Blues for Zoey

She walks in with her music and out with his heart Kaz Barrett should be saving for college. Instead, he saves his pay from the Sit ’n’ Spin Laundromat to send his mother to an expensive sleep clinic in New York. She suffers from a rare neurological disorder, and both Kaz and his kid sister worry that one day, maybe tomorrow, their mother will fall asleep and never wake up. But when pink-haired Zoey walks past the laundromat’s window, Kaz’s ordered life spins out of control. Smart, mysterious, and full of music, Zoey is unlike anyone Kaz has met . . . but there’s another side to her that he can’t quite figure out. When he goes looking for answers, he finds a whirlwind of lies, half-truths, and violence that could cost him everything he’s worked for. 

"Fans of gritty, realistic, and authentic works will find this novel an intriguing option."—School Library Journal 

"Weston (The Creature Department) strikes a balance between a teen with the weight of adult responsibilities on his shoulders and a youthful naivety, allowing a twist ending to take readers—and Kaz himself—by surprise."—Publisher's Weekly 

“The twists and feints that lead the reader from a love story to a mystery are subtle enough that, like a good magic trick, you won’t know you’ve been had till the deal is done.”—Booklist 

“Music and mystery twist together in Robert Paul Weston’s latest YA novel . . . the novel’s journey is suitably winding to keep the reader intrigued.”—Quill and Quire 

“A wonderful coming-of-age story.” (4/4 stars)—CM Magazine