The summer before middle school is a time of anxiety and change. A pitch-perfect novel in verse about one girl’s wish to simultaneously break free and to belong.
ISBN: 978-1-958325-12-4
Hard back with jacket: $17.99 US
Length: 256 pages
Size: 5.5×8.25 inches
Age: 9-12
Grade: Gr3-6
AUTHOR: Anne Ylvisaker
Anne Ylvisaker (pronounced ILL-vi-soccer) is the author of the picture book IAMASAURUS (Cameron Kids 2022) as well as many award winning books, including five middle grade novels with Candlewick Press, a board book, and nineteen books of non-fiction for young readers. In 2005 Anne was awarded the McKnight Artist Fellowship/Loft Award in Children’s Literature. She has a master’s degree in education.
Also an artist, Anne has participated in various group art shows, and in 2019 had a solo show of paintings and poems called Surprised by Delight.
Anne grew up near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until 2006, she spent her adult life just across the river in Saint Paul, teaching and writing. After four years in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Anne moved to Monterey, California where she lives with her husband Dan.
“Transporting. The poetry skips across the page.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A highly recommended realistic fiction title that deftly explores classic tween themes of summer, friendship, and coming of age.” —School Library Journal
“A sparkler-like whiz of words that captures the feel of summer and the real world of kids—their rituals and rules and private growth spurts. Anne Ylvisaker owns this territory.”
—Paul Fleischman, Newbery Medal recipient for Joyful Noise and National Book Award finalist for Breakout.
“I love this book so much I want to live in it, with these rope-jumping, skate-boarding, tree-climbing, bottle cap-collecting, poetry-writing, mouse-rescuing, dog-finding, double-daring, friend-making (and sometimes losing), life-loving, joy-filled kids. Ylvisaker has created a place so real and full of life, you’re going to want to live here, too.”
—Margi Preus, Newbery Honor winning author winner and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai
