Summary

In Part 2, “Massive Star (School),” Adina starts high school in 1991. Various fashions start trending and scientists discover the “first exoplanets” in space (91). In September, Dominic drives Adina and Toni to their first day at their new school. In the lot, they watch the other Young Women parade inside.

At 13, Adina does not look like the other girls. The school store sells balloons that the girls buy for each other for their birthdays. Adina fears there “won’t be enough time to make friends” who will buy her balloons (93).

Adina feels tired all the time, as she attends school during the day, struggles through Italian, starts drama, and attends the Night Classroom each night. Meanwhile, Térèse gets promoted at work from “time card typist to administrative assistant” (97). However, they still have money troubles.

On Adina’s birthday, she “misses the bus...