In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman comes a poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world.
It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie.
Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world.
Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.
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“Stockard Channing adopts a questioning tone that establishes the pure innocence of Bug Contreras, the 10-year-old heroine…Channing shifts adroitly and sensitively to the voices of the elders. She deftly portrays their protective instincts, tenderness, and pride in Bug, who is growing up and learning to fight injustices…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
“The characterizations, setting, and messaging are genuine and heart-tugging, making this a must-read.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Forman has crafted a beautiful and important coming-of-age tale with just a bit of mystery thrown in. A must-have for middle grade libraries.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)“Superb storytelling.”
— Kirkus Reviews“A bittersweet coming-of-age story…a poignant tale about friendship, allyship, and the power of found family.”
— Barnes&Noble.comBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Gayle Forman is an award-winning, internationally bestselling author and journalist. She has written several bestselling novels for young adults, including the New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than forty languages and in 2014 was adapted into a major motion picture.