Absolutely Normal Chaos

Thirteen-year-old Mary Lou grows up considerably during the summer while learning about romance, homesickness, death, and her cousin's search for his biological father.

A prequel to the 1995 Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons, Absolutely Normal Chaos proves that Sharon Creech is not the kind of author you meet once and forget -- she writes with a memorable voice that speaks directly to the thoughts and feelings of her readers. Absolutely Normal Chaos chronicles the daily life of 13-year-old Mary Lou Finney during her most chaotic and romantic summer ever. Sharon Creech fans will recognize Mary Lou Finney and her infamous summer journal from their appearance in Walk Two Moons. Mary Lou's journal opens with a plea, "Here it is: my summer journal . . But please PLEEEASSSE DON'T READ IT!" What begins grudgingly as a dreaded assignment for school becomes a hilarious chronicle of the circle of people and events that make her summer. There is Carl Ray, the mysterious and troublesome cousin that comes to visit; Beth Ann Bartels, the best friend who's recently gone boy crazy; Alex Cheevy, the boy that makes Mary Lou's brains "mushy" and, of course, the Finney clan, her "normally strange family." What follows is a story of a summer filled with lessons and observations on love, death, friendship and family. Mary Lou Finney grudgingly begins writing a journal as an assignment for school--would anything interesting ever happen to her? What follows is the story of a wildly chaotic and romantic summer. How could she have known about Carl Ray and the little black car? Or what would happen on Booger Hill? Or about the permanently pink Alex Cheevy? Mary Lou's tale is filled with hilarious observations on love, death, and the confusing mechanics of holding hands. Sharon Creech's new fans will be thrilled to recognize Mary Lou Finney and her infamous summer journal from their appearance in Walk Two Moons. Here is the very journal that began the inquiry into whether kisses taste like chicken!

Following a family move to Maine, twelve-year-old Reena has no idea what to expect. She hopes it's going to be beaches, blueberries and all the lobster she can eat. She certainly doesn't expect to suddenly be put in charge of a menagerie of animals, belonging to the irascible Mrs Falala, who not only has a fast-wheeling pig, a secretive snake, but the most ornery cow she ever thought to meet. A wonderfully funny, moving story of one family's move to the country, and the challenges they face.

“Intriguing, delightful, and touching.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Creech’s best yet.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) It started out as an ordinary summer. But the minute thirteen-year-old Zinny discovered the old, overgrown trail that ran through the woods behind her family’s house, she realized that things were about to change. It was her chance to finally make people notice her, and to have a place she could call her very own. But more than that, Zinny knew that the trail somehow held the key to all kinds of questions. And that the only way to understand her family, her Aunt Jessie’s death, and herself, was to find out where it went. From Newbery Medal-winning author Sharon Creech comes a story of love, loss, and understanding, an intricately woven tale of a young girl who sets out in search of her place in the world—and discovers it in her own backyard. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Thirteen-year-old Mary Lou grows up considerably during the summer while learning about romance, homesickness, death and her cousin's search for his biological father.

This is an utterly original and completely beguiling prose novel about a boy who has to write a poem, and then another, and then even more. Soon the little boy is writing about all sorts of things he has not really come to terms with, and astounding things start to happen.

Tiller and Sairy live a quiet life in Ruby Holler; their children have long since left home and things are peaceful. But when they decide to adopt two children from the local orphanage to take on a giant adventure, they form an unlikely foursome. And Tiller and Sairy have to deal with some pretty unconventional behaviour on the part of the children, who don't believe they could ever be 'wanted'.A wonderful, magical story that combines quirky action and adventure with family, loyalty and learning to belong. Winner of the Carnegie Medal.

Gina Filomena has been told that she has an overactive imagination. With her bright clothing and artistic spirit, she's always felt different from the other kids in her class. That is, until she meets her neighbour, a mysterious boy called Anotonio. And when a creative new teacher, Miss Lightstone, arrives at school, Gina finds a world of possibilities opens up. A wonderful tale about the transformative power of imagination, the effects of an inspirational teacher, and the journey to becoming who you are meant to be.