The Skunks

Having moved back to her hometown for the summer, Isabel spends her days house-sitting, babysitting, doing yoga, and spending time with her childhood best friend, Ellie. Isabel is desperate to think of anything but love and is thrilled when she discovers the perfect distraction—three baby skunks in her backyard. She becomes obsessed with the skunks, imagining a rich world where they talk and interact with her. At the same time, she balances multiple jobs and an ambiguous relationship with the neighbor’s son Eli. Warnick’s quirky debut, narrated by actor Mara Wilson, is a unique look into the inner world of a young woman trying to find her place in the world. Wilson nails the narration, bringing tenderness to her depiction of Isabel as she meanders through the summer. Though Ellie’s journey is occasionally perplexing, Warnick’s portrait of a young woman’s coming-of-age is both intriguing and absorbing.