Those Pink Mountain Nights

In her remarkable second novel following her Governor General’s Award-winning debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, Jen Ferguson writes about the hurt of a life stuck in past tense, the hum of connections that cannot be severed, and one week in a small, snowy town that changes everything. 

Overachievement isn’t a bad word—for Berlin, it’s the goal. She’s securing excellent grades, planning her future, and working a part-time job at Pink Mountain Pizza, a legendary local business. Who says she needs a best friend by her side?

Dropping out of high school wasn’t smart—but it was necessary for Cameron. Since his cousin Kiki’s disappearance, it’s hard enough to find the funny side of life, especially when the whole town has forgotten Kiki. To them, she’s just another missing Native girl.

People at school label Jessie a tease, a rich girl—and honestly, she’s both. But Jessie knows she contains multitudes. Maybe her new job crafting pizzas will give her the high-energy outlet she desperately wants.

When the weekend at Pink Mountain Pizza takes several unexpected turns, all three teens will have to acknowledge the various ways they’ve been hurt—and how much they need each other to hold it all together. 

Jen Ferguson burst onto the YA scene with her first novel, which was a William C. Morris Award Finalist and a Stonewall Award Honor Book, and this second novel fulfills her promise as one of the most thoughtful and exciting YA writers today.

Three teens, one pizza shop, and a week that will force them to confront the secrets they’re keeping—and the ones the town is hiding.

• Multiple POV: Told from the perspectives of perfectionist Berlin, grieving Cameron, and misunderstood Jessie as their lives collide at Pink Mountain Pizza.
• Coming of Age: An authentic story about confronting past trauma, finding your voice, and discovering the people who will stand by you when everything falls apart.
• Friendship Breakup: Explores the sharp, confusing pain of a lifelong friendship ending and the lonely space it leaves behind for Berlin.
• Mental Health Representation: A powerful look at coping with trauma and undiagnosed depression, as three teens find unexpected connection in their shared hurt.