And has the wisdom of her age and experience to guide Evan and Lucy along their individual paths. I’d also like to give a shout out to Evan’s Gram. We don’t complete each other – no two people do. And Evan helps Lucy see that she needs to get her life together and make some sort of plans for the future.

Lucy helps Evan see that he needs to make decisions for himself, not for his parents.

I think, in the end, though, that Evan and Lucy bring out the best in each other. And being with Evan makes her problems seem even worse, with his “perfect life”. She doesn’t have any of the plans most seniors in high school are starting to make for after high school. Lucy has messed up everything in her life. The artistic side wanting to draw and say sod it all. The practical side needing to be a lawyer or doctor. I can empathize with Evan and the decisions he needs to make. But he’s also an artist trying to reconcile his own wishes for his future with those of his parents. Evan vows to figure out what is wrong with Lucy, and to fix her before she leaves again.Įvan is definitely the boy next door type. And yes, with the Trademark symbol, which I found rather humorous. Evan even starts calling her New Lucy (TM), at least in his mind. But this year, Lucy has changed from the girl next door to a goth next door, with black hair, loads of eye makeup, and a sullen attitude. And now, the two friends only see each other during Christmas break. At least until Lucy moves after her parents divorce. Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.Įvan and Lucy are friends who have grown up together. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, 'Old Lucy' still exists, and he's determined to find her. The former 'girl next door' now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. Genres: Adolescence, Family, Friendship, Love & Romance, Parents, Social Issues, Young AdultĮvery winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on December 5th 2011

Winter Town by Stephen Emond