Junior Libary Guild Gold Star Selection
What would you wish for? This middle-grade novel exploring what it means to become a blended family is perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead’s The List of Things That Will Not Change.
12-year-old Winnie feels stuck. She’s alone in a new town with a mom who doesn’t seem to notice how miserable Winnie’s new stepbrother and stepfather make her. One night, when Winnie makes a hasty wish, she nearly gets sideswiped by an odd bird, leading her to a strange oak tree with even stranger glowing leaves. Investigating the tree, Winnie discovers a nest of golden eggs with wishes inscribed on the shells. After Winnie accidentally breaks two of the eggs, the wishes come true. Winnie sneaks back to the tree to try to grant her own wishes. But when she realizes the wishes are coming true in unexpected and terrible ways, Winnie must find a way to fix everything. . . . .
Anxiety Rep and Techniques
https://www.anovelmind.com/post/amanda-rawson-hill-once-upon-a-family-anxiety
The Hope of Elephants
A Junior Library Guild Gold Selection for Fall 2022
NCTE Notable Verse Novel for 2022
Cybils Award Finalist
Whitney Award Winner
A 2022 Bank Street Best Book for Kids
ABOUT THE HOPE OF ELEPHANTS
An inspiring coming-of-age novel in verse about weathering the uncertainty that comes with family illness perfect for fans of Starfish and Red, White, and Whole.
Cass and her parents haven’t let her dad’s cancer stop them from having a good life—full of love and poems and one annual World Series game. Now that Dad’s cancer is back, Cass overhears the doctor say that she has a 50% chance of inheriting her dad’s genetic mutation, Li-Fraumeni syndrome. There’s a genetic test Cass can take that will tell her for sure. There’s still so much she wants to do—play baseball, study at the zoo, travel the world with her best friend, Jayla. Would it be better not to know?
When it turns out Dad’s cancer is worse this time, Cass is determined to keep up their World Series tradition while navigating all the change and uncertainty that lies ahead.
Poignant and powerful, Cass’s story brings the pains and anxiety linked with illness to the surface, and reminds us that sometimes hope is worth holding on to.
My Pet Cloud, January 2022, Capstone
Max wants a pet, and a pet cloud seems way better than a cat, dog, or fish. A cloud is clean, quiet, and doesn’t shed. How hard could it be to take care of a puffy cloud? Author Amanda Rawson Hill subtly blends lessons on responsibility, problem solving, and friendship with lots of humor for a unique approach to the typical pet story. The added science element provides the perfect combination of learning and fun in a picture book illustrated by Laia Arriols.
I have a one hour virtual and in-person My Pet Cloud workshop with science experiments and art and storytelling. Contact me for pricing and scheduling.
YOU’LL FIND ME, September 2020, Magination Press
Loss becomes remembrance in this rhyming book that offers tender ways to pay tribute to, and meaningfully incorporate, a loved one’s lost presence into present and future life experiences. Be it departed friends, family, pets, and more, memories can carry us beyond the precious moments we have together to keep the ones we loved before in mind forever.
Throughout the book the omnipresent narrator encourages thoughtful reflection on the empty spaces left by the loss. The gentle scenes portrayed inspire recovery from sadness and honor those who are absent. This lyrical heartful story provides consent and gently encourage readers to move to a place of peace and acceptance despite the absence.
Listen to me read You’ll Find Me and talk about making Remembering Bracelets HERE.
Here is a worksheet for using and sharing YOU’LL FIND ME.
Visit my Instagram to find videos with advice on how to use You’ll Find Me in many different situations.
See why it was recommended on Shepherd!
The Three Rules of Everyday Magic, Boyds Mills Press, September 25, 2018.
Magic doesn’t work the way you think it will, but it’s what Kate needs as she confronts friendship trouble, her parents’ divorce, and Grammy’s dementia in this lyrical middle-grade coming-of-age novel for fans of Half a Chance and The Same Stuff as Stars.
Kate has trouble believing in magic, especially since the people she loves keep leaving her. But when Grammy tells her the three rules of everyday magic–believe, give, and trust–Kate can’t resist believing, at least a little. Following Grammy’s advice, she tries to bring her father, her best friend, and even Grammy herself back to her. Nothing turns out as Kate expects, yet the magic of giving–of trusting that if you love and give, good things will happen, even if you don’t see them happen–will change Kate and her family forever.
Goodreads
You can find a book club guide with author interview, recipe, activity, discussion questions, and printable here!
Amanda Rawson Hill 