Eighteen Roses

Ages 15 to 18

Lucia Cruz is forced to cobble together a debutante court of eighteen friends—when she barely has one—in this funny and touching YA novel about family, community, and how far we'll go to protect ourselves from the world.

Lucia Cruz is turning eighteen this year. She should be having a debut, but she is not the debutante type. Everything about a traditional Filipino debut feels wrong for her. Besides, custom dictates that eighteen friends attend her her debut, and Lucia only has one friend—Esmé.

But Esmé wants something different out of her senior year. And, on top of that, Lucia's mom has planned a debutante ball for her birthday behind her back. She'll be forced to cobble together a court before her beloved lola arrives from the Philippines.

How far will Lucia stray from her comfort zone in order to appease her family—while staying true to herself? Packed with humor and heart, this is an unforgettable novel by a powerful voice in YA fiction.

About the Author

Shannon C. F. Rogers writes YA novels, short fiction, and plays. A former editor at Lunch Ticket, her work has appeared in Bodega and Newfound Journal as well as on stage with Tricklock Company and Lady Luck Productions. She has her BA in creative writing from the University of New Mexico and an MFA in writing for young people from Antioch University Los Angeles. As an educator Rogers has served school communities in Albuquerque, Chicago, and New York City. She is the author of I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.