Status Updates From Pearl

Definitely a character study. I'm reading it short, intense bursts, so I'm not sure that I'm doing it justice.

Continues to be slow. Girl MC has a male best friend; they are both hungover and going fishing on a toxic river. Not much 'action' or real curiosity. Still reading, but not super excited.

Picked it up because it has fallen out of print. Besides the death of Gus in the second chapter, it relies on characterization. There isn't much to escape into, and the numbness of the kids makes it a challenge to sink into.