Rules for Hearts
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
In this companion novel to Empress of the World, a vibrant summer unfolds as Battle Hall Davies finds herself immersed in the quirky found family dynamics of Forest House.
“The Rules for Hearts makes its own rules. That’s what I love about it.”—Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of TTYL and TTFN
“Sara Ryan puts the world of downtown theater in all its brilliance and insanity on the page.”—Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor-winning author of Feathers and Show Way
Battle Hall Davies is sure of some things: she’s going to Reed this fall; she loves girls; and her older brother, Nick, is cooler and more together than she’ll ever be. Nick ran away from home when Battle was thirteen. Now, four and a half years later, he’s tracked her down, and she’s spending the summer between high school and college in Forest House, the group house where he lives in Portland.
It is a summer of surprises. Battle is swept into Forest House’s community Shakespeare production and its all-night card games and into the arms of her new housemate, Meryl. It turns out that Nick is not who Battle thought he was—and Battle’s not who she thought she was either.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fans of Ryan's debut novel Empress of the World will find her sophomore effort a satisfying follow-up, as well as an entertaining stand-alone for those just tuning in. The narrative picks up three years later, this time following 18-year-old Battle to Portland, Ore., for the summer, as she prepares to attend Reed College in the fall. Unbeknownst to her overprotective parents, she moves in with her long-lost brother, Nick, who ran away from home when Battle was 13, and she quickly acclimates to life among the residents of Forest House-a community theater troupe whose members cohabitate under one roof. As the summer wears on and rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream are well underway, the housemates learn what it takes to make a play-and their household-come together, despite difficult circumstances. Battle continues to struggle with her sexuality after falling for 22-year-old Meryl, one of her roommates (who has also hooked up with Nick), and her relationship with her brother falters after his lying habit catches up to him. Readers will appreciate Ryan's open approach to discussing homosexuality, but some might wish for a more in-depth exploration of Battle's feelings beyond the mere description of her actions. The ending (and Nick's inevitable return to his parents after an intervention) feels abrupt, which may prompt some to wonder if there isn't another installment in the works. Ages 14-up.
