Download high-resolution image
Listen to a clip from the audiobook
audio pause button
0:00
0:00
The exciting series for teens that explores life...and love...around the world

Studying abroad isn't at all like Kelly thought it would be. Instead of shopping for fine Italian leather and living in an apartment with a view of the Colosseum, she is stuck in a stuffy dorm room with three other girls, and is sharing one shower with the entire floor! This is not the bella Roma that she'd dreamed of. But there is one part of Italy that Kelly doesn't mind—Joe, a really cute guy who's in the study abroad program too. Joe's into staying up late and partying hard, two things that Kelly used to love doing. Bad habits are hard to break, and she soon finds herself on thin ice with the program coordinators. If Kelly's not careful, she might just get the boot…
Peggy Guthart Strauss never studied abroad, but every time she travels to Europe it is a valuable learning experience. When she isn't writing, Peggy works as a graphic designer at the promotional advertising company she runs with her husband. They live in New York City with their rambunctious cairn terrier. View titles by Peggy Guthart Strauss
When in Rome . . .

At home, Kelly had spent hours looking at Rome websites (or the cute Roman guys on them, anyway), and now, from the bus, she recognized the jagged ruins of the Colosseum, Rome’s ancient stadium. She hoped it would be as impressive in real life as it looked online.

The bus turned through a set of iron gates with a brass sign posted on them: PROGRAMMA INTERNAZIONALE DI ROMA. The building wasn’t enormous, but it was impressive: four stories high, in reddish stucco with lighter-colored details around the tall, arched windows framed with green shutters.

“It’s even prettier than the pictures in the brochure,” Kelly said. “Check out that terrace over there. That’ll be the perfect place for sunbathing and soaking up the scenery.”

“Or reading,” Sheela said.

Kelly sighed. “You can’t tell me we’ve just flown four thousand miles so you can stick your head in a book and ignore a view like this.”

“Okay, okay. For once, I’m totally with you,” Sheela answered. “This is absolutely beautiful.”

Spontaneously, the girls reached out and squeezed each other’s hands. They had arrived.

About

The exciting series for teens that explores life...and love...around the world

Studying abroad isn't at all like Kelly thought it would be. Instead of shopping for fine Italian leather and living in an apartment with a view of the Colosseum, she is stuck in a stuffy dorm room with three other girls, and is sharing one shower with the entire floor! This is not the bella Roma that she'd dreamed of. But there is one part of Italy that Kelly doesn't mind—Joe, a really cute guy who's in the study abroad program too. Joe's into staying up late and partying hard, two things that Kelly used to love doing. Bad habits are hard to break, and she soon finds herself on thin ice with the program coordinators. If Kelly's not careful, she might just get the boot…

Author

Peggy Guthart Strauss never studied abroad, but every time she travels to Europe it is a valuable learning experience. When she isn't writing, Peggy works as a graphic designer at the promotional advertising company she runs with her husband. They live in New York City with their rambunctious cairn terrier. View titles by Peggy Guthart Strauss

Excerpt

When in Rome . . .

At home, Kelly had spent hours looking at Rome websites (or the cute Roman guys on them, anyway), and now, from the bus, she recognized the jagged ruins of the Colosseum, Rome’s ancient stadium. She hoped it would be as impressive in real life as it looked online.

The bus turned through a set of iron gates with a brass sign posted on them: PROGRAMMA INTERNAZIONALE DI ROMA. The building wasn’t enormous, but it was impressive: four stories high, in reddish stucco with lighter-colored details around the tall, arched windows framed with green shutters.

“It’s even prettier than the pictures in the brochure,” Kelly said. “Check out that terrace over there. That’ll be the perfect place for sunbathing and soaking up the scenery.”

“Or reading,” Sheela said.

Kelly sighed. “You can’t tell me we’ve just flown four thousand miles so you can stick your head in a book and ignore a view like this.”

“Okay, okay. For once, I’m totally with you,” Sheela answered. “This is absolutely beautiful.”

Spontaneously, the girls reached out and squeezed each other’s hands. They had arrived.

Books for Native American Heritage Month

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month this November, Penguin Random House Education is highlighting books that detail the history of Native Americans, and stories that explore Native American culture and experiences. Browse our collections here: Native American Creators Native American History & Culture

Read more

2024 Middle and High School Collections

The Penguin Random House Education Middle School and High School Digital Collections feature outstanding fiction and nonfiction from the children’s, adult, DK, and Grupo Editorial divisions, as well as publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Peruse online or download these valuable resources to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: English Language Arts,

Read more

PRH Education High School Collections

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more