Synopses & Reviews
You couldn′t really tell about Mama′s brain just from looking at her, but it was obvious as soon as she spoke. She had a high voice, like a little girl′s, and she only knew twenty-three words. I know this for a fact, because we kept a list of the things Mama said tacked to the inside of the kitchen cabinet. Most of the words were common ones, like good and more and hot, but there was one word only my mother said, soof.
Although she lives an unconventional lifestyle with her mentally disabled mother and their doting neighbor, Bernadette, Heidi has a lucky streak that has a way of pointing her in the right direction. When a mysterious word in her mother′s vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi′s thirst for the truth leads her on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.
A dramatic tour de force by the best-selling author of Regular Guy.
Review
"Heidi It has gotten to be 12 years old without knowing any but the sketchiest information about her background: her mentally disabled mother, who insists her name is So Be It, showed up with the week-old Heidi on their neighbor Bernadette's doorstep seemingly out of the clear blue sky, and Bernadette, who is severely agoraphobic but also bookish and generous, has been looking out for Heidi and Mama ever since. Somehow Heidi and Mama never get billed for rent or utilities, and besides, Heidi has an almost magical ability to play slot machines, which, in their native Reno, can be found even in the local Sudsy Duds laundromat. But as the novel opens, Heidi has begun to chafe she is no longer willing to live with Bernadette's complacency about the mysterious past ('What happened before [I met you] doesn't matter,' Bernadette tells Heidi. 'It's just something to be grateful for') and Heidi is determined to find out what Mama means by the strange word 'soof.' When Heidi uncovers an old camera with a roll of undeveloped film, a host of clues to her identity send her on a solo cross-country bus trip to confront people who not only do not expect her but have taken pains to insulate themselves from her existence. Suspension of belief is beside the point: readers will probably respond to Heidi's voice and determination, get caught up in the mystery and feel wiser for the mild tear-jerker ending. Ages 10-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Review
“A quick and satisfying tale of love, determination, and the kindness of strangers.” Bulletin of the Center for Children & #8217;s Books
Review
“A remarkable novel. [Heidis] cross-country journey is brave and daring and yields surprising results.” New York Times Book Review
Review
“Refreshing, offbeat characters. As the riddle of Heidis life slowly unfolds, readers will be genuinely touched and surprised.” VOYA (starred review)
Review
“The heart of the search for home and history is one that readers will find compelling.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Readers will pull for and empathize with the likable characters.” School Library Journal
Review
Praise for After Iris:
Now a Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book, a 2014 Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and a CCBC Choice!
"Bluebell Gadsby is the kind of heroine who brings to mind Cassandra Mortmain in ‘I Capture the Castle or Harriet the Spy…” - The New York Times
"At once funny and painful and tumultuous, with a deus-ex-machina ending that will make readers want to cheer." - The Wall Street Journal
* "Hilariously funny and poignantly touching...an uplifting, memorable read." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Flat-out wonderful.” - Booklist
"A realistic slice of life that bubbles with wit and charm." - School Library Journal
"The grand finale...is one of the best Christmas scenes ever." - The Horn Book
"A full, engaging portrait of a complicated family." - Newsday
Synopsis
From acclaimed author Sarah Weeks comes a touching coming-of-age story about a young girl who goes on a cross-country journey to discover the truth about her parents, which the New York Times called -a remarkable novel.- Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me and Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish.
She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past. Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.
Synopsis
Now a major motion picture starring Alfre Woodard, Jessica Collins, John Heard, Jacinda Barrett, Cloris Leachman, and Talitha Bateman--in theaters October 2017
From acclaimed author Sarah Weeks comes a touching coming-of-age story about a young girl who goes on a cross-country journey to discover the truth about her parents, which the New York Times called "a remarkable novel." Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me and Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish.
She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.
Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives.
Synopsis
You couldn't really tell about Mama's brain just from looking at her, but it was obvious as soon as she spoke. She had a high voice, like a little girl's, and she only knew twenty-three words. I know this for a fact, because we kept a list of the things Mama said tacked to the inside of the kitchen cabinet. Most of the words were common ones, like good and more and hot, but there was one word only my mother said, soof.
Although she lives an unconventional lifestyle with her mentally disabled mother and their doting neighbor, Bernadette, Heidi has a lucky streak that has a way of pointing her in the right direction. When a mysterious word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi's thirst for the truth leads her on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.
A dramatic tour de force by the best-selling author of Regular Guy.
Synopsis
The Gadsby family will capture your heart yet again in this heartwarming sequel to Indie Next List Pick After Iris
Life with the Gadsby family is always chaotic, but now things are spinning of control. Blue's parents are back home, alternating between rekindling their romance and wondering why theyre still together, and Zoran, the au pair who used to keep them all sane, has moved out. What's more, he has taken in a reclusive teenage boy, which leaves Blue and her siblings feeling utterly abandoned. Naturally, Blue is determined to bring Zoran homeand to document every moment of her familys trials and tribulations. Fans of The Penderwicks and Counting By 7s will find an insightfully funny narrator in the irresistible Blue Gadsby.
About the Author
Sarah Weeks is a singer, songwriter, and childrens book author. She has been writing and performing in New York for more than twenty years and has garnered numerous theater and recording credits, as well as writing more than thirty picture books and middle grade novels. These include the popular middle grade Guy series, Regular Guy, Guy Time, Guy Wire and My Guy, which will soon be a feature film by Disney. Ms. Weeks enjoys visiting schools and libraries throughout the country, where she reads from her books, sings her songs, and talks to children about writing. She currently lives in New York City with her two sons.