"The year I stopped trying." / Heaney, Katie

Sixteen-year-old Mary Davies always does what she's told and gets good grades in school, so much so, that it's how she identifies herself. However, when one of her homework assignments goes missing with few if any consequences, Mary has an epiphany and decides to take other risks, like asking out cute Mitch who is a bad boy with pink hair and getting to know snarky co-worker Elyse, who is gay. As she discovers newness in both relationships, she comes to understand more about herself and what she wants for her future.

"Mary is having an existential crisis. She's a good student, she never gets in trouble, and she is searching for the meaning of life. She always thought she'd find it in a perfect score on the SATs. But by junior year, Mary isn't so sure anymore. The first time, it's an accident. She forgets to do a history assignment. She even crosses 'history essay' off in her pristine planner. And then: Nothing happens. She doesn't burst into flames, the world doesn't end, the teacher doesn't even pull her aside after class. So she asks herself: Why am I trying so hard? What if I stop?"--Provided by publisher.