Synopsis: Casablanca, Cappucino & Confucious -- A Coming-of-age Tale

It's a coming of age novel about three young women whose lives become entwined in unexpected ways. Delving into each girl's lives and point of views we get an intimate look at what this time in life means. Progressing further we find their lives overlaping and how their new friendship-can conquer any number of insecurities, challenges and adventures. This novella attempts to capture the spirit of being a young woman-- to give it life.

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Laylah-

The novel opens through the eyes of Laylah- a very outspoken college freshman. Coming from an family whose lives are in shambles, she is determined to stand out as someone who "Has a clue" as to what life is about. This spirited brunette has a very strong addiction to coffee. She spends countless hours in cafes, and any place offering her drink of choice-- or more importantly where her caffine-phobic mother can't find her. While she seems to have trouble expressing herself in a non-sarcastic way, she is a promising young writer.When she is not glued to her laptop, she always carries a small leather journal. Writing has more or less become her only outlet, as she is convinced she has little- or even no- talent in anything else, often trending as brooding, the thoughts she expresses show a view of life from her eyes.

Laylah- Is the central narrator of the novel, while sharing view points with the other two young women, her remarks and sense of authorship invade a story- she doesn't even know she is a part of.

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Sydney-

Sydney enters this story as a bookworm, a high school senior whose primary focus is impressing her teachers- as she has given up on doing so with the majority of her peers. While well-traveled for her age she gives little credit to herself for her accomplishments. She prefers to hide out in knooks of the library or local bookstores- escaping to the far-away worlds of novels.It is rare to see this redheaded know-it-all without a copy of a philosophy book- her prospective major. She dresses mostly in muted oxfords and polos, giving the overwhelming appearence of hopeless studious person. While she is not shy, she only truly opens up with a heated discussion. Learning many of her mannerisms from her father, she has adapted his obsession with elaboration, or more over, domination of any intellectual pursuit...An endevor she soon finds can be very hazerdous.

Sydney acts as the portrayal of a teen who is trapped, caught up in high expectations- who seems to be unaware of her true potential- or refuses to accredit herself with it.

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Isabelle--

The shyest of the trio is the young blonde, Belle, or as her parents insist on calling her -Isabelle. She is a high school junior who spends her free-time volunteering at a local center for homeless children. The atmosphere fits her very reserved personality perfectly. Her indulgance is classic film- mostly silent and black & white movies. As she secretly pines to be an actress she is entranced by the elegance of her favorite films. Dressing in light pastels she projects the very image of a spring flower. Often underestimated, she has slipped into the mindset that she will always be a follower- and as such she avoids conflict at all costs.

Isabelle will face the inevitable, loss of innocence of maturing as a teen. When she faces a violent rage of a homeless man, searching for his son, she is forced to let go of the image of safety and perfection she was so accustomed to.

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