Sweeping Up the Heart

From two-time Newbery Honor and New York Times-bestselling author Kevin Henkes, this timeless novel about loss, loneliness, and friendship tells the story of the spring break that changes seventh-grader Amelia Albright's life forever.

Amelia Albright dreams about going to Florida for spring break like everyone else in her class, but her father--a cranky and stubborn English professor--has decided Florida is too much adventure.

Now Amelia is stuck at home with him and her babysitter, the beloved Mrs. O'Brien. The week ahead promises to be boring, until Amelia meets Casey at her neighborhood art studio. Amelia has never been friends with a boy before, and the experience is both fraught and thrilling. When Casey claims to see the spirit of Amelia's mother (who died ten years before), the pair embarks on an altogether different journey in their attempt to find her.

Using crisp, lyrical, literary writing and moments of humor and truth, award-winning author Kevin Henkes deftly captures how it feels to be almost thirteen.

With themes of family, death, grief, creativity, and loyalty, Sweeping Up the Heart is for readers of Kate DiCamillo, Rebecca Stead, Lauren Wolk, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, and Pam Muñoz Ryan.

One boring spring break. A new friend. And a mystery that could change everything.

• An Unlikely Friendship: Amelia has only ever had girl friends. Casey is creative, funny, and maybe a little bit crazy--and he's about to turn her boring spring break upside down.
• Dealing with Grief: Ten years after her mother's death, Amelia is still navigating life with her quiet, melancholy father. This gentle story explores how families process loss in their own unique ways.
• Finding a Voice Through Art: When words fail, Amelia turns to her clay sculptures. She channels her feelings into a menagerie of clay rabbits, discovering her talent and herself in the process.
• Family Secrets: The search for Amelia's mother's spirit uncovers a different kind of secret--one that involves her father and a mysterious woman who looks startlingly familiar.