Lisa Yee takes a departure from her usual middle grade fare to offer a more mature look at adolescence in Absolutely Maybe. 15 year old Maybe (short for Maybelline) lives in Kissimmee, FL with her mother, Chessy. Chessy is a former beauty queen who now runs a charm school for aspiring pageant winners, and everything she cares about is anathema to Maybe, who would rather wear kohl eyeliner and purple lipstick and Hanes beefy-ts every day than a crown. Chessy's on-again, off-again relationships with men affect Maybe as well - and when her latest boyfriend assaults Maybe, Chessy accuses her of seducing him. This proves to be the last straw, so Maybe runs away with best friends Hollywood and Ted to LA, where Hollywood will go to film school. Ted meets with swift success in finding a job when an aging film star hires him to be her chauffeur, and Hollywood is settling into school quite nicely. After Maybe's purse is stolen, she must start from scratch and find a place to live before the campus police report her - but who should she turn to?

This book was a great mix of excellent characters, vivid settings, and a tight plot. Just when you think Maybe is out of one mess, she's into another and must think on her feet to find a solution. The twin themes of family trauma and finding a place to belong kept the narrative on track nicely. You'll find yourself rooting not just for Maybe, but for everyone she meets on her journey.