The Wonder of Us

"The Wonder of Us is an epic journey of love and friendship, forgiveness and possibility." -Jennifer Nivens, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places
Riya and Abby are:Best friends.Complete opposites.Living on different continents.Currently mad at each other.About to travel around Europe. Riya moved to Berlin, Germany, with her family for junior year, while Abby stayed behind in their small California town. They thought it would be easy to keep up their friendship-it's only a year and they've been best friends since preschool. But instead, they ended up fighting and not being there for the other. So Riya proposes an epic adventure to fix their friendship. Two weeks, six countries, unimaginable fun. But two small catches: They haven't talked in weeks. They've both been keeping secrets. Can Riya and Abby find their way back to each other among lush countrysides and dazzling cities, or does growing up mean growing apart? Praise for The Wonder of Us"The Wonder of Us is an epic journey of love and friendship, forgiveness and possibility. And hope. So much hope. The novel itself is a beautiful wonder, and I would follow Riya and Abby anywhere." --Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe"Culbertson has penned an intense, engaging story of two very different girls with a symbiotic relationship and their poignant struggle to make the friendship keep working . . . The witty, sensitive story -- with strongly drawn characters and a fun, vividly described tour, topped off by a creative scavenger hunt -- will capture and celebrate BFFs." -- Booklist"This novel in two voices keeps the pages turning as each protagonist tries to figure out if their friendship still works for her. A classic case of opposites attracting, both Abby and Riya are well-drawn and dynamic characters. A nuanced, positive vision of an evolving friendship." -- Kirkus Reviews"This is a vivid story of growing older and apart. The protagonists' personalities come off the page." -- School Library JournalPraise for The Possibility of Now"A solid read for realistic fiction addicts." --School Library Journal"Anyone who has felt the pressure to be number one will empathize with Mara's struggle to accept setbacks, move forward, and feel the joy of spontaneity." --Publishers Weekly"This will hit close to home for many teens." --BooklistPraise for Catch a Falling Star"Culbertson writes with sensitivity and sympathy, crafting an entertaining but perceptive character study." --Kirkus Reviews"Culbertson is a capable writer, and she gives Carter a good heart that shines through." --Publishers Weekly"{R}eaders will enjoy every minute of Carter and Adam's revelatory moments and conflicts." --School Library Journal"Thoughtful and romantic, Catch a Falling Star shines with insight about the choices we make and the worlds we create." --Jessi Kirby, author of The Things We Know by Heart, In Honor, and Golden Kim Culbertson is the author of The Wonder of Us; The Possibility of Now; Catch a Falling Star; Instructions for a Broken Heart, a Northern California Book Award winner; and Songs for a Teenage Nomad. She lives in Northern California with her husband and daughter, her favorite travel companions. For more about Kim, visit www.kimculbertson.com. I don't recognize Riya at first. She has cut her waist-length hair and not just her usual trim. It's half a foot shorter and has actual layers, tousled but purposely so. She wears a plum-colored tank dress with a chunky belt, dangly silver earrings, and aviator glasses. Apparently, Europe looks good on Riya. "Abby!" she squeals, spotting me, and hurries to engulf me in a floral-scented hug. After a year, after this stupid, harsh year, I thought I might be too angry to hug her, to pretend we aren't furious with each other, to act like we never said all those things the last time we talked, but it's Riya and she's hugging