Carrie Pilby is a recent adaptation of Caren Lissner’s novel, and it shines a light on the struggles of growing up. Carrie is 19 and a recent Harvard graduate (you read that right). After struggling to deal with her mother’s death when Carrie was only 12, her father then takes her to America and enrolls her in college at only 14. With both parents absent in her life, Carrie must navigate the difficulty era of puberty, emotions and hormones all on her own. Carrie’s struggles throughout the film accurately depict what it is like growing up, even when life is hard and confusing. This film reiterates that there’s a Carrie Pilby in all of us.

She prefers to stay in than go out and socialize.

She accepts the fact that she’s not “normal.”

She’s forced to work a meaningless job to get by.

She’s a regular at local places.

She’s incredibly awkward and incapable of flirting.

She’s got parent issues that she’s working through.

She prefers goldfish to people.

Her first love broke her heart (and stole her first edition!)

She’s okay with “taking some time.”

She finally finds a nice guy.

However, Carrie’s grace and moral certainty compliments her still naïve heart as she goes through heartaches, her first job and becoming an active member of society, giving both the film and the novel a charm and elegance in this coming-of-age story.