Future Perfect

Jen Larsen, author of the critically acclaimed memoir Stranger Here and a subject of the Oprah Winfrey Network TV show In Deep Shift with Jonas Elrod, tells a liberating story of hard-won self-acceptance—a tale of one girl, who knows that weight is just a number, and that no one is completely perfect.

This is a distinct, complex debut from a new voice in YA with an unforgettable main character whose doubts and insecurities will resonate with readers, and shed light on the dangers of taking on others' expectations instead of your own.

Underscored by a fierce intelligence and a dry, disarming wit, Future Perfect will satisfy fans of such authors as Maureen Johnson.

Ashley Maria Perkins.
50 pounds for a trip to Disneyland.

Ashley Maria Perkins.
75 pounds for a shopping trip in Paris.

Ashley Maria Perkins.
80 pounds for a new car.

Every year on her birthday, Ashley Perkins gets a card from her grandmother. Pretty standard, right? But like clockwork, every year, Ashley's card also contains a promise: lose enough weight, and I will buy your happiness.

Ashley doesn't think there's anything wrong with the way she looks. She knows exactly how she fits into her life, wide hips and all. But no amount of arguing can persuade her grandmother that "fat" isn't a dirty word—that Ashley is happy with her life, and her body, as it is.

But Ashley wasn't counting on having her dreams served up on a silver platter at her latest birthday party. She falters when Grandmother offers the one thing she's always wanted: tuition to attend Harvard University.

Ashley wants it—she can't deny it. But their annual negotiation has upped its stakes—Grandmother wants her to get weight-loss surgery in return for the money.

As Ashley grapples with the choice that little white card has given her, she feels pressured by her friends, her family, even administrators at school. They all believe that Ashley could be her best self if she would just listen to them. But what's a girl to do when the reflection in her mirror seems to bother everyone but her?

Praise for STRANGER HERE: “An arresting memoir . . . raw vulnerability and rigorous emotional honesty.” - Kirkus Reviews

“[4 stars] Honest, brave and sparklingly funny, Larsen’s memoir reminds us that one size doesn’t-and shouldn’t-fit all.” - People

“Absorbing. . . will resonate with many.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A moving, empowering read.” - Publishers Weekly

“Ashley’s fight to discover what she truly wants, independent of the expectations of others, is an important one that will speak to many.” - Booklist

“A gorgeous, fiercely moving debut.” - NPR Books