Everyone’s favorite Netflix series, Stranger Things, recently came out with a YA novel, highlighting the life of Robin Buckley pre-season 3. This recently published book came out in June 2021 and due to its lack of major marketing, has not received much attention. However, this novel highlights the adventures of Robin navigating life at Hawkins and her dreams to escape her drab and restraining life by taking a trip to Europe. The book delves into her sophomore year and introduces readers to her friend group in the school band, who she feels distanced from. As the book continues, Robin begins to realize her sexuality and why she feels different from her peers. This coming-of-age novel set in a small town explains how one girl began to learn about acceptance and started to feel comfortable in her own skin. 

This novel is filled with different easter eggs from the first season of Stranger Things, perfect for avid fans of the series. Robin interacts with many fan-favorite characters, including Joyce Byers, Karen Wheeler, and of course, Steve Harrington. The book takes place when Will Byers first goes missing and the story of his disappearance is talked about while Robin deals with her own life and how it changes along with the culture at Hawkins High. The novel shows how other characters who weren’t close to Will were involved and responded to his disappearance and all of the confusion regarding his return after his body was supposedly found at the quarry. 

This progression of her insight into her own personality is refreshing and readers get better insight into her relationships with other students of Hawkins High, including Tammy Thompson, Robin’s first crush. In the show, Robin mentions her own feelings towards Tammy, but the novel really shows their interactions and how she realized that her feelings towards Tammy were more than platonic. Her complicated friendships with different band members are also revealed, showing how Robin goes about her days at school and interacts with high schoolers other than Steve. Additionally, readers even get insight into her past friendship with Barb, who goes missing. Robin even developed her own theories and ideas into the disappearance of Barbara. 

Overall, A.R. Capetta is able to represent the character of Robin Buckley well and shows her own backstory and why she became such an important character in season 3. The development of relationships between others and herself provide for an engaging story and show how this teen from a small town learned multiple languages and even ended up fighting a Demogorgon. I wish this novel had gotten more advertisement, as I feel that this book is a very vital part of the story of Hawkins High and the adventures between all the characters that have saved the world from their hometown in Indiana.