Every Single Second - by Tricia Springstubb (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A poignant and topical middle grade novel about the effects of an accidental shooting on family, friendship, and community. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Rita Williams-Garcia. Now available in paperback.

A single second. That's all it takes to turn a world upside-down.

Twelve-year-old Nella Sabatini's life is changing too soon, too fast. Her best friend Clem doesn't seem concerned; she's busy figuring out the best way to spend the "leap second"--an extra second about to be added to the world's official clock.

The only person who might understand how Nella feels is Angela, but the two of them have gone from being "secret sisters" to not talking at all.

Then Angela's idolized big brother makes a terrible, fatal mistake, one that tears apart their tight-knit community and plunges his family into a whirlwind of harsh publicity. In the midst of this controversy, Nella is faced with startling revelations about her parents, friends, and neighborhood. Soon she must choose whether to stand by or stand up.

The clock ticks down, and in that extra second, past and present merge--the future will be up to Nella.

• Middle Grade Social Issues: A thought-provoking look at a tight-knit community torn apart by an accidental shooting, and the difficult questions of loyalty, race, and justice that follow.
• A Complicated Friendship Story: Nella and Angela were once "secret sisters," but a single tragic event puts their loyalty to the ultimate test.
• Making Hard Choices: When everyone she knows takes a side, Nella must decide for herself what's right--even if it means standing alone.
• A Strong Female Protagonist: Follows twelve-year-old Nella as she navigates a world that's changing too fast and discovers the strength she never knew she had.

Review Quotes

★ "Nella's growing awareness of endings and beginnings, the meaning of friendship, and the power of choices combine to create an unsettling, compelling, and heartwarming tale." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Rich in complex issues that include caring for the elderly, the problems of friendship, and the role of God in everyday life." - Booklist

"Springstubb admirably takes on a sensitive and difficult contemporary American issue. Sure to spark discussion in classrooms and book clubs." - School Library Journal

"The subtext of her mother's accidental death is artfully woven into the sensory-rich, action-packed narrative. Mo is a character readers will root for, as her imagination, stubbornness, dislike of surprises, and curiously fierce caution in crossing the street make her seem as intensely real to the reader as her fox is to Mo. What happened on Fox Street? Readers may find their own neighborhoods equally as wondrous after finding out." - The Horn Book

Praise for MO WREN, LOST AND FOUND: "Springstubb beautifully captures the emotions of loss that come with leaving all that's loved and familiar, as well as the first stirrings of hope when it seems as if things just might work out...Readers will both be inspired and comforted by these indefatigable sisters, whose humanity brings out the very same in others." - Booklist (starred review)

"Readers will laugh and cry with Mo and will want to find a friend just like her." - School Library Journal

"Springstubb's lively prose and unique combination of mundaneness and melodrama make her characters believable with a clarity unusual in books for this age and create an engaging story that challenges readers to consider their own world as carefully as Mo does." - The Horn Book

★ "With an engaging protagonist, a fast-moving story, important themes subtly conveyed, and touches of humor, this is a richly layered story that will have wide appeal." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A complex and rich tale, one that will have readers pondering, along with Nella, life's big questions." - Horn Book Magazine

"In her inventive and big-hearted MOONPENNY ISLAND, Tricia Springstubb lovingly assures her readers that though change can be terrifying, we have the ability to adapt and even thrive-especially if we all stick together. Sparkling and singular, this book is a gem." - Anne Ursu, acclaimed author of THE REAL BOY and BREADCRUMBS

"Tricia Springstubb tells Flor's story of shifting, unmappable hearts with the honesty and grace of a changing tide, letting Flor ride her bicycle right off the page-and straight into the reader's heart." - Sheila Turnage, Newbery Honor-winning author of THREE TIMES LUCKY

"Flor's growing, if sometimes awkward, awareness of change and heightened understanding of those around her result in a unique protagonist who, like a fossil, creates an imprint that remains long after her story is finished." - The Horn Book

"Springstubb has written a heartwarming coming-of-age story, reminiscent of Kevin Henkes's JUNONIA and Jeanne Birdsall's Penderwicks series." - School Library Journal

Praise for WHAT HAPPENED ON FOX STREET: "Springstubb does a lovely job of mixing character, plot, and purpose in a story that contains both hardscrabble realities and moments of magic realism. Her fluency of language supports scenes that are down and dirty and those that soar. But it is her ability to make her readers really feel Mo's tangle of emotions as hopes and dreams collide with worries and fears that makes this so memorable." - Booklist (starred review)

"Springstubb effectively turns the neighborhood into a character in its own right, one that's loving and protective. Mo's voice is original, though it has tinctures of Scout and Harriet. What happened on Fox Street? Love, belief and caring." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for MOONPENNY ISLAND: "Tricia Springstubb has found just the right mix of intrigue, sorrow, and compassion...Not just for a young person, but for all of us." - New York Times Book Review

★ "While exploring familiar themes of the unavoidable changes of adolescence, the novel weaves complex layers of fresh, relatable imagery and charming characterization across education levels, cultures, and generations, beautifully teaching that our shared humanity is one thing that doesn't change." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ "Poetic and poignant, Springstubb's tale of friendship, loss, hope, and heartache is so fresh and honest it will resonate widely." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)