A popular Canadian novelist’s first story for young adults is a moving tale about growing up. One July afternoon, as Barbara is walking home from the park in her shabby inner-city neighborhood, her little sister chases a ball into the street and collides with a man riding a bike. The accident turns out to be the best thing that ever happens to them. The girls, who have lost their mother, forge a unique friendship with the exotic Cosmo, who introduces them to the joys of music, cooking, books, and dressing up. Eventually, Barbara’s participation in Cosmo’s teen clown workshop upsets her father, forcing her to make some hard decisions.
