All the Impossible Things - by Lindsay Lackey (Paperback)

About the Book

"Red's inexplicable power over the wind comes from her mother. Whenever Ruby "Red" Byrd is scared or angry, the wind picks up. And being placed in foster care, moving from family to family, tends to keep her skies stormy. Red knows she has to learn to control it, but can't figure out how. This time, the wind blows Red into the home of the Grooves, a quirky couple who run a petting zoo, complete with a dancing donkey and a giant tortoise. With their own curious gifts, Celine and Jackson Groove seem to fit like a puzzle piece into Red's heart. But just when Red starts to settle into her new life, a fresh storm rolls in, one she knows all too well: her mother. For so long, Red has longed to have her mom back in her life, and she's quickly swept up in the vortex of her mother's chaos. Now Red must discover the possible in the impossible if she wants to overcome her own tornadoes and find the family she needs."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A bit of magic, a sprinkling of adventure, and a whole lot of heart collide in All the Impossible Things, Lindsay Lackey's extraordinary middle-grade novel about a young girl navigating the foster care system in search of where she belongs.

"Wise and wondrous, this is truly a novel to cherish." --Katherine Applegate, New York Times-bestselling author of Wishtree

An Indies Introduce Selection

Red's inexplicable power over the wind comes from her mother. Whenever Ruby "Red" Byrd is scared or angry, the wind picks up. And being placed in foster care, moving from family to family, tends to keep her skies stormy. Red knows she has to learn to control it, but can't figure out how.

This time, the wind blows Red into the home of the Grooves, a quirky couple who run a petting zoo, complete with a dancing donkey and a giant tortoise. With their own curious gifts, Celine and Jackson Groove seem to fit like a puzzle piece into Red's heart.

But just when Red starts to settle into her new life, a fresh storm rolls in, one she knows all too well: her mother. For so long, Red has longed to have her mom back in her life, and she's quickly swept up in the vortex of her mother's chaos. Now Red must discover the possible in the impossible if she wants to overcome her own tornadoes and find the family she needs.

Review Quotes

An Indies Introduce Selection
A New York Public Library Best Books of 2019 Selection
A 2020 WILLA Literary Award Finalist in Children's Fiction & Nonfiction

"A gorgeous story about the joy that's possible when we allow hope into our hearts. Wise and wondrous, this is truly a novel to cherish." --Katherine Applegate, New York Times-bestselling author of Wishtree and The One and Only Ivan

"A story to tug at your heartstrings and bring a little magic too!" - 2020 WILLA Literary Award judging panel

"Lackey tackles difficult topics including addiction and loss with infinite gentleness." - School Library Journal, starred review

"A beautiful, nuanced story of how love and grief can coexist." - Mariama J. Lockington, author of For Black Girls Like Me

"An emotional tale filled with unique characters, heartbreaking realities, and a touch of magical realism." - Booklist

"Lackey's compassionately drawn story ponders hope, grief, and found family, warming the heart while avoiding an overly neat conclusion." - Publishers Weekly

"Painful to read--in a good way." - Kirkus

"Lackey deftly draws readers into Red's tumultuous emotional journey; with its strong narrative voice, interspersed with letters and journal entries in Red's own words, the text resonates with a mixture of hope and hurt, strength and vulnerability." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Lindsay Lackey has trained as an opera singer, worked in children's and teen services at a public library, and worked for a major publishing house in publicity and marketing. Born and raised in Colorado, she now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their spoiled dog. All the Impossible Things is her debut novel.