Millicent Chalmers isn’t here to make friends.
She’s here to win, and she’s on track to set a record if—no, when—she wins the state debate tournament for the fourth year in a row. Calm, cool, and always in control, Millie doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, least of all the sexist bullies
bent on destroying her reputation.
Taggart Strong couldn’t care less about winning debate, much to the consternation of his teammates, school, and parents. In fact, he might even enjoy losing, as long as the side he believes in wins.
But when a tournament takes a scary turn, Millie and Tag find themselves unexpectedly working together. Maybe Millie can teach Tag a thing or two about using his head, and Tag can teach Millie a little bit about following her heart.
In this witty, smart, and feminist romantic comedy, author Jen Doll explores what it means to set boundaries while you’re breaking down barriers.
*A New York Times Staff Pick* *An NPR Best Book of 2018* *A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of 2018* In this debut young adult novel from journalist (and noted YA lit expert) Jen Doll, three teens in Alabama learn to move on from the baggage that's been holding them back. In Jen Doll's young adult debut novel, Unclaimed Baggage, Doris?a lone liberal in a conservative small town?has mostly kept to herself since the terrible waterslide incident a few years ago. Nell had to leave behind her best friends, perfect life, and too-good-to-be-true boyfriend in Chicago to move to Alabama. Grant was the star quarterback and epitome of 'Mr. Popular' whose drinking problem has all but destroyed his life. What do these three have in common? A summer job working in a store called Unclaimed Baggage cataloging and selling other people's lost luggage. Together they find that through friendship, they can unpack some of their own emotional baggage and move on into the future.
Weddings. They're fun, festive, and joyful - they offer endless opportunities to reexamine love and what we want for ourselves, regardless of whether or not our aim is a walk down the aisle. In Save the Date, Jen Doll charts the course of her own perennial wedding guesthood, from the ceremony of distant family members when she was eight to the recent nuptials of a new boyfriend's friends. Wedding experiences come in as varied an assortment as the gowns at any bridal shop, and Doll turns a keen eye to each, delivering a heartfelt exploration of contemporary relationships. Funny, honest, and affecting, Save the Date is a fresh and spirited look at the many ways in which we connect to one another.
"With humor and honesty...Doll offers a refreshing take on society’s evolving ideas on marriage and the importance of knowing oneself." - Publishers Weekly
