What is the setting of Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli?

The novel is set in modern-day America, the characters playing out their relationships within a context of what might be described as contemporary American youth culture. Skateboards, cell phones, and the Internet are all in evidence, as are parental attitudes (such as those exhibited by Will and Tabby's parents) that are, in many ways, themselves quite modern - specifically, a permissive attitude towards the sometimes very aggressive rebelliousness of children. There is also the sense that the action is set in a relatively urban location - not a huge metropolis like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, but a smaller city where there is still a sense of community, as opposed to the relative anonymity of the larger centers. This sense emerges from Will's comments about, for example, the town square and being able to see it from the window in the dormer attic, as well as the proximity of Dead Man's Hill and the relative ease with which Will and Mi Su travel to open spaces to see the stars.