From the critically acclaimed author of Waiting for Normal and All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Leslie Connor, comes a deeply poignant and beautifully crafted story about self-reliance, redemption, and hope.

This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades five to six, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom. 

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 club space 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?

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