Words of Stone - by Kevin Henkes (Paperback)

About the Book

Long before his Newbery Honor Book "Olive's Ocean, New York Times" bestselling author Kevin Henkes crafted this acclaimed, bittersweet story of grief, friendship, and renewal.

Book Synopsis

"A beautifully written, rich, and tender novel." --The Horn Book (starred review)

Blaze Werla is having a routine summer. He spends his days alone, wandering around the hill next door, and his nights awake, avoiding the dreams that haunt him.

Then a message appears on the side of the hill and Blaze's predictable summer suddenly takes a turn toward the mysterious. By the time he meets outgoing Joselle Stark, Blaze finds himself in entirely new territory, where the unexpected seems almost normal.

"An outstanding book, one of the year's best."--Kirkus

Multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Kevin Henkes brings his insightful, gentle, real-world insight to middle grade novels, including:

Billy Miller Makes a WishBird Lake MoonThe Birthday RoomJunoniaOlive's OceanProtecting MarieSun & SpoonSweeping Up the HeartTwo Under ParWords of StoneThe Year of Billy MillerThe Zebra Wall

From the Back Cover

Blaze Werla is having a routine summer. He spends his days alone, wandering around the hill next door, and his nights awake, avoiding the dreams that haunt him. Then a message appears on the side of the hill and Blaze's predictable summer suddenly takes a turn toward the mysterious. By the time he meets outgoing Joselle Stark, Blaze finds himself in entirely new territory, where the unexpected seems almost normal.

Review Quotes

"What readers will love about this book is the friendship between these two very different loners." - ALA Booklist
"Vivid characterizations and profound symbolism are sure to linger in readers' minds." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"[Henkes's] characters live, lingering in the memory. An outstanding book." - Kirkus Reviews (pointer)
"A challenging and skillful book." - Times Educational Supplement
"A novel that speaks to children's deepest emotions. A beautifully written, rich, and tender novel." - The Horn Book (starred review)
"If you know Henkes only as a writer/illustrator for younger children, this book will be a pleasant surprise." - Chicago Tribune Books
"The author's respect for the complexity of young people's lives is apparent in this outstanding novel." - School Library Journal (starred review)