Lauren Bjorkman

  
Book Title: MY INVENTED LIFE

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult Fiction, Humor

Publication Date: September 29, 2009

Publisher: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

ISBN 13: 978-0-8050-8950-9

Author's Website: www.laurenbjorkman.com

Roz and Eva are sisters, friends, and rivals. Roz fantasizes about snagging the lead in the school play and landing sexy skate god Bryan as her boyfriend. Sadly, a few obstacles stand between her and her dream. For one, Eva is the more talented actress. And Bryan happens to be Eva’s boyfriend. But is Eva having a secret love affair with a girl? Inquiring minds need to know.

Roz prides herself on random acts of insanity. In one such act, she invents a girlfriend of her own to encourage Eva to open up. The plan backfires, and Roz finds herself neck deep in her invented life. When Roz meets a mercurial boy with a big problem, she begins to understand the complex feelings beneath the labels. And she gets a second chance to earn Eva’s trust.

MY INVENTED LIFE is set in small California high school during the rehearsals for a Shakespeare comedy.

About the Author:

I grew up on a sailboat, sharing the tiny forecastle with my sister and the sail bags. We are still friends. I still like to travel to exotic corners of the world, and have learned how to make bread from Bedouins in Yemen and played Hacky Sack with children in Thailand. I live in Taos, New Mexico with my husband, two sons, a cat that thinks he’s a dog.

Excerpt:

The first thing I see is Eva’s journal. I’m not tempted. It rests seductively at the center of her night table, and the latch appears to be broken. Still I won’t touch it. Even though I know she’ll never find out. And even if it might reveal why she deleted me from her life. OK then, one little peek.

REVIEWS:

Roz's voice is witty and genuine as she moves through the ups and downs of coming out (and eventually coming clean). Evocative of Boy Meets Boy and Dramarama, this makes for fun, thought-provoking reading. Publisher's Weekly

Shakespeare would be proud to be included in this smart, funny, cheeky book. Ellen Wittlinger, author of Hard Love

...a refreshingly authentic and honest teen voice. Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club

Potato and Chard Soup with Pesto Garnish

Author Photo: Marjorie Olson