about the book
Five years ago, Jaycee’s brother Jake died on his high school graduation, breaking his neck while attempting a daredevil stunt.
On the anniversary of his death, Jaycee attempts to reconnect with her brother by breaking into one of his old hang-outs—a crumbling, abandoned insane asylum. She’s joined by Natalie, her former best friend, and Natalie’s slacker boyfriend Zach, as well as Bishop and Mik, Jake’s old friends. There, Jaycee finds a map of his planned “urbex” explorations, a series of abandoned amusement parks, malls, and other structures he planned to visit.
Jaycee and the group decide to finish Jake’s quest by visiting all the sites on the map—regardless of how dangerous the exploits are.
about the author
Cori McCarthy studied and wrote for ten years before she became a published author. In the meantime, she had her share of crappy and not-so-crappy jobs, such as working as a gas station attendant, a liquor store associate, and a “zombie” walk-around entertainer at an amusement park. Her not-so-crappy jobs included being a reading tutor and coordinator of an after-school program for at-risk kids. In one way or another, she says, her many life experiences have made it into her books.
Even though she’s never lived there, Cori loves Washington D.C. more than any city, anywhere. She says traipsing around all the museums, monuments, and bridges brings out the Walt Whitman in her. “I truly feel like a bold, proud American.”
In her spare time, she plays guitar, quilts, runs a teen writing group, and raises her son. Cori was born in Guam, grew up in New England and the Midwest, and now resides in Michigan.
Sources:
Author website
Author interview: Happy Ever After
Author interview: Bookish Babes
Author interview: The Hiding Spot
Also by Cori McCarthy:
Breaking Sky. Sourcebooks Fire. 2015.
The Color of Rain. Running Press Kids. 2013.
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