A touching middle grade story about a diverse group of foster kids who redefine what it means to be a family

THE ECHO PARK CASTAWAYS
by M.G. Hennessey
Harpercollins Children, July 2019

Nevaeh, Vic, and Mara aren’t new to the foster care system. They’ve been living with Mrs. K for a while now, and for the past year, Mrs. K is hardly ever at home because of work. As the oldest, Nevaeh is tasked with taking care of things. Considering Vic spends most of his time in a fantasy world in which he’s a superspy, and Mara doesn’t speak English, she has her work cut out for her. Then Quentin arrives at the house, and things are turned upside down. Quentin is on the autism spectrum, and while he doesn’t speak and is clearly overwhelmed by everything that has happened to him, he has made it clear that he has one goal: to find his mother. And when Vic decides to help, they set off on an epic quest through the streets of Echo Park, California. Although the outcome of their adventure isn’t what they were hoping for, Nevaeh, Vic, Quentin, and Mara still learn valuable lessons about hope, trust, acceptance, and ultimately, family.

M.G. Hennessey is the author of the acclaimed middle-grade novel “The Other Boy”.