Baby and Solo

Baby and Solo is a poignant young adult novel set in the pop-culture-rich 1990s, following seventeen-year-old Joel Teague. After a traumatic past event, Joel takes a job at a video store, hoping for a fresh start and a 'normal' life, even adopting a new persona as 'Solo.' He forms a deep, movie-montage-worthy friendship with his sharp-witted coworker, Nicole 'Baby' Palmer. The story explores Joel's journey with grief, mental health, and the fear of his past being exposed, forcing him to confront whether to reveal his true self and risk losing his first real friend. It also touches on LGBTQ+ themes, offering a heartfelt look at identity, acceptance, and the power of genuine connection.

Joel’s new job at the video store is just what the therapist ordered. But what happens if the first true friend he’s made in years finds out about What Was Wrong With Him? Seventeen-year-old Joel Teague has a new prescription from his therapist—a part-time job—the first step toward the elusive Normal life he’s been so desperate to live ever since The Bad Thing happened. Lucky for Joel, ROYO Video is hiring. It’s the perfect fresh start—Joel even gets a new name. Dubbed “Solo” after his favorite Star Wars character, Joel works his way up the not-so-corporate ladder without anyone suspecting What Was Wrong With Him. That is, until he befriends Nicole “Baby” Palmer, a smart-mouthed coworker with a chip on her shoulder about . . . well, everything, and the two quickly develop the kind of friendship movie montages are made of. However, when Joel’s past inevitably catches up with him, he’s forced to choose between preserving his new blank slate persona and coming clean—and either way, he risks losing the first real friend he’s ever had. Set in a pop-culture-rich 1990s, this remarkable story tackles challenging and timely themes with huge doses of wit, power, and heart.