Sparks

Adams’s touching and humorous first novel introduces 16-year-old Debbie Woodlawn, who has been pretending for the last five years that she is not in love with her best friend, Lisa. Debbie has watched umpteen Full House reruns, put up with Lisa’s religious family, and even joined Active Christian Teens to remain close to Lisa. But when Lisa begins dating Norman Hastings, “probably the most boring human being on the planet,” Debbie feels lost and alone. Then she meets Emma and Tim, an unlikely pair who fought off their own demons by making up a religion, “Bluedaism,” which states that everyone has benevolent, magic sparks of blue inside, and encourages spontaneity and acceptance. They offer Debbie a Holy Quest, which takes them across Des Moines, Iowa, over the course of one wild night, as they search for Debbie’s backpack, which contains a confession of her love. Adams has an easy sense of humor (Debbie’s narration is filled with sharp one-liners), and Debbie and her offbeat cohorts are nuanced and authentic as they follow a circuitous path to greater self-awareness and self-reliance. Ages 12–up. (Nov.)