Audre & Bash Are Just Friends

Gr 9 Up–Audre cannot wait for “Dadifornia,” the time she spends living with her father in California every year. Dadifornia means Malibu beach, peace and quiet, and a summer internship at a therapist’s office. But when her father abruptly cancels the visit, Audre finds herself stuck in Brooklyn for the summer. Desperate to find a new way to make her college application to Stanford stick out, Audre decides to write a self-help book for teens. The problem is that she’s lacking in the “typical teen experiences” department, so she enlists the help of Bash, a mysterious newcomer to the Brooklyn private school scene who is reportedly down for anything. Audre is certain that Bash can help her break out of her comfort zone and live life on the wild side. But what is Bash hiding? And can the two really remain just friends? Brooklyn comes alive as Audre and Bash seek thrills throughout the city, but above all, this story is heavily character-driven. Teens will be drawn in by Audre’s abundant relationship turmoil, from struggling to figure out her role in her family since the birth of her half-sister, to navigating her crush on Bash and frequent spats with her best friend, Reshma. Audre and Bash model good mental health practices as they work to overcome their respective traumas. Laugh-out-loud humor sparkles throughout the drama, keeping the overall mood bright despite its serious themes. Audre is Black, while Bash is biracial Black and white.