Lennie (short for Lennon) was the companion pony to her racehorse of a sister, Bailey. But, Bailey died and now Lennie is left bereft, confused, and lost. The only person who seems to understand is Toby, her sister's boyfriend, but how can Lennie be attracted to him? And why do they keep making out every time they see each other? Toby helps Lennie remember, but new guy Joe who shares Lennie's own passion for music helps her forget. Both make her feel absolutely guilty for not keeping Bailey in focus.

Wow -really great. I loved the narrative structure and how almost stream of conscious it often was. You can definitely tell Jandy Nelson is a poet, and I adored the inclusion of the pictures of poems Lennie leaves on scraps of paper, empty Styrofoam coffee cups, and tree branches; poems set adrift to the world.

The story is very frank about sex and longing and the shattering feelings that death can bring to a family. Lennie is a jerk, but you can't help but feel for her as she struggles to overcome her own grief and realize she isn't the only one mourning her sister. Lennie's passion for music and poetry is clear and beautiful, and it helps her grow a lot in this tale.

Some may question the morality of Lennie's actions with the two guys, but this seems far more realistic to me than "there can only be one." She's 16 for crying out loud, and her own personal growth regarding her actions is an important lesson for teens.

The cast of supporting characters is also amazing (especially Gram and Uncle Big).

Highly recommend. I'm excited to read I'll Give you the Sun - Nelson's next offering.