteen Reasons Why, this novel sensitively tackles the topic of teen suicide.”—The Horn Book
Every day, Ryan Turner must face the reality that everyone knows what he did. Ryan’s only solace comes from the local waterfall, where the violent crashing of the water clears his mind of everything.
But then one day, a girl named Nicki Thornton throws herself into his solitary world. Nicki is direct about his past and determined to crash through the wall of glass that Ryan has put between himself and others. She seeks answers to questions that she knows only Ryan can understand. Nicki dives deeper into his life, opening his heart closer to the shameful secrets that he has tried to bury. Ryan knows he does not have all of the answers that she seeks, but he realizes that he may have found an answer to his own questions in her.
“Clever use of iconic characters and fairytale symbols against a hardboiled backdrop contribute to Weston’s distinctive and highly imaginative mise en scène.”—Publishers Weekly
“Weston deftly tucks his fairy-tale tropes into this thought-provoking mystery.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Those who like their fairy tales dark and disturbing will appreciate Weston’s fresh voice, engaging characters, and fractured world.”—BCCB
“Weston has created a tightly paced mystery, a coming of age story, and a vivid fantasy. . . . Dust City is a winner.”—Quill & Quire
“Dust City is so creative. . . . As soon as I read the first page, I was hooked.”—Teens Read Too
“The affecting story addresses issues of real concern without being maudlin. It is well paced and includes a bit of a twist near the end. This poignant novel about a sensitive teen trying to find his spot in the world will definitely find a YA readership.”—School Library Journal
Jennifer R. Hubbard lives in the Philadelphia area. She is a hiker, a chocolate lover, and a night person who believes that mornings were meant to be slept through. Her short fiction has appeared in literary magazines. Her published books include the contemporary young-adult novels The Secret Year, Try Not To Breathe, and Until It Hurts To Stop.
View titles by Jennifer Hubbard
A raw and powerful coming-of-age novel that illuminates the importance of human connection in overcoming the darkness within.
“Haunting, hopeful and masterfully crafted.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Following in the footsteps of It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Thirteen Reasons Why, this novel sensitively tackles the topic of teen suicide.”—The Horn Book
Every day, Ryan Turner must face the reality that everyone knows what he did. Ryan’s only solace comes from the local waterfall, where the violent crashing of the water clears his mind of everything.
But then one day, a girl named Nicki Thornton throws herself into his solitary world. Nicki is direct about his past and determined to crash through the wall of glass that Ryan has put between himself and others. She seeks answers to questions that she knows only Ryan can understand. Nicki dives deeper into his life, opening his heart closer to the shameful secrets that he has tried to bury. Ryan knows he does not have all of the answers that she seeks, but he realizes that he may have found an answer to his own questions in her.
Reviews
“Clever use of iconic characters and fairytale symbols against a hardboiled backdrop contribute to Weston’s distinctive and highly imaginative mise en scène.”—Publishers Weekly
“Weston deftly tucks his fairy-tale tropes into this thought-provoking mystery.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Those who like their fairy tales dark and disturbing will appreciate Weston’s fresh voice, engaging characters, and fractured world.”—BCCB
“Weston has created a tightly paced mystery, a coming of age story, and a vivid fantasy. . . . Dust City is a winner.”—Quill & Quire
“Dust City is so creative. . . . As soon as I read the first page, I was hooked.”—Teens Read Too
“The affecting story addresses issues of real concern without being maudlin. It is well paced and includes a bit of a twist near the end. This poignant novel about a sensitive teen trying to find his spot in the world will definitely find a YA readership.”—School Library Journal
Jennifer R. Hubbard lives in the Philadelphia area. She is a hiker, a chocolate lover, and a night person who believes that mornings were meant to be slept through. Her short fiction has appeared in literary magazines. Her published books include the contemporary young-adult novels The Secret Year, Try Not To Breathe, and Until It Hurts To Stop.
View titles by Jennifer Hubbard
