An edgy and drily funny novel that dives deep into how forgiveness especially forgiving oneself can help a person grow. As Frankie plays detective, the clues lead her to Xavier and help her come to terms with her feelings about her mother and her own sense of self-worth.

Though Frankie isn't sure that Xavier can be trusted, when he goes missing, she takes it upon herself to find him.

Then again, Frankie and her family aren't exactly angels (she's recently been suspended after breaking another student's nose). Should she trust him, or will he disappoint her like their mother did? Xavier turns out to be involved in some pretty shady things, including helping a (hot) burglar named Nate. So when 14-year-old Xavier shows up, claiming to be her half-brother, she isn't sure what to think. Now 17 and living with her aunt, Frankie Vega has never gotten over being abandoned by her mother at age four. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her. Highly recommended.Australian author Plozza mixes mystery with a teenager's messy reckoning with her family history in her debut novel. Shivaun Plozza’s debut novel, Frankie, is a genre-hopping, darkly funny novel about searching for the truth, finding yourself, and falling in loveFrankie Vega is angry. It has everything YA fiction needs to be captivating: mystery, tough women, annoyingly cute bad boys, sarcasm, and humor. I frequently laughed aloud while reading Frankie.” -Australian Book Review“This is a great debut novel from a fantastic new Australian author, Shivaun Plozza. A powerful debut about a girl learning to love despite the dangers.” -ALA Booklist“A gritty, darkly witty debut.” -Kirkus Reviews“Frankie's a great, gutsy character, full of heart.” -Printz Award winner Melina Marchetta, author of The Jellicoe Road and Saving Francesca“Original, and often obscenely funny. And when that kid goes missing, the only person willing to help is a boy with stupidly blue eyes, a criminal record, and secrets of his own.Frankie's search for the truth could change her life, or cost her everything.“Readers will love Frankie for her courage, passion, and honesty as a narrator. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her cheating ex-boyfriend, or her aunt who's tired of giving second chances.When a kid shows up claiming to be Frankie's half brother, it opens the door to a past she doesn't want to remember. A genre-hopping, darkly funny novel about searching for the truth, finding yourself, and falling in love.Frankie Vega is angry.

Frankie by shivaun plozza