Smash or Pass
Birdie Schae
May 2026 · Sold by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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4 reviews
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256
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About this ebook
"An ace of a book." —Rachel Lippincott, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Feet Apart
For 16-year-old Ellie, beach volleyball camp is a disaster until she's paired with Sierra, an athletic prodigy who teaches her that volleyball...and love are about taking the right shot in this sporty sapphic romance.
Ellie dates the Right Guy, says all the Right Things, and acts the Right Way to avoid being ridiculed for her autism. When that Right Guy unceremoniously dumps her right before they're supposed to go to beach volleyball camp together, Ellie's perfectly curated world comes crashing down and she's labeled the boring, weird girl.
Desperate to regain her good reputation (and yeah, sure, the boy...), Ellie goes to Camp SMASH, which is nothing like she expected. There, she's paired with Sierra, a mysterious, standoffish volleyball legacy who makes Ellie's quest to get her boyfriend back even more complicated...
Dive into this sporty summer romance full of the classics: a ragtag group of friends, a tense game of capture the flag, and a swoon-worthy sapphic love story.
"A deeply heartfelt debut about friendship, first love, and finding your true self. Smash or Pass [feels] like both a warm hug and a secret whispered across a campfire." —Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow
"Smash or Pass is everything I needed as a queer autistic teenager who wasn't ready to take off the mask. This book is a reminder that vulnerability is a strength and that allowing ourselves to be seen only makes us easier to love." —Sonora Reyes, National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
For 16-year-old Ellie, beach volleyball camp is a disaster until she's paired with Sierra, an athletic prodigy who teaches her that volleyball...and love are about taking the right shot in this sporty sapphic romance.
Ellie dates the Right Guy, says all the Right Things, and acts the Right Way to avoid being ridiculed for her autism. When that Right Guy unceremoniously dumps her right before they're supposed to go to beach volleyball camp together, Ellie's perfectly curated world comes crashing down and she's labeled the boring, weird girl.
Desperate to regain her good reputation (and yeah, sure, the boy...), Ellie goes to Camp SMASH, which is nothing like she expected. There, she's paired with Sierra, a mysterious, standoffish volleyball legacy who makes Ellie's quest to get her boyfriend back even more complicated...
Dive into this sporty summer romance full of the classics: a ragtag group of friends, a tense game of capture the flag, and a swoon-worthy sapphic love story.
"A deeply heartfelt debut about friendship, first love, and finding your true self. Smash or Pass [feels] like both a warm hug and a secret whispered across a campfire." —Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of Today Tonight Tomorrow
"Smash or Pass is everything I needed as a queer autistic teenager who wasn't ready to take off the mask. This book is a reminder that vulnerability is a strength and that allowing ourselves to be seen only makes us easier to love." —Sonora Reyes, National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
"An ace of a book." —Rachel Lippincott, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Feet Apart
For 16-year-old Ellie, beach volleyball camp is a disaster until she's paired with Sierra, an athletic prodigy who teaches her that volleyball...and love are about taking the right shot in this sporty...
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Ratings and reviews
4 reviews
Elliot Puddephatt
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May 28, 2026
I have never read something that perfectly expressed how I think as a queer person with autism. This book has made me feel like I'm not alone in this world and can get a rom com even with my autism
Tegan Gaffel
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May 12, 2026
a simple yet beautiful story about self discovery
About the author
Birdie Schae had big dreams from the moment she was born in a small town in Belgium. Now an author and a student in the Netherlands, she spends most of her time writing love stories, analyzing all sorts of fiction through tears, or listening to a truly concerning amount of music. Smash or Pass is her debut novel. You can find Birdie online as @birdienotabird or at birdieschae.com.
Birdie Schae had big dreams from the moment she was born in a small town in Belgium. Now an author and a student in the Netherlands, she spends most of her time writing love stories, analyzing all sorts of fiction through tears, or listening to a truly concerning amount of music. Smash or Pass is...
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