Synopses & Reviews
Ellis only has four days of her sophomore year left, and summer is so close that she can almost taste it. But even with vacation just within reach, Ellis isnt exactly relaxed. Her father has been in a coma for years, the result of a construction accident, and her already-fragile relationship with her mother is strained over whether or not to remove him from life support. Her best friend fails even to notice that anything is wrong and Ellis feels like her world is falling apart. But when all seems bleak, Ellis finds comfort in the most unexpected places.
Life goes on, but in those four fleeting days friends are lost and found, promises are made, and Ellis realizes that nothing will ever quite be the same, in 37 Things I Love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon.
Review
Praise for 37 Things I Love (in no particular order):"Honest and relatable." —BCCB"Magoon gently but unflinchingly explores difficult adolescent territory in this intelligent, affecting novel." —Publishers Weekly"Coming of age, death, hope, love—and Ellis is a character to care about and cheer on for a long, long time." —The Horn Book "[A] powerful outing from a rising star." —Kirkus Reviews Praise for The Rock and the River: Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent A Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth "Convincingly detailed [and] shows movingly how the two sons of a civil rights leader come to bear the cost of the struggle." —The New York Times * "[A] taut, eloquent first novel." —Booklist, starred review "Compelling . . . a perspective that is rarely explored." —Kirkus Reviews "The characters are well drawn and the complexities of the relationships . . . are moving." —School Library Journal Praise for Camo Girl: "Magoon writes with insight, wit, and compassion. Characters are appealing; action is well paced; and adolescent angst is palpable." —School Library Journal "A sensitive, quietly powerful look at discovering inner strength, coping, and thriving—or not—in the face of tragedy." —Booklist
Review
"...honest and relatable…”
“Magoon (Camo Girl) gently but unflinchingly explores difficult adolescent territory in this intelligent, affecting novel.”—Publishers Weekly
“…coming of age, death, hope, love—and Ellis is a character to care about and cheer on for a long, long time.”—Horn Book
"...[a] powerful outing from a rising star."—Kirkus Praise for The Rock and the River:
Winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent
A Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth
“Convincingly detailed [and] shows movingly how the two sons of a civil rights leader come to bear the cost of the struggle.” —The New York Times
“[A] taut, eloquent first novel.” —Booklist, starred review
“Compelling...a perspective that is rarely explored.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The characters are well drawn and the complexities of the relationships . . . are moving.” —School Library Journal
Praise for Camo Girl:
“Magoon writes with insight, wit, and compassion. Characters are appealing; action is well paced; and adolescent angst is palpable.” —School Library Journal
“A sensitive, quietly powerful look at discovering inner strength, coping, and thriving—or not—in the face of tragedy.” —Booklist
About the Author
Kekla Magoon is the author of Camo Girl and The Rock and the River, winner of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award. She is a New York City-based editor, speaker, and educator. In addition to writing fiction, Kekla leads writing workshops for youth and adults, writes nonfiction titles for the education market, and is the co-editor of YA & Children's Literature for Hunger Mountain, the arts journal of Vermont College.