Normally, expiration dates are found on the back of milk cartons or loaves of bread. They’re a mark of when something turns bad.

     Imagine if people had expiration dates too. What if the things they did wrong were printed on their skin until they proved themselves to be good again–until their evil expired.

     What if a person was imprisoned until the expiration date was reached. Now imagine society locking you up in a prison until you reached your expiration date.

     This year on WCA’s online newspaper, The Wildcat Roar, you can read a story that asks and answers these questions. Expiration Date is a serial novel written by Mary Grace Barber, and a new chapter will be published with each issue online.

     Last year, the serial novel, Shatterproof, focused on a girl named Bryony and dealt with the effects of our words on others and the pressures to be perfect in society.

     Although Expiration Date continues to follow Bryony on her journey, the plot stands independent from that of Shatterproof. In this new story, Bryony awakes in futuristic America with tattoos of the things she did wrong on her skin. But things go awry from the start when the police seize her and lock her up for her “illegal tattoo.”

     Those who have not read the first novel should have limited trouble following the plot of Expiration Date. However, a few well-loved characters from Shatterproof will reappear, and obviously every author encourages their readers to explore all of his or her works.

    Because Expiration Date has yet to be released, here are a few quotes from peers that will encourage you to check out the serial novel on The Wildcat Roar online.

     “Wait, what’s a serial novel?”

–Chase Lottman, sophomore.

     “I’m obsessed with [Shatterproof],”

–Katherine Yenzer, junior.

     “It’s a really unique concept, which makes it stand out from all the other stories,”

–Elyse Blatz, senior.

      “It’s like Charles Dickens’ serial novels, except I don’t get paid by the word, and there’s actually a happy ending,”

–Mary Grace Barber, author.