When Cass's best friend Julia is killed in a car accident, Cass is left adrift. Her life has always been devoted to her uber-talented drama geek BFF Julia, and now Cass has no idea how to define herself now that Julia is gone.When Julia's boyfriend Oliver decides to put on the musical Julia was secretly writing before she died, Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad, all of Julia's drama friends throw themselves into the project. But Cass isn't so sure she can deal. Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad is full of Cass and Julia's inside jokes, and she doesn't want to share Julia with the drama people. Especially Oliver. And then there's Heather Galloway. Mean girl Heather, who humiliated Cass in 8th grade by loudly calling her gay. Who Cass swore to hate for all eternity. Who moved away and is back for senior year. Who Oliver cast in the lead role, Julia's role, as the ninja princess. Who might be different now, but Cass doesn't care. Or does she?
There's also the matter of the summer road trip to California she and Julia had been planning to take for months. Cass knows she needs to spend some time alone with Julia, just figuring stuff out. Like how she really felt about Julia, and what that might mean. Cass might not have her license, but she's got a really good bike, which is good enough to get Julia's ashes to California.
Going back and forth, Cass tells the story of her summer road trip to California with Julia's ashes and the story of what happens with Heather and Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad when she gets back in August. Will Grayson Will Grayson meets Hold Still and The Sky is Everywhere in this heartbreaking and uplifting novel of friendship and love, and what happens when the lines start to blur between the two.
Megan
(now reading another road trip story, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, and wishing it was still summer!)