SOLVED. YA coming-of-age story about a girl who goes on a school trip to Canada. She meets a boy her age while sightseeing who is depressed. Read 2013-2016. Spoilers. [s]

[Dann]

I read this YA book sometime between 2013 and 2016. It wasn't hard to read and understand, so I don't think it was very old. It was set in modern day (whenever that was), and I think the story may have started in the U.S. then shifted to Canada for the trip (I particularly remember it mentioning Toronto and/or Montreal).

My copy was in pretty bad condition and the cover page was ripped when I was reading this, so I don't know what the cover looked like. I do think it was paperback. I don't remember anything about the author. I'm not sure what language it was originally published in, but I read it in French. I would assume it was from a French-speaking place because of the French names. It was randomly in my family's small library, and I can't remember if a friend gave it to me or if my parents had bought it.

The story follows a teen girl (around 15-16 years old, I think)--I think her name was Paulette (or something similar--I remember for sure it ended with "ette"). She had a baby sister with a name that ended with "ette" too. Her mom had just started dating someone new. Don't remember what happened to the dad--if they divorced or he died. Anyway, Paulette ends up going to Canada with her class and they sightsee a lot. At some point she meets this guy (I don't think he was with her group) and they get to know each other, and she notices he's very sad. I think his name was Laurent.

SPOILER [AND TRIGGER WARNING] AHEAD

-
-
-
-
-
-
He tells her eventually towards the end that he wanted to die because he had lost all joy and sense of purpose in his life. I think I remember him telling her that it was because of a girl he had been dating. (I think she either broke up with him or she died.) Anyway, she ends up helping him snap out of his sadness and cheer up.

END SPOILER

I remember distinctly that the novel opened with Paulette saying this line "Je déteste la buanderie" (I hate the laundromat). And at the end, she says she loves it (because she now gets to meet up with Laurent whenever she goes).

I don't have high hopes of finding this because I read it in French and it's been so long, but I figured I'd try because I've tried all the google resources.

[Becca]

Quatre jours de liberté by Sylvie Desrosiers looks like a match - it's in French and I don't believe there's an English translation. The girl is indeed called Paulette, the boy is Laurent and the opening line is "Je déteste les buanderettes."

[Dann]

Becca wrote: "Quatre jours de liberté by Sylvie Desrosiers looks like a match - it's in French and I don't believe there's an English translation. The girl is indeed called Paulette, the boy is La..."

Oh my goodness, yes! That's it! Thanks so much. How did you find it?

[Becca]

I tried searching "Je deteste la buanderie" on archive.org, which didn't get any hits, so then I tried just "Je deteste" + "Toronto" + "Laurent", and it came up!

[Dann]

Becca wrote: "I tried searching "Je deteste la buanderie" on archive.org, which didn't get any hits, so then I tried just "Je deteste" + "Toronto" + "Laurent", and it came up!"

Sweet! Thanks