Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition
Sad Plant
When the book opens, Lennie's sister Bailey has been dead for a month, and Lennie's Gram and Uncle Big are convinced that an ailing houseplant represents her inner life. Lennie is definitely messed up, and barely talks to her family or best friend anymore—she's one lost and lonely girl. With that, the stage is set for a new boy to come to town and complicate things further.
Rising Action
Double Duty
Lennie starts kissing her partner in mourning, who just happens to be Bailey's fiancé, Toby. While continuing to do this, Lennie also starts dating aforementioned new boy (his name is Joe), a guy she is actually falling for. We're dreading the moment when these boys inevitably collide—there's just no way they won't. And sure enough, Joe sees Lennie making out with Toby and bounces. Lennie and her best friend try several schemes to win Joe back, but each scheme renders Lennie more desperate as Joe resists her efforts.
Climax
Take the Blame
Lennie tries to apologize to Joe, and Joe tells her he could never be with someone who betrayed her sister the way she did. Then Gram gets in on the yelling and tells Lennie she's been selfish, and that Gram's needed her this whole time but Lennie has refused to talk to her. Lennie is forced to confront all the bad stuff she's done since her sister's death, and it's painful—but it also stops her downward spiral in its tracks. So our main character has officially turned a corner.
Falling Action
Poetry in Motion
It's time for Lennie to make amends. She finally talks to Gram about everything, and Gram reveals some truths about Lennie's absent mother. Lennie also writes a love poem to Joe. It totally works—Joe's been reading all her poems, and they've made him more understanding about the whole Toby thing. Yay. Things are coming together finally.
Resolution
Life Happens
Lennie starts to really be part of her world again—she starts playing music and attends her Uncle Big's wedding. But there will never be a true resolution to Lennie's grief, but instead of resisting this, Lennie makes peace with it. She still visits Bailey's gravesite and can't help mourning the future Bailey could have had, but she's no longer letting this stop her from living her own life fully.