Brad Barkley, co-author
Dutton, 2006
ISBN 978-0-5254-7760-0
Young adult

Calliope (Cal to her friends) wants nothing more than to stay put, to stop traveling cross-country with her mother, sleeping in a tent, abandoning all belongings whenever they pull up with stakes. Eliot misses the happy times he left behind when his father decided to make a business out of spreading the gospel. When Cal and Eliot meet by chance in the mountains of North Carolina, they feel an immediate connection.

Against the quirky backdrops of a Christian fat camp and a Renaissance Faire, Cal struggles with her mother’s waning interest in parenting, while Eliot wrestles with his father’s misplaced faith. Cal and Eliot’s bond grows stronger as they face such challenges as a missing camper, a flood, and a self-absorbed jouster who has his eye on Cal’s mom. Will Cal and Eliot find a safe home in each other? Or is their relationship destined to be short-lived?

This smart novel, featuring unforgettable characters, sparkling dialogue, colorful settings, and even a few recipes, is as funny as it is romantic.

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