Wayne Kovok starts every sentence with "Did you know..." Did you know that Russian turtles orbited the moon before any astronauts ever did? Did you know that falling vending machines kill more people than sharks each year? Wayne has always relied on his voice to change the subject in awkward situations (which are everywhere in seventh grade).All that changes on a trip back from Arlington National Cemetery where he and his mother picked up the flag commemorating the death of his uncle, a soldier in Iraq. The plane home crashes, and Wayne loses his voice. They both lose the perfectly folded honor flag, sucked out of the plane somewhere over the great state of Texas. It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say: his deadbeat dad doesn't take responsibility for hurting him, his military grandfather puts impossible pressure on Wayne to follow in his footsteps, and the girl Wayne likes is maybe-possibly dating him out of pity. In this unforgettable journey of family and friendship, Wayne starts a quest to find the flag, and in the

Wayne Kovok lives in a world of After. After his uncle in the army was killed overseas. After Wayne and his mother survived a plane crash while coming back from the funeral. After he lost his voice.Wayne has always used his love of facts to communicate ("Did you know more people die each year from shaking a vending machine than from shark attacks?"). Without his voice, how will he wow the prettiest girl in school? How will he stand up to his drill-sergeant grandfather? And how will he share his hopes with his deadbeat dad? It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say.Filled with Karen Harrington's signature heart and humor, Mayday tackles an unforgettable journey of family and friendship.

Wayne Kovok starts every sentence with "Did you know..." Did you know that Russian turtles orbited the moon before any astronauts ever did? Did you know that falling vending machines kill more people than sharks each year? Wayne has always relied on his voice to change the subject in awkward situations (which are everywhere in seventh grade).All that changes on a trip back from Arlington National Cemetery where he and his mother picked up the flag commemorating the death of his uncle, a soldier in Iraq. The plane home crashes, and Wayne loses his voice. They both lose the perfectly folded honor flag, sucked out of the plane somewhere over the great state of Texas. It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say: his deadbeat dad doesn't take responsibility for hurting him, his military grandfather puts impossible pressure on Wayne to follow in his footsteps, and the girl Wayne likes is maybe-possibly dating him out of pity. In this unforgettable journey of family and friendship, Wayne starts a quest to find the flag, and in the

Wayne Kovok lives in a world of After. After his uncle in the army was killed overseas. After Wayne and his mother survived a plane crash while coming back from the funeral. After he lost his voice.Wayne has always used his love of facts to communicate ("Did you know more people die each year from shaking a vending machine than from shark attacks?"). Without his voice, how will he wow the prettiest girl in school? How will he stand up to his drill-sergeant grandfather? And how will he share his hopes with his deadbeat dad? It's not until Wayne loses his voice completely that he realizes how much he doesn't say.Filled with Karen Harrington's signature heart and humor, Mayday tackles an unforgettable journey of family and friendship.