Rough Patch
Nicole Markotic2017

A YA novel about Keira, a figure skater just entering high school who's intrigued about kissing both boys and girls.

In this compelling novel for young adults, Keira is a quirky but shy teen entering her first year of high school; she navigates her growing interest in kissing both girls and boys, while not alienating her BFF, boy-crazy Sita. As the two acclimate to their unfamiliar surroundings, they manage to find new lunchmates and make lists of the cutest boys in school. But Keira is caught "in between"--unable to fully participate in these kind of conversations, yet too scared to come clean. She's also feeling the pressure of her family's problems: parents who married too young and now have money issues; an older brother who's the popular kid at school and takes every opportunity to taunt Keira; and a younger sister who uses a wheelchair and must put up with adults who expect too little or too much from her.

Keira finds solace in training for the regional finals in figure skating, which she loves even though she knows it's geeky (and very het-girl!). But when she meets a girl named Jayne who seems perfect for her, she isn't confident she can pull off her charade any longer. Matters come to a head at the high school Halloween dance, where friendships are tested and mended, new relationships are made and broken, and Keira's own life combusts in one unalterable instant, only to be reconfigured in the most unexpected way.

Rough Patch is a powerful novel about picking yourself up after a spill, and finding your own way in the world.

Titre original : Rough Patch (2017)