A 2022 Audie Award Finalist
âJoyful, occasionally heartbreaking, deeply moving.â âR. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder
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.
Itâs 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 Bugâs mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philipâs nephew, Frankie.
Bugâs not too excited about hanging out with a kid sheâs 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 youâre related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isnât always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.