Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh. Today's book, Teenager by Bud Smith,

centers a young couple on the run doing crimes. And in reviews and stuff about the book,

people often compare the couple to Bonnie and Clyde, which on the one hand evokes a certain brand of

American romance, right? Like, it's just you and me, babe, against the one hand, evokes a certain brand of American romance, right?

Like, it's just you and me, babe, against the world.

Or as Jay-Z puts it in that one song, all I need in this life of sin is me and my girlfriend.

But Smith isn't romantic about his couple.

In this interview with NPR Scott Simon, you get the sense his characters

are actually hurting people, committing real violence, and it weighs on them, even if they have to

pretend it doesn't. In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors. On our new show,

Sources and Methods. NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home. Listen to sources and methods on the NPR

app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Cody Green is a Jersey guy who dreams of becoming a cowboy out west.

He wants to spend the rest of his life on the range with the girl he adores.

Telekarticelli, whom he calls Teal.

Blood Smith's novel Teenager opens with Cody breaking out of a juvie detention center

and taking Teal with him on a road trip into

their dreams. They may camp their first night, and let's ask the author Bud Smith to set the scene.

The moon was fat and heavy and had no idea what Cody and Teal had seen and done. It was just the

moon. It shone on their path just as clear as ever. Good thing, too. The headlights were so dim.

...