Now a major motion picture starring Alfre Woodard, Jessica Collins, John Heard, Jacinda Barrett, Cloris Leachman, and Talitha Bateman--in theaters October 2017!
From acclaimed author Sarah Weeks comes a touching coming-of-age story about a young girl's cross-country road trip to discover the truth about her parents, which the New York Times called "a remarkable novel." Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me and Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish.
She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the family secrets of her past.
Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.
Her journey across the country uncovers more than just clues about her past--it reveals the true meaning of home.
- Found Family: With a loving but mentally disabled mother, Heidi relies on her agoraphobic neighbor, Bernadette, who teaches her everything she knows about the world from inside their apartment.
- A Heartwarming Mystery: Haunted by a single, mysterious word from her mother's limited vocabulary, Heidi is determined to uncover the secrets of where she came from, no matter how far she has to travel.
- Mother-Daughter Story: A deeply touching novel that explores the powerful, unspoken bond between a girl and a mother who loves her fiercely, even if she can't care for her.
- A Journey of Self-Discovery: Far from home and all she has ever known, Heidi must piece together a puzzling history and learn that sometimes, the most important truths aren't the answers you find, but the peace you make with not knowing.
About the Author :
Sarah Weeks has written more than fifty books for young readers. Some of her picture books include Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash, Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth!, and Glamourpuss. Her bestselling novel, So B. It, is a feature-length film starring Alfre Woodard and Talitha Bateman. Ms. Weeks visits thousands of students in elementary and middle schools across the country every year. She is also an adjunct professor in the prestigious MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults program at the New School. Sarah lives in Nyack, New York, with her husband, Jim Fyfe, and their dog, Mia. You can visit her online at sarahweeks.com.
Review :
"Weeks has a distinctive voice that's all her own. Her fully dimensional characters are remarkable yet believable [and] the foreshadowing builds to a beautifully satisfying ending. This is lovely writing--real, touching, and pared cleanly down to the essentials." - ALA Booklist (starred review)
"The heart of the search for home and history is one that readers will find compelling." - Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will pull for and empathize with the likable characters." - School Library Journal
"A quick and satisfying tale of love, determination, and the kindness of strangers." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The novel has enough suspence to draw in mystery fans, while Weeks portrays Heidi's emotional and physical odyssey with admirable economy and restraint." - Horn Book Magazine (Starred Review)
"Refreshing, offbeat characters. As the riddle of Heidi's life slowly unfolds, readers will be genuinely touched and surprised." - VOYA (starred review)
"A remarkable novel. [Heidi's] cross-country journey is brave and daring and yields surprising results." - New York Times Book Review
