Table of Contents
Praise for Robin Benways first novel, Audrey, Wait!
Anyone whos felt the slightest smidgen of sympathy for Britney Spears
will enjoy this humorous, energetic and intelligent coming-of-age story.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
A first novel with a voice that sings.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)
You know that song Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen? And you know
how that song is so fun, but its really hard to figure out which part is the
most fun? Audrey, Wait! is just like that!
JAY ASHER, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY
Awesomely funny, fresh, and true! I adored this book!
RACHEL COHN , CO-AUTHOR OF
NICK & NORAHS INFINITE PLAYLIST
I loved, loved, loved Audrey, Wait!
MEG CABOT , NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
RUNAWAY AND THE PRINCESS DIARIES SERIES
A fun, fast read that had me laughing out loud.
WORD FOR TEENS
I will say this first I knew I was going to love this book. I just knew it.
I could feel it. And man, did I love this book.
RUNNING FOR FICTION
I loved Audrey, and I loved James. I even loved to hate Evan!
PRINCESS BOOKIE
Audrey is a girl youll fall in love with!
MS. JAMGOCHIANS INFINITE PLAYLIST
Audrey has the most awesome voice!
ONCE UPON A BOOKCASE
Absolutely fantastic.
THE BOOK OBSESSION
Full of life, humor and unforgettable characters.
READ THIS BOOK !
Audrey, Wait! is an addicting read that appears to [have been]
written while drinking approximately 38954505 coffees
and eating 982348 candy bars.
SARCASTIC HUMOURAND CHEWED UP PEN CAPS
Audrey, Wait! is insanely fun, amusing, and awesome. If theres
anyone out there who hasnt read it yet (do such people exist?),
I suggest you pick it up.
FRENETIC READER
Audrey [is] a fantastic character: witty, funny and smart. Totally
would want her as a friend.
SUNSHOWER STYLE
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June
RAZORBILL
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Young Readers Group
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Copyright 2010 Robin Benway
All rights reserved
eISBN : 978-1-101-45894-5
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We are an impossibility in an impossible universe.
RAY BRADBURY
There is a crack in everything / Thats how the light gets in
LEONARD COHEN , Anthem
For all the extraordinary ordinary girls
chapter 1
I know too much already. april
I hate being the oldest.
I hate it because Im the one who has to experience everything first. And even if I havent, my sisters still think I know everything. Which I sort of do, but thats not the point. At least, not right now.
Its just like when my youngest sister June, on the night before the first day at our new school, sat me down on the edge of my bed (which made me wrinkle the comforter) and quizzed me about high school like it was a category on Jeopardy!
Where do the cool kids eat? she asked me, blowing her bangs out of her eyes so that they just resettled across her forehead. Is it okay if I cant drive yet? Are they going to haze me just because Im a freshman?
June, I had to tell her. I dont know, I dont know, and I dont know. Ive never been to this school either, remember?
But what if Im wearing the wrong outfit? Or its foggy and my hair frizzes? Do you think theyll be all judge-y?
Our middle sister, May, stuck her head into my room from the hallway. Her hair was piled up on top of her head in what June would call a complete mess. I didnt blame May, though. It was too hot outside to worry about things like hair. Yes, she said to June. Forget ever having a date for the next four years. Well call you Loser for short.
Just because youve never had a date, June glared at her. Loser-squared.
May rolled her eyes and waved her black iPod at me. I need my headphones back so I can drown out the whining.
On my desk, I told her. And June, seriously? Unless a pack of wild dogs are released into the halls tomorrow
We hope, we pray, May muttered as she dug around on my desk, searching for her headphones and knocking over a pile of hardcover books in the process.
then youll be fine. And do you mind , May? I restraightened my books and glared at her. A little respect for the written word, please.
Only you, May said with a sigh, would actually read the books on the summer reading list.
Are there wild dogs out here? June asked. I know there are coyotes.
There might be a spider, I told her.
Or seven, May added.
I sighed. Can you both get out of my room so I can pretend Im an only child?
I missed them after they left, though. It was weird the way I wanted them there, and when they were there, I wanted them to leave. We had only moved into our new house two weeks earlier, coming from Orange County out to the Valley because our parents divorced and our mom got a job here and because our dad took a new job in Houston and was moving there in a few weeks. At least, thats why my mom said we were moving. I, on the other hand, was pretty sure that it had something to do with the fact that May got trashed the night our parents announced they were splitting up. No ones really talking about it, least of all May, and even if we did talk about it, Im not sure what I would say. Way to be a clich? So whats it like starring in your own afterschool special? June, being the youngest at fourteen, didnt have a clue about Mays night of debauchery. All she knew was that a lot of Disney Channel stars lived in the Valley, so she was excited about the move. All I knew was that no one asked me or my sisters what we wanted, so we went along with it. Ill tell you this, though. If I had known we were going to end up here, I wouldve spoken up a long time ago. The Valley at the beginning of September is ridiculously hot.