Description
Leslie Connor delivers a deeply poignant and beautifully crafted story about self-reliance, redemption, and hope. Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason's learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason's best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family's orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can't understand why Lieutenant Baird won't believe the story Mason has told about that day. Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground haven for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He's desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin and, eventually, Benny. But will anyone believe him?
Endorsements
National Book Award Finalist
ALA Schneider Family Book Award
2019 ALSC Notable Children's Book
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2018
2019-2020 Nebraska Golden Sower Award
Amazon Best Books of 2018
Kirkus Best of Children's 2018
New York Public Library Best Books 2018
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2018
2018 Nerdy Book Club Middle Grade Winner
South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee
2020 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee
Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2019 (9-12)
2020 Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee
2020-2021 Missouri Association of School Librarians Mark Twain Readers Award Preliminary Nominee
2020-2021 Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee
2021 Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award Middle Grade Nominee