Beth Hautala's Books

Waiting for Unicorns

By: Beth Hautala

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A novel about one girl’s journey to the arctic, where she discovers the power of letting go of pain and opening up to second chances When twelve-year-old Talia—still reeling from the recent death of her mother—is forced to travel with her emotionally and physically distant whale-researcher father to the Arctic for the summer, she begins to wonder if the broken pieces inside of her will ever begin to heal. Like her jar of wishes, Talia feels bottled up and torn. Everything about life in Churchill feels foreign, including Sura, the traditional Inuit woman whom Talia must live with. But when Sura exposes her to the tradition of storytelling, she unlocks something within Talia that has long since been buried: her ability to hope, to believe again in making wishes come true. A rich and poignant story about opening up—to new people, to second chances, to moving forward with life. Praise for Waiting for Unicorns: "Debut author Hautala's writing in this first-person narrative is lyrical and evocative; her descriptions of the landscape are vivid. Written by an author to watch, this quiet story of loss and healing will appeal to thoughtful readers." --Kirkus Reviews "This poignant story demonstrates that opening up to new experiences, places, and people can enrich life even in the aftermath of tragedy."--School Library Journal “[An] affecting exploration of grief and the hope that can come through the love of good friends. With spellbinding descriptions…this story will stay with readers.”--Publishers Weekly “Contemplative writing…a thoughtful examination of loss and hope.”--Booklist "Hautala mines the frigid setting for some exquisitely wrought metaphors of sadness and grief, and Tal’s reflections on her situation are lyrical and yet still appropriate, given her age. Readers who were touched by Holly Goldberg Sloan’s Counting by 7s will find this to be a similarly moving tale."--BCCB Reviews "Middle school readers will embrace Talia and her new family in the Arctic and perhaps receive the message about the power of stories to heal."--VOYA Reviews "This is a well-written tween novel that deals with growing pains, grief, and loneliness."--School Library Connection

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Page Count

258

Publisher

Penguin

Published Date

ISBN 10

0525426310

ISBN 13

9780525426318

Miracle Season

By: Beth Hautala

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Miracle Season

By: Beth Hautala

In a magical story that blurs the lines between reality and the fantastic, Persephone Clark has a talent for making things grow, but in the wake of her brother's accident, the only things growing are the lies and secrets she's been keeping. Thirteen-year-old Persephone Pearl Clark has never met a plant that wouldn’t bud or bloom for her. But lately, between the accident that left her older brother, Levi, with an irreversible brain injury, a messy fight with her once-best friend Mya, and a pile of lies growing faster than the stack of medical bills she collects from the post office every day, Persephone is stuck. She would give anything to change things for her family, but unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees. So, when she stumbles upon Levi's unfinished application submitting their hometown of Coulter, Wisconsin, to Small Town Revival—the famous makeover show with a large financial prize attached—Persephone forges her older brother's signature and sends it in. She is certain she’s carrying out a dream Levi never got the chance to see to fruition. But as small-town gossip takes root and Persephone’s lies grow like weeds, the things that once bloomed for her are wilting instead. With the help of unexpected allies including a wonderful but peculiar old woman and her possibly magical cat, Persephone learns that while planting the seeds of truth is never easy, everything blooms when it’s ready. * "A compassionate, thought-provoking take on family, friendship, grief, and renewal." –Kirkus

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Page Count

321

Publisher

Penguin

Published Date

ISBN 10

0593463684

ISBN 13

9780593463680

The Ostrich and Other Lost Things

By: Beth Hautala

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The Ostrich and Other Lost Things

By: Beth Hautala

In this beautifully written novel, the bonds and challenges of caring for a sibling with autism are bravely explored, along with the pain and power that comes from self-discovery. Eleven-year-old Olivia Grant has a knack for finding lost things. She can find lost rings, pets, and even her elderly neighbor's misplaced glasses. There's only one thing Olivia has never been able to find--her brother Jacob's toy ostrich. It wasn't until the day Jacob lost his ostrich that Olivia noticed how different he was: Jacob is autistic, and though she's his little sister, Olivia often feels like the older of the pair, his caretaker. And with her parents so heavily focused on maintaining status quo for Jacob, it's Olivia who has stagnated in his shadow--unable to explore new opportunities, or to be her own person. In fact, apart from being Jacob's sister, Olivia's not really sure who she is. So when summer break begins, and the local community theater announces auditions for an all children's production of her favorite show, Peter Pan, Olivia jumps at the chance to claim something for herself. But what begins as a promising opportunity and a wonderful escape quickly becomes pure chaos. The visiting zoo with an odd assortment of animals--including an ostrich that causes even more trouble than Jacob's missing toy--only make matters worse, as Olivia's summer is shaping up to be just as consumed by Jacob's needs as the rest of her life has been. In time, and with the help of some unlikely alliances, Olivia must learn what it means to be separate from her brother and still love him, how to love herself in spite of her own flaws, and that not all lost things are meant to be found. Praise for The Ostrich and Other Lost Things: "The Ostrich and Other Lost Things is a delicate, warm, textured novel that explores the wonder, pain, envy, and intimacy of sibling relationships. Written with a huge dose of compassion and vulnerability, there is so much to love about the world Olivia and her brother Jacob inhabit. I lost myself in this wonderful world, and I know that Olivia herself wouldn't be able to find me."--Corey Ann Haydu, author of The Someday Suitcase and Rules for Stealing Stars "Beth Hautala weaves a powerful tale about the challenges of having a sibling with autism. Olivia steals our heart as she tries to find what is lost and make her family whole again. The Ostrich and Other Lost Things is full of memorable characters, riveting moments, and surprising turns that add up to a very heartwarming and magical read. I loved it!"--Dana Middleton, author of The Infinity Year of Avalon James "A brave beautiful story. I loved this book."--Paul Acampora, author of I Kill the Mockingbird "Hautala offers an emotionally adept story about love and understanding."--School Library Journal "This is hands down the best book with an autistic character that I have ever read. I would recommend this title for those who enjoy books like Wonder (Knopf, 2012), Out of My Mind (Atheneum, 2010), and The Running Dream (Knopf, 2011). It has a wonderful plot that readers will love and teaches a lot about dealing with individuals who are diagnosed with autism. This is a must read!"--School Library Connection "A heartfelt story of sibling relationships, self-discovery, and unconditional love."--Voice of Youth Advocates "While readers with neurodiverse siblings are the obvious audience for this, the anxieties Olivia expresses and her attempts to control outcomes will resonate with a much broader spectrum of tweens."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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