Most twelve-year-olds would be excited to fly to Austria to see their dad for the summer but then Becca is not most twelve-year-olds. Suffering from severe anxiety, she fears that the metal detectors at the airport will give her cancer and the long international flight will leave her with blood clots. Luckily, she's packed her Doomsday Journal, the one thing that always seems to help. By writing down her fears and what to do if the worst happens, Becca can get by without (many) panic attacks.
Routines and plans help Becca cope but living in a new country is full of the unexpected — including Becca's companions for the summer. Like Felix, the short and bookish son of Becca's dad's new girlfriend. Or Sara, the nineteen-year-old Bosnian woman tasked with watching the two of them for the summer, who has escaped the genocide but fears for family back home in Sarajevo. As Becca explores Vienna and becomes close to her new friends, she soon learns she is not alone in her fears. What matters most is what you do when faced with them.
"Becca explores Vienna and learns about the ongoing war in the former Yugoslavia and how it has affected Sara and her family back home. Inspired by Sara’s resilience and ambitions, Becca decides to make a list and do all the things she fears most. In this thoughtful novel populated with well-developed characters, Levine slowly and realistically reveals Becca’s growth, including her shifting relationships with her father, Sara, and Felix.... An important story about anxiety, change, and courage." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 10 - 13 |
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Author | Kristin Levine |
ISBN | 0525518649 |
Publication Date | Jun 15, 2021 |
Publisher | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers |
Language | English |