"What Happened to Lani Garver" is a young adult novel by Carol Plum-Ucci, first published in 2002. The novel follows the story of Claire McKenzie, a 16-year-old girl who has recently moved to a small town in New England with her family. Claire is struggling to fit in at her new school when she meets Lani Garver, a new student who is seen as an outsider by the other students.
Lani is different from anyone Claire has ever met, and the two quickly become friends. However, Lani's mysterious past and ambiguous gender identity make the other students uncomfortable, and Claire is caught in the middle of a conflict between her loyalty to Lani and her desire to fit in with her peers.
As the story unfolds, Claire begins to uncover Lani's secrets, and discovers the truth about Lani's difficult past. The novel explores themes of acceptance, tolerance, and the power of friendship, as Claire and Lani navigate their way through the challenges of adolescence and their own personal struggles.
"What Happened to Lani Garver" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that has been praised for its sensitive treatment of complex issues such as gender identity, bullying, and social exclusion. The book has won several awards, including the Michael L. Printz Honor Book award, and has been widely acclaimed for its insightful and compassionate portrayal of the teenage experience.
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