February 2023, Little, Brown, 336 pp
From the author of The Best Liars in Riverview comes a subtle exploration of gender identity, family, and the personal ghosts that haunt us all, perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Herring Blake.
Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen’s century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.
To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie’s ghost haunting the old O’Hagan house? And will Simon’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
March 2022, Little, Brown/Hachette, 336 pp
In the woods of a small Kentucky town, Aubrey sets off on a journey about growing up, self-discovery, and acceptance while searching for their missing best friend—perfect for fans of KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES.
Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence—weird, yet the same kind of weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. The whole town is looking for him and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can’t say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here’s what they know for sure:
– For the last two weeks of the school year, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods.
– The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game, when sixth grade and bullies like Rudy Thomas became too much.
– The raft is gone now, too.
Aubrey doesn’t know where Joel is, but they might have a hunch about where to find him.
As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and their sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion.
STARRED REVIEWS
BOOKLIST – “Thompson’s debut is a heartfelt coming-of-age journey that explores identity, friendship, and learning to accept who you are, even if you don’t quite understand it yet.”
ACCOLADES
NOTE: Sold at auction.