Beige

"Castellucci mixes details of the L.A. punk scene with memorable characters and witty dialogue. . . . Consider this pure Nirvana." — Booklist

Exiled from Canada to Los Angeles, Katy can't believe she is spending the summer with her father—punk name: the Rat—a recovered addict and drummer for the band Suck. Even though Katy feels abandoned by her mom, even though the Rat's place is a mess and he's not like anything she'd call a father, Kathy won't make a fuss. After all, she is a girl who is quiet and polite, a girl who smiles, a girl who is, well, beige. Or is she? From the author of Boy Proof and The Queen of Cool comes an edgy L.A. novel full of humor, heart, and music."Castellucci shows wonderful insight as she slowly opens Katy’s mind to new ideas and conflicting feelings. A cast of quirky characters keeps the book interesting, both for readers interested in the emotional drama and in the L.A. music scene, without getting into anything too gritty." —Kirkus Reviews "Relax." Lake says. "It’s just feedback from one of the amps."

She likes that I don’t know anything. Thinking I’m stupid probably makes her feel good about herself. She climbs up on the stone wall so that she can see better. She puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles like a trucker.

Suck is the band now taking the stage. Everyone at the party starts to stumble closer.

The Rat takes his place and sits behind his drum kit, shirtless. Sam quietly stands at the microphone as the entire party becomes still. He just stands there with intention.

Suddenly, The Rat breaks the spell, clicking the drumsticks over his head.

He screams, "ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR!"

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BEIGE by Cecil Castellucci. Copyright © 2007 by Cecil Castellucci. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc., Cambridge, MA.