Believe

Winner: 2021 Eric Hoffer Book Award for Best Middle Reader Winner: 2021 First Horizon Award for debut books Winner: 2022 Best Book Award for Children's Fiction, American Book Fest, Melanie knows she's special. She understands the secret language of old houses and can make jewels out of broken glass. Her imagination can do anything - except make friends. But then, she meets Sabrina, who looks like a TV star and acts like a spy, and who doesn't care what anyone thinks. She teaches Melanie how to believe in herself, and soon Melanie starts living her dreams. She even lands the lead in Peter Pan! If only she could share it all with Mom. Sabrina thinks they can track her down, and Melanie wants to believe, but sometimes it's easier to pretend. Her new life feels like a house of cards, until one day it all comes crashing down and she finds herself with no choice but to face the truth... and let go. "Believe had control of me, keeping me wondering, wanting, and waiting for a conclusion I thought I might have figured out. Nope, I was wrong, but no spoilers here. You need to read Believe to find out how everything and everyone plays out. The story is perfect for boys and girls." Kids Lit Review,starred review "A riveting story of loss and friendship. Mathison's characters, young and old, are so well realized that they live on in the reader's mind long after the book is closed." ~ Margaret J. Anderson, author ofSearching for Shona