About this item
Highlights
- "A charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story.
- 8-12 Years
- 8.2" x 5.5" Paperback
- 272 Pages
- Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic
Description
About the Book
For fans of Wendy Mass and Andrew Clements comes a magical middle-grade adventure from Kate Messner.Book Synopsis
"A charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story." --Wendy Mass, New York Times bestselling author of 11 Birthdays
What if your pencil were MAGICAL? When Ava Anderson finds an old blue pencil in her family's junk drawer, it doesn't seem like anything special. But then she writes a question in the margin of her math quiz, and she hears a voice loud and clear--one that nobody else can hear--and it tells her the answer! With the help of her best friend, Sophie, Ava sees that having a magical, all-knowing pencil can be very handy in middle school. But as Ava's reliance on the pencil grows, the truths it reveals about herself and her family lead Ava on an adventure she never expected.Review Quotes
"It's no surprise that Kate Messner's magic pen could write a charming, moving, funny, and ultimately very surprising story about a magic pencil!" --Wendy Mass, New York Times best selling author of 11 BIRTHDAYS
"Messner (Manhunt) has created a relatable, sympathetic character in anxious Ava, and her story is at its best when Ava's life remains centered around the norms of her school, friends, and multigenerational family." --Publishers Weekly "Ava learns lessons about coping and bravery that should resonate with middle grade readers struggling with their own anxieties. Although Ava is constantly worried, the novel's tone remains bright and cheerful. Yes, there's a magical pencil, but this remains an emotionally resonant portrait of a sweet girl whose struggles are firmly rooted in reality." --Booklist "Will appeal to Wendy Mass fans as well as those who love Messner's previous novels." --School Library JournalAbout the Author
Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, and How to Read a Story; novels like Capture the Flag, The Seventh Wish, and Breakout; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series, and the Ranger in Time historical chapter book series. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and is trying to summit all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in between book deadlines.
www.katemessner.com
@KateMessner