{"product_id":"dress-codes-for-small-towns-isbn-9780062398529","title":"Dress Codes for Small Towns","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Golden Kite Honor Book of 2018 * \u003cstrong\u003eA \u003cem\u003eKirkus \u003c\/em\u003eBest Book of 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“A poetic love letter to the complexities of teenage identity, and the frustrations of growing up in a place where everything fits in a box—except you.”—David Arnold, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/em\u003ebestselling author of \u003cem\u003eKids of Appetite\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Courtney Stevens firmly reasserts herself as a master storyteller of young adult fiction; crafting stories bursting with humor, heart, and the deepest sort of empathy.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Jeff Zentner, 2017 Morris Award Winner for \u003cem\u003eThe Serpent King\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Courtney Stevens carries us into the best kind of mess: deep friendships, small town Southern gossip, unexpected garage art, and unfolding romantic identity.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Jaye Robin Brown, author of \u003cem\u003eGeorgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the tomboy daughter of the town’s preacher, Billie McCaffrey has always struggled with fitting the mold of what everyone says she should be. She’d rather wear sweats, build furniture, and get into trouble with her solid group of friends: Woods, Mash, Davey, Fifty, and Janie Lee.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when Janie Lee confesses to Billie that she’s in love with Woods, Billie’s filled with a nagging sadness as she realizes that she is \u003cem\u003ealso\u003c\/em\u003e in love with Woods…and maybe with Janie Lee, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlways considered “one of the guys,” Billie doesn’t want anyone slapping a label on her sexuality before she can understand it herself. So she keeps her conflicting feelings to herself, for fear of ruining the group dynamic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcept it’s not just about keeping the peace, it’s about understanding love on her terms—this thing that has always been defined as a boy and a girl falling in love and living happily ever after. For Billie—a box-defying dynamo—it’s not that simple. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders will be drawn to Billie as she comes to terms with the gray areas of love, gender, and friendship, in this John Hughes-esque exploration of sexual fluidity.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“No one writes family and heart and the South like Courtney Stevens. Dress Codes for Small Towns is a poetic love letter to the complexities of teenage identity, and the frustrations of growing up in a place where everything fits in a box—except you. This book cannot be contained.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDavid Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Kids of Appetite\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Courtney Stevens has simply outdone herself. She bats for the fences from the first page, capturing the complicated love of family, the simple love of home, the sustaining love of friendship, the quiet, steady love that comes from faith, the messy love that blooms between two people, and the most difficult love of all: the ability to know and love yourself for who you are. I dare you not to love this book.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStephanie Appell, Manager of Books for Young Readers, Parnassus Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Courtney Stevens has outdone herself capturing the complicated love of family, the sustaining love of friendship, and the most difficult love of all: the ability to love yourself for who you are. I dare you not to love this book.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eStephanie Appell, Manager of Books for Young Readers, Parnassus Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Courtney Stevens delivers a cherished gift for our middle grades and high school readers. The gift of friendship. The gift of safe places. The gift of love. And, most importantly, the gift of acceptance.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJulie R. Stokes, Literacy Coordinator, Dalton Middle School\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“With Dress Codes for Small Towns, Courtney Stevens firmly reasserts herself as a master storyteller of young adult fiction; crafting stories bursting with humor, heart, and the deepest sort of empathy.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJeff Zentner, Morris Award Finalist for The Serpent King\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Courtney Stevens carries us into the best kind of mess: deep friendships, small town Southern gossip, unexpected garage art, and unfolding romantic identity. When I finished Dress Codes for Small Towns, you could hear my smile squeak from way across the room.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJaye Robin Brown, author of Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Small-town hijinks and the true-to-life interconnectedness of the characters bring warmth and humor to Stevens’s bighearted contemplation of love, family, and home. - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Stevens shows the courage it often takes to find oneself and then to be true to that. This story could contribute to open discussions about gender and sexuality.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eVoice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“With singing prose and a rollicking plot, Stevens presents a rich palette of characters daring to brave familial and societal expectations to become what they’re meant to be. A spirited, timeless tale of teen self-discovery in those tense, formative high school moments, captured with grace, lyricism, and insight.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Poignant. Stevens moves the narrative beyond mere small-town drama by building in-depth characters; examining boundaries between friendship and romance, and different generational approaches to religion; and confronting gender and sexual assumptions head-on. [A] beautifully written and nuanced exploration of human connection, self-discovery, and living to the fullest no matter what others might think.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An instant classic. This is \u003cem\u003eThe Perks of Being a Wallflower\u003c\/em\u003e without the angst, for a new generation. A good choice for every collection.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Stevens moves the narrative beyond small-town drama by building in-depth characters; examining boundaries between friendship and romance, and different generational approaches to religion; and confronting gender and sexual assumptions head-on. [A] beautifully written exploration of human connection, self-discovery, and living to the fullest.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Will be highly recommending!” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTeresa Steele of Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins, CO)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Billie has always been a handful, a troublemaker if you will, and where Billie is her best friends aren’t far behind. Being a preacher’s daughter, Billie is often under such scrutiny for everything she does or doesn’t do. When she starts developing feelings for her best boy friend, and her best girlfriend, Billie will be forced to confront not only her feelings but those of her community. Will be highly recommending!” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTeresa Steele of Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins, CO)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888305631461,"sku":"NP9780062398529","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062398529.jpg?v=1730228779","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/dress-codes-for-small-towns-isbn-9780062398529","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}