Kirkus Best Books of 2019 * Kids’ Indie Next Pick List * Bookpage Best Books of 2019: Middle Grade

“Beautiful, mysterious and deeply satisfying.” —Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me and Goodbye Stranger

The world tilted for Elodee this year, and now it’s impossible for her to be the same as she was before. Not when her feelings have such a strong grip on her heart. Not when she and her twin sister, Naomi, seem to be drifting apart. So when Elodee’s mom gets a new job in Eventown, moving seems like it might just fix everything.

Indeed, life in Eventown is comforting and exciting all at once. Their kitchen comes with a box of recipes for Elodee to try. Everyone takes the scenic way to school or work—past rows of rosebushes and unexpected waterfalls. On blueberry-picking field trips, every berry is perfectly ripe.

Sure, there are a few odd rules, and the houses all look exactly alike, but it’s easy enough to explain—until Elodee realizes that there are only three ice cream flavors in Eventown. Ever. And they play only one song in music class. Everything may be “even” in Eventown, but is there a price to pay for perfection—and pretending?

“Engrossing.” —New York Times Book Review

“Enchanting, heart-rending, and bittersweet.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An emotionally complex and wonderfully told story.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

“Thought-provoking.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Powerful Sister Story: Elodee and her identical twin, Naomi, used to be inseparable. But after the year that changed everything, they're drifting apart—and the move to Eventown might pull them apart for good.
A Town That's Too Perfect: With its endless rosebushes and perfectly ripe blueberries, Eventown seems like a dream. But when Elodee discovers there are only three ice cream flavors and one song, she starts to suspect it's more of a nightmare.
Deep Family Secrets: Elodee's family moved to Eventown to get a "fresh start" and forget the past. But what exactly are they running from, and why is no one willing to talk about it?
A Story About Dealing with Grief: A moving and heartfelt exploration of what it means to lose someone you love, and the hard choice between remembering the pain and forgetting the joy.