Lilac and the Switchback - by Cordelia Jensen (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Told in verse, Lilac has always lived with her aunt and uncle, but when her aunt becomes pregnant, her best friend drifts away, and Lilac feels no one in her life wants her, she tries to reconnect with her estranged father"--

Book Synopsis

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.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Review Quotes

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)

Lilac is a sympathetic protagonist. . . .
--Kirkus Reviews

A thoughtful and vulnerable narrator in this verse novel, Lilac and her journey will resonate with anyone who has feared change and has been forced, whether they felt ready or not, to grapple with its (sometimes surprising) consequences. . . .Accessible verse and a relatable protagonist highlight a winning tale of family, friendship, and change.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Cordelia Jensen has an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published three verse novels: Skyscraping, The Way the Light Bends, and Every Shiny Thing, co-authored with Laurie Morrison. Her books have received starred reviews, state award list nominations, and NCTE Notable Verse Novel recognition. Cordelia has taught creative writing in a variety of settings, including Bryn Mawr College, Germantown Friends School, The Writing Barn and The Kelly Yang Project, and currently teaches verse novel classes for The Highlights Foundation.