Looking Up - by Stephan Pastis (Paperback)

About the Book

"Upset that her neighborhood is being torn down and replaced by fancy condos and coffee shops, Saint, along with her new friend Daniel, hatches a plan to save what is left of her beloved hometown."--

Book Synopsis

"There is more than meets the eye in this funny gem." --School Library Journal

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarming middle grade novel about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of life--featuring black and white illustrations throughout!

Living alone with her mother in a poorer part of town, Saint--a girl drawn to medieval knights, lost causes, and the protection of birthday piñatas--sees the neighborhood she has always known and loved disappearing around her: old homes being torn down and replaced by fancy condos and coffee shops. But when her favorite creaky old toy store is demolished, she knows she must act.

Enlisting the help of Daniel "Chance" McGibbons, a quiet, round-faced boy who lives across the street (and whose house also faces the wrecking ball), Saint hatches a plan to save what is left of her beloved hometown.

Review Quotes

"Deceptively funny."-- "--Publishers Weekly"

"The imaginative Saint makes a memorable protagonist."-- "--Booklist"

"With an imaginative ending that will make readers think, there is more than meets the eye in this funny gem."-- "--School Library Journal"

"Pastis fills this deceptively simple first-person account with humor, puns, turns, and twists--and the final twist gives this friendship tale its surprising depth."-- "--Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Stephan Pastis is the creator of the syndicated comic strip Pearls Before Swine, which appears in over 800 newspapers. He is also the creator of the Timmy Failure book series and the cowriter of the Disney+ movie Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. He lives in Northern California with his wife and two kids.