The Magic of Someday Soon - by Michelle Lee (Hardcover)

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Zoe, who longs to settle down after years on the road, and Teddy, who is determined to save her family's crumbling Fossil Gardens theme park, meet and together uncover family secrets, discover unexpected magic, and form a lasting friendship.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Barbara O'Connor, The Magic of Someday Soon is a hopeful middle grade novel overflowing with light, love, and adventure as two girls find the extraordinary joys of every day.

Zoe longs to one day put down roots. Since her dad's death, twelve-year-old Zoe September has drifted from place to place with her artist mother, the Up-cycle Magician. Then a new art project for her mom brings them to Maravel, Florida--her dad's hometown. In Maravel, she discovers a delicious, enchanting secret among the sweet brews of her grandmother's tea shop. But how will Zoe ever leave when her mom wants to get back on the road?

Teddy dreams of the day she can save her past. Twelve-year-old Teddy Martin has a mission: restore her great-grandparents' legacy, Fossil Gardens, a theme park of artistic recreations of prehistoric animals. Desperate to rescue the last remaining sculptures, Teddy enlists the Up-cycle Magician's help before they disappear forever. But with sinkholes threatening to swallow the decaying fossils, is Teddy in over her head?

Never underestimate the magic of someday soon. Things bubble and steam between Zoe and Teddy when they team up. But in working together to save Fossil Gardens, the girls discover something even more special--the possibility of your deepest wishes coming true in unexpected ways and a friendship that feels like home.

Review Quotes

"A cozy read that empowers young people to make connections and remember their past." --Booklist

"Strong, likeable heroes, excellent pacing, and gentle humor" --Kirkus

"Across the girls' rousing alternating third-person POVs--enlivened by evocative imagery that renders a bustling Floridian setting--Lee delves deep into themes of family, grief, and home." --Publishers Weekly

"Told over the course of just eleven days, with chapters alternating focus between the two girls, this story truly has two equally weighted and compelling protagonists." --BCCB

"Dashes of magical realism are found in the great-grandmother's garden and tea shop, but the real magic is apparent in the friendships forged while Teddy and Zoe unearth their family histories... a heartwarming adventure." --School Library Journal

"Though arguments, logistical challenges, and environmental setbacks arise, Zoe and Teddy learn to accept difficulties without losing sight of "someday soon." --Horn Book

About the Author

Michelle Lee is the author of Between the Lighthouse and You. After earning her Master's in Creative Writing and her PhD in Literature from the University of Texas at Austin, she taught college English for thirteen years at Daytona State College. She lives with her husband and daughter in Florida where they find magic in every ordinary day.