Award-winning author Mindy McGinnis delivers a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about two teen girls who start a podcast investigating an infamous series of events from their small town’s past, setting in motion an unraveling of secrets that someone will stop at nothing to keep buried.
A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS
by Mindy McGinnis
Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, March 2023
Lydia Chass doesn’t mind living in a small town; she just doesn’t want to die in one. A lifetime of hard work has put her on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating. Undeterred, Lydia has a plan to earn that credit: transform her listener friendly local history podcast into a hard hitting, truth telling expose. She’ll investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days a week when Henley was hit by a tornado, a flash food, as well as its first and only murder, which remains unsolved. But Lydia needs help to bring grit to the show. Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs a credit to graduate. The unexpected partnership brings together the Chass family name a pillar in the community and the rough and tumble Jamison’s, of whom Bristal hopes to be the first to graduate. Together, they dig into the town’s worst week, determined to solve the murder. Their investigation unearths buried secrets;a hidden brothel, lost family treasure, and a teen girl that disappeared. But the past is never far, and some don’t want it to see the light. As threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
Mindy McGinnis is the author of several young adult novels, including The Initial Insult, Heroine, The Female of the Species, and A Madness So Discreet, winner of the Edgar Award. She writes across multiple genres, including postapocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on her books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. Mindy lives in Ohio.
Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron Age world through the suspenseful dual narrative of a boy and girl both battling to survive. In an utterly one of a kind blend of fiction and history, a master storyteller explores the mystery and life of the 2,000 year old Windeby bog body. Estrild is not like the other girls in her village; she wants to be a warrior. Varick, the orphan boy who helps her train in spite of his twisted back, also stands apart. In a world where differences are poorly tolerated, just how much danger are they in? Inspired by the true discovery of the 2,000 year old Windeby bog body in Northern Germany, Newbery Medalist and master storyteller Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron age world as she breathes life back into the Windeby child, left in the bog to drown with a woolen blindfold over its eyes. This suspenseful exploration of lives that might have been by a gifted, intellectually curious author is utterly one of a kind. Includes several arresting photos of archeological finds, including of the Windeby child.
It’s Christmas and the Miller family is celebrating their first holiday with the new baby. Uncle Jake is visiting which makes Billy very happy. But Sal? Not so much. In fact, nothing about this holiday is making Sal happy. The baby is a noisy nuisance and is hogging all of Mama’s attention. Plus, the baby doesn’t even have a name yet. And to make matters worse, Sal has lost her favorite pair of brand new underpants one of the very special set of seven Santa gave her for Christmas! Will Sal find her present? Will the Millers find a name for the baby? Will Billy always be an obnoxious big brother? Will Uncle Jake constantly put his foot in his mouth? The holiday season is full of surprises and warmth, kindness, family, celebration, and love in the hands of award winning house author Kevin Henkes . Oh, Sal is an excellent choice for younger middle grade readers, as well as a terrific family and classroom read aloud. Illustrated throughout with black and white art by the author.
Ollie is feeling down, and his friends try to cheer him up with different acts of kindness. But what does the little gosling really need to feel better? This sweet board book, with short text and endearing illustrations of goslings, is a perfect preschool tale of love and empathy.