Anatomy of Lost Things - by Shawn K Stout (Hardcover)

About the Book

Fearing her mother may leave again, eleven-year-old Tilly Gubbers tries to locate the amber necklace her mother gifted her and joins two others, Leon and Nell, in their own quests for objects that hold deeper significance.

Book Synopsis

A laugh-through-your-tears middle grade novel about what it's like to lose something precious. For fans of the Three Rancheros series by Kate DiCamillo.

A necklace. A bugle. A lion statue. What do they have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing unless you're Tildy, Leon, or Nell. These items matter an awful lot to them. Not because of what they are, but what--and who--they represent.

Anatomy of Lost Things shares the crisscrossing stories of Tildy, Leon, and Nell, of the impossible losses they've each recently faced, and the unexpected histories of their prized objects. Written with heartbreaking honesty and humor, this novel unfolds in the tender space that exists between staggering loss and the start of recovery, and it finds plenty of hope and laughter waiting there.

Review Quotes

★ "Sad, funny, and thematically rich; loaded with feels and appeals."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"An enjoyable read with a pleasing construction. Perfect for readers looking for someone who mirrors their challenges."--Booklist

"Well-developed throughout, the characters, even supporting ones, are complex and interesting. This intricate web of objects and people skillfully knits together into a touching, thought-provoking, and ultimately comforting story."--The Horn Book

"Stout treats the kids' fears with tenderness and brings nuance to the ways all three kids miss the adults in their lives. . . For a book dealing with such weighty topics, though, it sure is fun, combining mystery and the imagined history of objects, with just a touch of communing with the dead."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Folksy third-person prose renders the characters' alternating perspectives as well as varying digressions, making for a leisurely paced narrative that builds toward credible--including one fittingly offbeat--resolutions."--Publishers Weekly

"A heartfelt and essential purchase for all libraries."--School Library Journal

About the Author

Shawn K. Stout is the author of several books for young readers, including The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle and A Tiny Piece of Sky, which was a Bank Street Best Book. Shawn holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Maryland with her family. Visit her at shawnkstout.com.