Recycler

by McLaughlin, Lauren

• ISBN13: 9780375851957
• ISBN10: 037585195X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2009-08-25
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary

How do you grow up, if who you are keeps changing? Jill McTeague is not your average high school graduate, she's a scientific anomaly. Every month for four days she turns into Jack, a guycomplete with all the parts. Now everyone in her hometown knows that something very weird is up with her. So what's a girl (and a guy) to do? Get the heck out of town, that's what! With her kooky best friend, Ramie, Jill sets out for New York City. There both she and Jack will have to figure out everything from the usual (relationships) to the not so usual (career options for a "cycler," anyone?). As inCycler,the first book featuring Jack and Jill, author Lauren McLaughlin deftly weaves the downright mundane with the outright bizarre in a story that, while defying classification, is peopled with characters that readers can fully relate to. "The sort of book that makes your eyes widen and that you don't want to put down."Bookavore From the Trade Paperback edition.

Author Biography

Lauren McLaughlin spent ten years in the film industry. Her Web site and blog are available at www.laurenmclaughlin.net.

Excerpts

August 19
Jill

“I hope you know what you’re doing, sweetie.”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” I say. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Mom doesn’t believe me. And the fact that I can’t stop nervously tugging on the ends of my wig doesn’t help my case.

Mom and I are wandering through the luggage section at JCPenney because I have broken her best suitcase. Turns out you can’t fit the entire contents of a bedroom into it. Live and learn, right?

“And when do you plan on telling us where you’re going?” she asks. “Or are you going to leave us in the dark for good?”

“I’ll tell you, Mom, just as soon as I figure it out.” At the end of the aisle is a huge red Samsonite. I finger the lock on it. “I have two good options.”

Mom snorts. She hates both of my options and never tires of reminding me how “unworkable” they both are. She thinks I should stay in Winterhead forever. Trust me when I tell you, that is not an option.

I point to an even bigger blue Samsonite. “How about this one?” I say. “I think you could fit a body in there.”

Mom looks at the price tag, then keeps walking.

“Mom,” I say. “Suitcase or no suitcase, I’m still leaving. You realize that, right?”

When Mom stops walking, I prepare for another lecture about how deeply unready I am to exist without her constant supervision. But instead, she waves over a salesperson.

“We’ll take this one,” she says. She gestures toward the blue suitcase.

Later, while we’re dragging the suitcase through the parking lot, I notice a car driving behind us very slowly. Inside are two sophomore boys from Winterhead High. I think one of them worked at the school snack shop and used to blush when I’d buy granola bars. Now they’re both staring at me. I’m not an upperclassman to them anymore. I’m the girl who had that weird thing at the prom. You know, thatthing?

I always want to confront people who look at me like that. I want to ask how they’d feel if they were in my shoes. But I never do. Instead, I hide behind my mother.

When she notices the car, she stops and bends over to get a good look at the boys with what
imagine is a lethal glare. The car speeds away.

“So, Mom?” I say. “In case you were wondering,that’swhy I have to leave.”

Mom watches the car turn the corner at the Jiffy Lube. Then she pulls me close and kisses me on the head. “You know that I would do anything to protect you,” she says. “Anything at all.”

Of course I know that. If there’s one thing that can be said of my mother, it’s that in her mind there is no law superseding a mother’s right to protect her daughter. She will take you down if you try to hurt me. I’ve come to respect that about her. Unfortunately, she can’t take down the whole town of Winterhead, Massachusetts.

Okay, so here are my two options for escape. While I’m trying to squeeze my “essential” belongings into this new suitcase,youtry to figure out which one is best.

The Ramie Option is to go with my best friend to New York City, where she is about to begin classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

The Tommy Option is to drive across the country with my boyfriend for a journey of self discovery and much-delayed virginity termination.

Now, before you rush in with your verdict, keep in mind the following complicating factors:
1) Approximately four days every month, I turn into a boy named Jack.
2) Jack is dating Ramie. And by dating, I mean screwing on a regular, even daily, basis.
3) Jack is terrified of my boyfriend, Tommy, who is bisexu

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Excerpted from (Re)cycler by Lauren McLaughlin
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.