The Girl, the Ring, & the Baseball Bat - Hardcover

by Camille Gomera-Tavarez (Author)

Rosie: Capricorn. Does great in class. Wants nothing more than to get into the prestigious Innovation Technical Institute and kiss this awful school goodbye. Her talisman: a magical jacket from her mother's past that gets people to do whatever she says.

Caro: Leo. Rosie's older sister. Always been closer to their estranged father - and always butted heads more with their strict mother. A trip to Dominican Republic for her father's wedding leads her deep into family history that clears up any illusions about her parents she's ever had. Her talisman: a baseball bat that fixes whatever it breaks.

Zeke: Certified Triple Pisces. Up in cold-ass Jersey City living with his aunt after his grandmother dies and his father moves to London to take care of his mother. He crushes on EVERYone - he knows he'll find happiness in love, and maybe a way out of this depression. His talisman: a manifestation stone that will make anyone fall in love with him.

Rosie, Caro, and Zeke - and their talismans - find themselves intertwined in a magical, hilarious, and whip-smart Outsiders for the modern day, written by Camille Gomera-Tavarez, a 2022 Publishers Weekly Flying Start.

P R A I S E

★ "A hilariously great time... A perfect addition to any teen collection."
-School Library Journal (starred)

★ "Dazzling."
-Booklist (starred)

"A quick read and the characters are especially enjoyable... We all could use friends like this group of teens, and reading how they come together is a nice way to spend an afternoon."
-Locus Magazine

"Skillfully and chaotically represents the ups and downs of high school... a singularly compelling experience for readers."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Author Biography

Camille Gomera-Tavarez is an Afro-Dominican writer, designer, and creative from New Jersey. She has a BFA in Graphic Design & Creative Writing from the Maryland Institute College of Art and is currently based in Philadelphia, PA. Her debut short story collection, High Spirits, received critical acclaim and was named a Pura Belpré Honor Book.