Auden goes to live with her father and stepmother for the summer in Colby, North Carolina. She gets a job at her stepmother's store and meets Eli, a fellow insomniac. They become friends. Auden's father and stepmother separate, reminding her of her parents' divorce. However, Auden learns to ride a bike and reconnects with Eli at a party. Her father and stepmother reconcile.

1. Along for the Ride
Overview of Literary
Concepts
By Mo!y Compagnoni

2. Protagonist
Main character: Auden West
Auden is an 18 year old insomniac who has lived with
her mother most of her life a#er her parents divorced
when she was young. She is excited to go to co!ege in the
fa! and get away &om her contro!ing parents.

3. Supporting Characters
Heidi West: Auden’s stepmom, who she is staying with for the summer, and
becomes close with as the story goes on.
Ma'ie, Esther and Leah: 3 Colby natives who work at Heidi’s shop,
Clementine’s, and become some Auden’s best &iends over the summer
Eli Stock: A boy Auden meets over the summer, who is and insomniac like her,
and helps her make up for her lost childhood.
Robert West: Auden’s father, a professor, with a newborn baby in the house, and
working on writing his latest book.
Victoria West: Auden’s contro!ing mother, who is not looking forward to her
leaving for co!ege

4. Exposition
Auden goes to her father’s house in Colby to live with
him, her stepmother and their new baby for the summer.
Setting: A sma! beach town ca!ed Colby in North
Carolina, where everyone knows everyone. This story
took place around 2008, when Auden was 18 and getting
ready to go to co!ege.

5. Rising Action
Auden gets a job at her stepmom’s clothing store,
Clementine’s.
She meets Eli, a fe!ow insomniac, and they become
&iends and spend their nights together.

6. Climax
Auden’s father and stepmom separate.
She stops spending time with Eli and starts studying and
preparing for co!ege in an effort to return to her old life.
Her dad and stepmom separating reminded her of when
her parents divorced when she was younger.

7. SPOILER
ALERT

8. Falling Action
Auden learns how to ride a bike, something she was never
taught as a child.
Her father returns to the house to help take care of his
daughter.

9. SPOILER
ALERT

10. Resolution
Auden goes with Eli to an end of summer party at the
beach and they get back together.
Auden’s dad and stepmother get back together.

11. Conflict
Person vs Person Conflict
Auden just wants her mother to accept her for who she is, and not
have to change to fit her idea of a perfect daughter.
She knows that her father is busy with a book and a new baby, but
she doesn’t want to be forgotten. She is scared that because of
everything that’s going on in her family, she wi! be less important to
them.
When Auden’s dad and stepmom separate for a while, she starts to
retreat back into who she was before she came to Colby

12. Themes
Do whatever makes you happy, and don’t live to please
others.
Friendship
Keep an open mind, and be open to what the world has to
offer.