Perfect Escape - by Jennifer Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

From the author of the acclaimed "Hate List" comes a gripping novel about a teen girl living in the shadow of her brother's obsessive-compulsive disorder and the road trip they take that changes everything.

Book Synopsis

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. To Kendra, the only way she can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But even in the midst of the road trip's flat tires, gas-station food stops, and detours to quirky roadside attractions, eventually Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

Review Quotes

* "Brown skillfully navigates the emotional complexities and psychological minefields of her characters and their relationship, treating OCD with delicacy without losing sight of the big picture."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] road-trip novel with momentum and realistic characters that will have many teen readers hitching a ride."--School Library Journal

"Brown paints an unflinching, nuanced portrait of siblings in a family overwhelmed by serious illness....Readers will enjoy the trip."--VOYA

"Kendra's struggle to face her mistakes will resonate with many young adult readers...intelligent and compassionate."--Library Media Connection

"The stark honesty of Kendra's feelings about living with a brother with a mental illness will touch readers, but it is Grayson's responses that really set this apart as an unflinching and heartbreaking portrayal of the complexities of such a relationship."--The Bulletin

About the Author

Jennifer Brown writes and lives in the Kansas City, Missouri area with her family. She is the author of Hate List, Torn Away, Thousand Words, Perfect Escape, and Bitter End.