Fans of David Almond’s Skellig and Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls will embrace this deeply affecting middle grade novel in which a girl suffering from terrible grief befriends a mysterious wild boy. When I saw him that first time I screamed—a small and silent scream, all inside, in my gut. Eleven-year-old Kaia, who has felt isolated since her older brother committed suicide more than a year before, befriends a wild boy who mysteriously appears at her London school. Though the boy is mute and can only communicate with a flash of his gray eyes, he might be the friend Kaia needs to bring her through her grief. Here’s a fascinating story, which offers a fresh and completely original portrayal of loss and renewal."Readers who love stories of overcoming personal struggles and emotional strife will eat this up." —Booklist"Fans of realistic fiction... will surely devour Avery’s latest." —School Library Journal"[Kaia''s] confessional narration and self-aware observations yield a believable and haunting portrait of grief." —Publishers WeeklyFrom the Hardcover edition.

For fans of David Almond’s Skellig and Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, here is a lyrical, atmospheric, and deeply emotional middle-grade novel with a touch of magical realism.   Twins Jamie and Ned do everything together, from watching their favorite show, Star Trek, to riding their bikes, to beachcombing after a storm. But Ned is sick with cystic fibrosis, and he may someday leave Jamie behind. One day the boys find a strange animal on the beach: smooth flesh on one end, scales at the other, and short arms and legs with long webbed fingers and toes. Could it be a merman, like in the old stories Granddad tells?   Together, the boys name the creature Leonard and decide to hide him in a tub in their garage. But . . . why is Leonard here? Jamie hopes he might bring some miracle that will stop his brother from going where he can no longer follow. But Ned, who grows closer to Leonard every day, doesn’t seem to be getting any better. . . ."An elegant story of courage and loss." —The Wall Street Journal"A heartrending but ultimately uplifting adventure novel." —School Library Journal, Starred"A hauntingly beautiful story about brotherly bonds, wrenching grief, and the untethered hope that everything will somehow work out." —Publishers Weekly, Starred"Captivating." —Shelf Awareness, StarredFrom the Hardcover edition.

My name is Kaia.I’m frozen because of what happened.I’m trapped because of what I saw.Can someone help me to grow again?Kaia is frozen when her brother dies, but can an unexpected friend help her to grow again?

“ It’ s Father,” my brother said. “ He’ s in trouble. We’ ve got to get him.” Prince and Emmanuel are stunned to hear that someone who says she’ s their mother is looking for them. Can it really be her, after four long years of separation? The boys are scared and suspicious. And then there’ s another shock – they learn that their father is trapped in Tanzania, blackmailed by gangsters to pay off an impossible debt. The boys make a big decision – somehow they must find the money to get to Africa, bring their father home and reunite their family. Even if it means going back to stealing...

Jojo Locke's dad disappeared six years ago. And what's stranger still, none of his family can really remember him, there's a hole inside each of them where Dad should be. But then Aunt Pen arrives, a real faerie, with her tricks and wishes. She tests Jojo to see how deep his courage runs and sets him off on a journey to find their memories of Dad, and an adventure far beyond what he could have imagined begins.

Jojo Locke's dad disappeared six years ago. And what's stranger still, none of his family can really remember him, there's a hole inside each of them where Dad should be. But then Aunt Pen arrives, a real faerie, with her tricks and wishes. She tests Jojo to see how deep his courage runs and sets him off on a journey to find their memories of Dad, and an adventure far beyond what he could have imagined begins.

"Get out, Emmanuel!" growled my uncle. "Take your brother and go."But where can two boys go when they're on their own, on the run, with little money or food? All 12-year-old Emmanuel knows is that he has to look after Prince. They were his father's last words to him.On the train to London, Em and Prince have no idea where they will end up - but then they meet the mysterious Mr Green and his "friends". And that's when things start to spin out of control...

Fans of David Almond’s Skellig and Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls will embrace this deeply affecting middle grade novel in which a girl suffering from terrible grief befriends a mysterious wild boy. When I saw him that first time I screamed—a small and silent scream, all inside, in my gut. Eleven-year-old Kaia, who has felt isolated since her older brother committed suicide more than a year before, befriends a wild boy who mysteriously appears at her London school. Though the boy is mute and can only communicate with a flash of his gray eyes, he might be the friend Kaia needs to bring her through her grief. Here’s a fascinating story, which offers a fresh and completely original portrayal of loss and renewal."Readers who love stories of overcoming personal struggles and emotional strife will eat this up." —Booklist"Fans of realistic fiction... will surely devour Avery’s latest." —School Library Journal"[Kaia''s] confessional narration and self-aware observations yield a believable and haunting portrait of grief." —Publishers WeeklyFrom the Hardcover edition.

For fans of David Almond’s Skellig and Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, here is a lyrical, atmospheric, and deeply emotional middle-grade novel with a touch of magical realism.   Twins Jamie and Ned do everything together, from watching their favorite show, Star Trek, to riding their bikes, to beachcombing after a storm. But Ned is sick with cystic fibrosis, and he may someday leave Jamie behind. One day the boys find a strange animal on the beach: smooth flesh on one end, scales at the other, and short arms and legs with long webbed fingers and toes. Could it be a merman, like in the old stories Granddad tells?   Together, the boys name the creature Leonard and decide to hide him in a tub in their garage. But . . . why is Leonard here? Jamie hopes he might bring some miracle that will stop his brother from going where he can no longer follow. But Ned, who grows closer to Leonard every day, doesn’t seem to be getting any better. . . ."An elegant story of courage and loss." —The Wall Street Journal"A heartrending but ultimately uplifting adventure novel." —School Library Journal, Starred"A hauntingly beautiful story about brotherly bonds, wrenching grief, and the untethered hope that everything will somehow work out." —Publishers Weekly, Starred"Captivating." —Shelf Awareness, StarredFrom the Hardcover edition.

My name is Kaia.I’m frozen because of what happened.I’m trapped because of what I saw.Can someone help me to grow again?Kaia is frozen when her brother dies, but can an unexpected friend help her to grow again?

“ It’ s Father,” my brother said. “ He’ s in trouble. We’ ve got to get him.” Prince and Emmanuel are stunned to hear that someone who says she’ s their mother is looking for them. Can it really be her, after four long years of separation? The boys are scared and suspicious. And then there’ s another shock – they learn that their father is trapped in Tanzania, blackmailed by gangsters to pay off an impossible debt. The boys make a big decision – somehow they must find the money to get to Africa, bring their father home and reunite their family. Even if it means going back to stealing...

Jojo Locke's dad disappeared six years ago. And what's stranger still, none of his family can really remember him, there's a hole inside each of them where Dad should be. But then Aunt Pen arrives, a real faerie, with her tricks and wishes. She tests Jojo to see how deep his courage runs and sets him off on a journey to find their memories of Dad, and an adventure far beyond what he could have imagined begins.

Jojo Locke's dad disappeared six years ago. And what's stranger still, none of his family can really remember him, there's a hole inside each of them where Dad should be. But then Aunt Pen arrives, a real faerie, with her tricks and wishes. She tests Jojo to see how deep his courage runs and sets him off on a journey to find their memories of Dad, and an adventure far beyond what he could have imagined begins.

"Get out, Emmanuel!" growled my uncle. "Take your brother and go."But where can two boys go when they're on their own, on the run, with little money or food? All 12-year-old Emmanuel knows is that he has to look after Prince. They were his father's last words to him.On the train to London, Em and Prince have no idea where they will end up - but then they meet the mysterious Mr Green and his "friends". And that's when things start to spin out of control...