Ever since her father died in an accident three years ago, 11-year-old Maddy Gaines sees danger everywhere she looks: at the bus stop, around the roller rink, in the woods, and (especially) by the ocean. When Maddy meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the North Carolina woods, she suspects the worst.
Maddy is certain she's found Billy Holcomb — the boy who went missing in the fall. Except, maybe it's not him. It's been six months since he disappeared. And who will believe her anyway? Definitely not her mom or her stepdad... or the chief of police.
As Maddy tries to uncover the truth about Billy Holcomb, ghosts from her own past surface, her best friend starts to slip away, and Maddy's world tilts once again. Can she put the pieces of her life back together, even if some of them are lost forever? This powerful novel explores the process of overcoming grief and adjusting to changes through the eyes of an anxious but determined girl who refuses to give up.
"Adding to the light mystery are more areas of concern for the preteen: Her mother has recently remarried, and she and quirky Stan now want a new baby; her best friend, Cress, seems to be growing up faster than Maddy is ready to; and she’s afraid of losing the memories of her father. Conklin’s fine Southern storytelling, complete with Cheerwine, homemade pies, and pig pickin’s, blends these nuanced realities with care. A nail-biting ending brings hopeful resolutions, including a growing family that still honors Maddy’s dad.... Maddy’s spunky resilience will appeal to girls adjusting to their own changes. " — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 9 - 12 |
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Author | Melanie Conklin |
ISBN | 1368048951 |
Publication Date | May 26, 2020 |
Publisher | Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
Language | English |