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About Lilac and the Switchback

A riveting middle grade novel in verse for any kid who has ever felt unwanted, uncomfortable, or unsure of where they fit in. Lilac has lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin ever since her mom died. She already feels like an “extra” member of a family that doesn’t have enough money or space. Then she finds out her aunt is pregnant with twins, due soon after Lilac turns thirteen. How could they possibly want her around when they’ll have two more kids in their crowded home? As she struggles to process her feelings about the pregnancy, Lilac drifts apart from her best friend Callie, leaving Lilac lonelier than ever. In a timely twist of fate, Lilac discovers a check sent by her estranged father. Maybe he is the family she’s been looking for … and maybe it’s worth risking everything to find him. After all, how much does the “extra” kid really have to lose? Poignant, and full of both growing pains and healing, this sensitive story told in lyrical verse is just right for fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Andrea Beatriz Arango. "Thoroughly developed characters and their complex relationships populate this world. … Told in verse, this tender story unpacks what it means to be a family while exploring the long-term effects of grief, ultimately offering the hope of healing."—Booklist (starred review) A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection