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Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Eleanor Public Library | LEN | Young Adult | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A soaring novel by the critically acclaimed author of The Half Life of Molly Pierce and The Lost & Found, perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven and Rainbow Rowell.
Lottie Reaves is not a risk taker. But she's about to take a leap into the unknown...
When Lottie's beloved Aunt Helen dies of cancer, it upends her careful, quiet life.
Aunt Helen wasn't a typical aunt. She was the world-famous author of the bestselling Alvin Hatter series. She knew a thing or two about the magic of writing, and how words have the power to make you see things differently.
In her will, Aunt Helen leaves Lottie a series of letters--each containing mysterious instructions. As Lottie sets about following them, she realizes they're meant to make her take a risk, and, for once in her life, really live. But when the letters reveal an extraordinary secret about her aunt's past--and the inspiration for the Alvin Hatter series--Lottie finds herself faced with an impossible choice, one that will force her to confront her greatest fears once and for all.
Part mysterious adventure, part love letter to the power of books, this is a brilliantly woven novel about loving, reading, writing, grieving, and finding the strength to take a leap.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-Helen Reaves was the world-renowned author of the books about the immortal Hatter children. After the eccentric writer dies from cancer, her niece Lottie is saddened. However, before Helen passed, she created a scavenger hunt as a way to say goodbye to Lottie. As each envelope is opened, a secret about Helen's life is revealed and a task is put before the protagonist. The game slowly pulls Lottie out of her overly cautious lifestyle and challenges her to live a little. When the hunt leads Lottie to the mysterious Sam, her life is turned upside down, and she throws caution to the wind. Told from Lottie's point of view and through a series of letters written to Lottie from her aunt, this is a compelling novel and a wonderful story about loss, anxiety, love, and the importance of a life well lived. VERDICT The perfect beach read for any teen. Recommend to fans of Maureen Johnson's 13 Blue Envelopes, Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting, or Laura Ruby's Bone Gap.-Ellen Fitzgerald, Naperville Public Library, IL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When high-school senior Lottie's aunt Helen dies, the world-famous children's book author leaves her anxiety-prone niece twenty-four letters to ease Lottie into the grieving process, push her beyond her comfort zone, and help her uncover her aunt's biggest secret. Lottie's perceptive narration acknowledges each character's unique way of mourning. Excerpts from Aunt Helen's novels introduce just enough fantasy to make a late-in-the-game surprise believable. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When Lottie's favorite aunt dies, she leaves behind a wave of griefand a mysterious series of letters.High school senior Lottie Reaves isn't the only one mourning her beloved aunt Helen after she succumbs to cancerHelen is the record-selling author of the Alvin Hatter series, which follows the adventures of two immortal siblings and has achieved J.K. Rowling-level fame. But it turns out that Aunt Helen had a surprise in store for Lottie24 letters with a sequence of challenges to help her get through her grief and fight her anxious tendenciesas well as a secret she's never revealed. As Lottie completes the missions with her best friend, Em, younger brother, Abe, and mysterious not-quite-boyfriend Sam, she learns more about her aunt, herself, and the natures of life, death, and time than she ever expected. Excerpts from Alvin Hatter books give readers a taste of the books that captured the world, and diversity is seamlessly integrated throughout the book mixed-race Lottie has a Peruvian mom and a white dad, and her white best friend is a lesbian with an unaccepting mother. Lottie's anxieties are discussed in a gentle yet candid manner, and her close-knit relationship with her family members is refreshing and realistic. A charming and sophisticated take on handling grief with a mystical twist ending that is sure to engage teens nostalgic for the magic of reading Harry Potter or Tuck Everlasting for the first time. (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Cautious, predictable Lottie has always had a plan for her life, but it gets thrown to the wind when her beloved and wild Aunt Helen passes away and leaves her 24 letters containing instructions that lead to secrets, love, and self-discovery. Aunt Helen isn't just the source of entertaining summers and happy memories; she's also the best-selling author of the most popular children's books of all time, the Alvin Hatter series. Spurred on by tasks as harmless as don't be afraid to let yourself cry and as reckless as do something you're not supposed to do, Lottie discovers her aunt's extraordinary secret past that inspired her books, and she rushes headfirst into a love that comes with major strings attached. Scattered with insightful excerpts from the Alvin Hatter series, Leno's (The Lost & Found, 2016) latest novel borrows some narrative inspiration from Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl (2013) and a little magic from Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting (1975) to create a truly captivating tale about grief and the affirming power of self-examination.--Kling, Caitlin Copyright 2017 Booklist
