Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (Novel)

Cherry struggles with communicating—even more than the average teenager. He keeps his noise canceling headphones on to avoid conversation and has trouble putting his thoughts into words. Writing haiku seems to be the only way he can express his emotions. It’s the final summer vacation of his high school years, and it’s passing by fairly uneventfully as he packs to move out of town and works part-time at a senior care center. But one day, he encounters Smile, a live streamer who’s self conscious about her buckteeth and braces. Days with her are more exciting, and as they help one of the seniors track down an old record he lost long ago, Cherry suddenly finds himself more inspired and invested than ever before. Fans of the hit anime movie will fall in love alongside Cherry and Smile in this detailed look from the characters’ perspectives!