A SOFT PLACE TO LAND
On sale September 14, 2021
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Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home became a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn’t have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist—and one day, a film score composer—have been put on hold. One bright light comes in the form of her friendly new neighbor, Nora. When she learns about Joy’s need to get away sometimes, Nora lets Joy in on the complex’s best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it’s in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging messages on the wall with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until—abruptly, they stop writing back. Joy can’t shake the feeling that someone might be in trouble. She has to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between managing a new dog-walking business with Nora, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents’ marriage, Joy isn’t sure how to keep her own head above water. From critically acclaimed author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington, Janae Marks, comes the story of a resilient young girl learning to adjust to the unexpected with grace as she reshapes her meaning of home. Will be available in hardcover, ebook and audio
Katherine Tegen Books Target Age: 8-12 Hardcover ISBN: 9780062875877 |
Advance Praise for A SOFT PLACE TO LAND
"This poignant look at friendship, loss, and facing consequences hits all the right notes. It will squeeze your heart in such a special way. Marks tenderly blends mystery, compassion and the highs and lows of friendship in a perfect melody. A Soft Place to Land will have readers cheering for Joy and longing for a hideout of their very own." - Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say
“A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other.” - Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done
“A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love.” - Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
“A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends.” - Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp
"Seeing children work so hard to make their own place in the world, forge connections, and pursue their own interests is truly inspiring." - Kirkus Reviews
“A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other.” - Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done
“A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love.” - Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
“A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends.” - Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp
"Seeing children work so hard to make their own place in the world, forge connections, and pursue their own interests is truly inspiring." - Kirkus Reviews