From the author of the acclaimed My Life in the Fish Tank and Maybe He Just Likes You comes a moving and relatable middle grade novel about secrets, family, and the power of forgiveness.
Twelve-year-old Wren loves makeupâspecial effect makeup, to be exact. When she is experimenting with new looks, Wren can create a different version of herself. A girl who isnât in a sort-of-best friendship with someone who seems like she hates her. A girl whose parents arenât divorced and doesnât have to learn to like her new stepmom.
So, when Wren and her mom move to a new town for a fresh start, she is cautiously optimistic. And things seem to fall into place when Wren meets potential friends and gets selected as the makeup artist for her schoolâs upcoming production of Wicked.
Only, Wrenâs mom isnât doing so well. Sheâs taking a lot of naps, starts snapping at Wren for no reason, and always seems to be sick. And whatâs worse, Wren keeps getting hints that things arenât going well at her new job at the hospital, where her mom is a nurse. And after an opening night disaster leads to a heartbreaking discovery, Wren realizes that her mother has a serious problemâa problem that canât be wiped away or covered up.
After all the progress sheâs made, can Wren start over again with her devastating new normal? And will she ever be able to heal the broken trust with her mom?
