You May Already Be a Winner

(Hardback)

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Description

For fans of Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish and Katherine Applegate's Crenshaw comes the humorous and heart aching story of one girl's struggle to keep hope alive for her and her younger sister in Sunny Pines Trailer Park. Twelve-year-old Olivia Hales has a foolproof plan for winning a million dollars so that she and her little sister, Berkeley, can leave behind Sunny Pines Trailer Park. But first she has to- Fix the swamp cooler and make dinner and put Berkeley to bed because her mom is too busy to do all that Write another letter to her dad even though he hasn't written back yet Teach Berk the important stuff, like how to make chalk drawings, because they can't afford day care and Olivia has to stay home from school to watch her Petition her oddball neighbors for a circus spectacular, because there needs to be something to look forward to at dumb-bum Sunny Pines Become a super-secret spy to impress her new friend Bart Enter a minimum of fourteen sweepstakes a day. Who knows She may already be a winner! Olivia has thought of everything . . . except herself. Who will take care of her when she needs it Luckily, somewhere deep down between her small intestine and stomach is a tiny voice reminding her that sometimes people can surprise you-and sometimes your family is right next door.

Reviews

When I closed the last page I wanted to jump on Olivias tramp, just to celebrate her resounding resilience. This book is a love story for all those kids who have had to grow up way too soon, but who also face life with commitment, fortitude and above all, dedication.KATHI APPELT, author of the Newbery Honor winner and National Book Award finalist THE UNDERNEATH

Olivias voice captured me from the first line, but it was her bravery and devotion to her family that kept me reading to the end. The only thing stronger than her imagination is her heart, and my own broke for her as I read. Unforgettable.CASSIE BEASLEY, author of the New York Times bestseller CIRCUS MIRANDUS

I felt like I hit the jackpot when I read this book. Olivias story is lively, full of heart, and a must-read for anyone who knows what it feels like to hope and dream big.ALLY CONDIE, author of New York Times bestseller MATCHED and SUMMERLOST

"Distinct, colorful, richly imaginative, thoroughly authentic, often hilarious, and frequently heartbreaking...Readers of this memorable novel will feel like winners, too."Kirkus Reviews

"Olivias first-person narrative fills brief,expressive chapters where she mixes fantasy and real life at will, all in a lyrical, poetic voice. Ellisrealistically taps into the kind of magical thinking so typical of kids trying to solve big problems, andplenty of readers might recognize themselves in the appealingly optimistic, daydreaming Olivia."Booklist

Author Bio

Ann Dee Ellis lives in Utah with her husband and five children. She is the author of the YA novels This is What I Did-, Everything is Fine, and The End or Something Like That. You May Already Be a Winner is her middle grade debut.