I've collected all of my previous essays under one roof, and I'm now actively adding new content all the time. Follow me on Medium for essays on polyamory and nonmonogamy, health and wellness, spiritual and emotional growth, and self-love.

Read personal stories from my love life as well as my advice and insights on how to navigate consensual nonmonogamy and open relationships at OpenLove101.com.

“FRUNK THE SKUNK SMELLS LIKE JUNK!”

Upon hearing this played-out chant, eleven-year-old Tarryn Frunk does not expect the eighth grade to be different from any other school year, unlike two years ago when she and her family first moved to Seoul, South Korea. It turns out that even an American army base halfway around the world is just an extension of American suburbia, and the kids there are just as mean, especially when you are two grades ahead in school, make sculptures out of found objects (a.k.a. junk), and have a white streak in your incredibly frizzy hair.

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But two significant events—one humiliating, the other flattering—happen to Tarryn on the first day of eighth grade, changing the course of the school year and upsetting the dynamics of what were once believed to be steadfast friendships.

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In her debut novel, Samia Mounts perfectly captures the vulnerability of adolescents—both the outsiders and the in-crowd—and also conveys the nuances of everyday life on an American army base.

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The unique illustrations of Luca Matricardi—found in every chapter—bring the world of Tarryn Frunk to life.

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