Sardines

In this affecting middle grade debut, perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Lynda Mullaly Hunt, a boy finds unexpected friendship in a motley group of kids following a devastating loss.

Nothing's been the same since Lucas's older brother died. After the accident, Lucas's mom disappeared without any warning, and his dad is struggling to cope. Lucas is pretty much alone--except for the other kids he meets at his middle school's aftercare program.

There's Cat, the star athlete; Robbie, the goofball; Anna, the popular girl; and Finn, the mysterious new kid. Between games of Sardines, a reverse hide-and-seek, the kids realize that each group member has a secret wish. If they work together, the group might be able to help make each person's dream come true. But for that to happen, Lucas will have to find the strength to trust his new friends with his family's secrets.

* 2023 Maine Literary Award Winner *

"You will fall in love with these characters and root for them each step of the way." --Ann Braden, author of The Benefits of Being an Octopus

"At once tender and funny, honest and smart." --Megan Frazer Blakemore, award-winning author of The Water Castle

• Unlikely Friendships: When five misfits--the jock, the popular girl, the goofball, the new kid, and Lucas--are thrown together in aftercare, they form an unbreakable bond in a secret tree fort.
• Navigating Family Secrets: Lucas is reeling from the loss of his brother and the sudden disappearance of his mother, forcing him to hide the truth about being home alone.
• A Heartwarming School Story: From awkward first days to cafeteria politics, this realistic middle school story captures the challenge of finding your place when everything at home has fallen apart.
• Friendship and Empathy: Through a secret game of granting wishes with acorn caps, the friends learn to trust each other with their biggest fears and stand up for one another in the face of bullying.