As Simple As It Seems

Description

Verbena Colter knows she's bad news. Trouble from the get-go. How could she not be, with parents like hers Her mother practically pickled her before she was even born, leaving Verbie to struggle with the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. And her father was just plain mean. Verbie wishes she could be somebody, anybody other than who she is. Enter Pooch, a flatlander boy visiting for the summer. When Pooch and his mom rent the house next door, Verbie takes the opportunity to be someone else entirely. And what starts out as a game leads Verbie into a surprising and heartwarming journey of self-discovery. Another gem from the author of So B. It.

Sarah Weeks is the author of the best-selling picture books with tapes Crocodile Smile, Follow the Moon, and Without You. She also wrote the critically acclaimed and award-winning novel So B. It and the popular middle grade Guy series, including Regular Guy, Guy Time, Guy Wire, and My Guy, soon to be a feature film with Disney. She has written dozens of picture books including I'm a Pig, illustrated by Holly Berry, and More Eggs Please, illustrated by Betsy Lewin. She lives in New York with her two sons

"There are many passages that could jump-start a booktalk and get this into kids' hands." -- School Library Journal "Life and death weave together in strange ways one summer for twelve year old Verbena Colter. Sarah Weeks tells her story with warmth, grace, and deep compassion. A stunning novel about life's many complications and how we struggle to grow up, into ourselves." -- Brian Selznick, author and Caldecott winning illustrator of THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET "Verbena is a character you will not want to leave. An endearing story, heartfelt, and buoyant." -- Pam Munoz Ryan, author of ESPERANZA RISING "Young readers will recognize their struggles to grow and understand their own lives, while laughing, and crying along the way. Nothing simple here; just fine writing." -- Avi, Newbery Medal-winning author of CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD