The Lost Boy's Gift

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Description

Here is a masterful novel from National Book Award-winner Kimberly Willis Holt. The story opens as ten-year-old Daniel moves across the country in the wake of his parents' divorce. He's leaving behind his dad and his friends, but taking his anger with him. Little does Daniel know what awaits on While-a-Way Lane, his quirky new neighborhood. There he meets Tilda Butter who is gifted with the ability to communicate with animals. Though Daniel's reluctant to let Tilda in at first, he ultimately opens up to a special friendship and the hope of a new start. Kimberly Willis Holt infuses a classic coming of age tale with a magical twist, all while thoughtfully exploring themes of divorce, acceptance, intergenerational friendship, and the power that comes with listening deeply.

Reviews

A Junior Library Guild Selection

"The dull and seemingly ordinary neighborhood in which Daniel fetches up with his newly divorced mom turns out to be anything but. Daniel's first impressions of While-a-Way Lane aren't good . . . Wondrous things that happen. . . After Daniel's experiences, readers will want to move there too."--Kirkus, starred review

"Holt applies her talent for writing quiet, heartfelt stories to this study of Daniel, a lonely boy struggling with his parents' recent divorce. . .Quirky neighborhood characters occupy the idyllic town, and this serene backdrop gives Daniel and Tilda much-needed opportunities for uninterrupted personal reflection and positive steps forward."--Booklist

"Fans of Natalie Babbitt and Anne Ursu will appreciate the blend of emotional resonance and magic."--The Horn Book

"Touches of the fantastic augment accessible, straightforward prose, which permeates the neighborhood personalities' lives and motivations, lending this novel a gently bustling yet intimate atmosphere." --Publishers Weekly

"Holt's whimsical narrative moves between Daniel's struggles in his new life, Tilda's reflections on her old one, and the critters and community that surround them both. . . A smart, hopeful perspective of life on any lane."--The Bulletin

Author Bio

Kimberly Willis Holt is the author of many award-winning novels for young adults and children, including Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel, Dear Hank Williams, and When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, winner of a National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Born in Pensacola, Florida, Holt has lived all over the U.S. and the world. She now lives in Texas with her family. kimberlywillisholt.com