THE GIRLS WHO SHOOK MOUNTAINS
Sixteen-year-old Lennie Pritchard has discovered she can coax flowers to bloom with a whisper and move boulders with a wave of her hand—gifts that connect her to sacred spaces within the mountains but that her deeply religious community would condemn as witchcraft. When her magic accidentally triggers a devastating rockslide, Lennie must fight not only for reunion with her family but for her right to embrace the spiritual power that flows through her veins.
Already struggling with her father’s abandonment and her mother’s chronic illness, Lennie finds solace in the magic taught by her eccentric neighbor Mrs. Baker—until that same magic marks her as dangerous in a community dominated by religious fervor. After the rockslide incident separates Lennie from her mother, she’s sent to the Home for Girls, where she discovers she’s not alone: three other young witches become the sisterhood she never knew she needed.
When Lennie’s father suddenly reappears and the controlling Reverend Jim demands her service to his church, she faces an impossible choice that explores questions of faith, power, and autonomy. Her journey ultimately leads to a redemptive understanding that magic and faith might not be as incompatible as her community believes—a realization that gives her courage to stand for who she truly is while fostering compassion for those who fear what they don’t understand.
I was born and raised in eastern Kentucky, bringing authentic voice to the Appalachian setting, folklore, and culture depicted in the novel.
KICK ME
Eleven-year-old Morgan knows everything about soccer—except how to fit in. With an encyclopedic memory for soccer stats and the ability to break down complex plays, she’s determined to make the A-team this year. But soccer is about more than just skills, and Morgan struggles to decode the unwritten rules of teamwork, friendship, and belonging.
When tryouts land her on the B-team again, Morgan faces her toughest challenge yet. A mysterious “Kick Me” sign, whispered comments, and teammates who don’t understand her become obstacles harder to beat than any defensive line. But with the help of a new friend, Mia, and an unexpected mentor in Coach Andi, Morgan begins to learn that her different way of seeing the world isn’t a weakness—it might just be her greatest strength.
As tournament season approaches, Morgan will have to use every skill in her playbook—both on and off the field—to prove that sometimes the most important moves aren’t found in any coaching manual.
“Kick Me” is a heartfelt middle-grade novel about neurodiversity, resilience, and finding your place—one soccer move at a time.
Perfect for fans of Wonder and El Deafo, this book scores big with its honest, funny, and inspiring look at what it means to be different—and why different can be extraordinary.
LILLITH MONSTERRE’S SIDEWALK CHALK DRAWINGS OF TERROR
When the neighbors complain about Lillith Monsterre’s sidewalk chalk art being too scary, she finds an unexpected ally: a mysterious piece of chalk with tooth marks and a hint of drool that opens doorways to a world where creativity knows no bounds. LILLITH MONSTERRE’S SIDEWALK CHALK DRAWINGS OF TERROR, a darkly whimsical story that reimagines HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON through a delightfully macabre lens.
Lillith isn’t interested in drawing the usual hearts, rainbows, and unicorns that other children create. Her realistic vipers and fire-eyed tigers cause quite a stir in the neighborhood—much to her secret delight. When she discovers the magical chalk, Lillith ventures into a world where flowers have blinking eyes, owls sport too many wings, and friendly ghosts create art using moonlight and spiderwebs. In this peculiar realm, she learns that true artists draw what they love, regardless of critics.
This manuscript would appeal to fans of Aaron Reynolds’s CREEPY CARROTS and Liniers’s WRITTEN AND DRAWN BY HENRIETTA, while offering a fresh voice in the tradition of Emily Gravett’s WOLF WON’T BITE. The story speaks to young artists who march to the beat of their own drum and parents who want to encourage their children’s unique creative expression.