Overview

Hazel Bly used to have the perfect family. But when a kayaking trip goes horribly wrong, Mum is suddenly gone forever and Hazel is left with a jagged scar on her face. After Mum's death, Hazel, her other mother, Mama, and her little sister Peach needed a fresh start. So for the last two years, the Bly girls have lived all over the country. They travel from town to town, never settling anywhere for more than a few months or so. With Peach running headlong into every little adventure and Mama still heartbroken, it's up to Hazel to keep her family safe. But when the family comes to the town of Rose Harbor, Maine, a small fog-draped beach town full of roses and rocks, Hazel senses a wildness to it that feels like magic. And when Mama runs into an old childhood friend Claire, suddenly Hazel's tightly-knit world is infiltrated. To make it worse, she has a daughter Hazel's age, Lemon, who can't stop staring at Hazel, clicking photos with her instant camera, and rambling on and on about the Rose Maid, a local myth a hundred and fifty years old about how a local girl was so heartbroken she turned into a mermaid and has lurked in the harbor ever since. Hazel dives into Lemon's world, one full of lore, mermaid quests, and the eerie story of the Rose Maid, who even more eerily, looks exactly like Hazel. Soon, Hazel finds herself just as obsessed with the Rose Maid as Lemon is-because what if magic were real? What if Hazel could step into the ocean without fear? What if grief really could change you so much, you weren't even yourself anymore? What if instead you emerged from the darkness stronger than before?

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9780316535458

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Reviews

There are some books that we never forget. This is one of those books. Impactful, emotional, and important.--Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery award-winning author of Hello, Universe Sunny's bravery and buoyant spirit as she explores the truth about her family and herself will leave a lasting impression on the reader's heart.--Barbara Dee, author of Everything I Know About You and Halfway Normal In The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, Ashley Herring Blake honors the big, messy emotions inherent in being a preteen girl. Sunny is portrayed with such deep empathy and respect that she's destined to be a treasured friend for readers. This book is a joy.--Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl Blake captures all the exhilaration of a first crush without shying away from Ivy's confusion.... The sisters' relationship is one of the great rewards of this novel that includes a large and vivid cast of secondary characters, who give the story its sense of abundant texture.--New York Times Book Review * This is an emotionally sensitive and elegantly written novel about loss and the first stirrings of love.--Publishers Weekly, starred review * Ivy's story is no mere niche-filler in LGBTQ middle-grade realism -- it's a standard-setter.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review * Filling a much-needed gap in middle grade literature, this story addresses not just the topic of a first crush, but also the invisibility frequently felt by middle children...Young readers will find Ivy's challenges very real and will sympathize with her choices, both good and bad.--School Library Journal, starred review * A sweet and gentle story of self-discovery and a beautiful addition to the growing genre of middle-grade realism featuring girls who like girls.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review * A heartwarming and engaging tale that treats Sunny's emerging sexual identity with care, authenticity, and age appropriateness.--School Library Journal, starred review * [The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James] is an accomplished, layered, moving story featuring a girl questioning her sexuality. Bighearted in every way.--Booklist, starred review The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James will make you ache for the twelve-year-old you once were, and anxious to share this book with every pre-teen you know. I may be Ashley Herring Blake's biggest fan!--p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Shannon Hitchcock, author of One True Way and Ruby Lee & Me The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James pulls at the heart strings from the very first sentence. Part soul-crushing, part soul-fulfilling, laced in humor and unwavering hope. Readers will root for Sunny from start to finish. Ashley Herring Blake hits all the feels with this one. Love is love is Love. Surely a message we all can get on board with!--Tami Charles, author of Like Vanessa and Definitely Daphne Praise for The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James: The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James is a moving coming of age story that is not only engaging to read but is also deeply important. Sunny is a funny, thoughtful, and wonderfully rendered character who will stay with you long after you have finished reading.--Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Amal Unbound Praise for Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World: A Stonewall Children's & Young Adult Honor Book

There are some books that we never forget. This is one of those books. Impactful, emotional, and important. --Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery award-winning author of Hello, Universe Sunny's bravery and buoyant spirit as she explores the truth about her family and herself will leave a lasting impression on the reader's heart. --Barbara Dee, author of Everything I Know About You and Halfway Normal In The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, Ashley Herring Blake honors the big, messy emotions inherent in being a preteen girl. Sunny is portrayed with such deep empathy and respect that she's destined to be a treasured friend for readers. This book is a joy. --Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl Blake captures all the exhilaration of a first crush without shying away from Ivy's confusion.... The sisters' relationship is one of the great rewards of this novel that includes a large and vivid cast of secondary characters, who give the story its sense of abundant texture. --New York Times Book Review The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James will make you ache for the twelve-year-old you once were, and anxious to share this book with every pre-teen you know. I may be Ashley Herring Blake's biggest fan! --p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Shannon Hitchcock, author of One True Way and Ruby Lee & Me The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James pulls at the heart strings from the very first sentence. Part soul-crushing, part soul-fulfilling, laced in humor and unwavering hope. Readers will root for Sunny from start to finish. Ashley Herring Blake hits all the feels with this one. Love is love is Love. Surely a message we all can get on board with! --Tami Charles, author of Like Vanessa and Definitely Daphne * This is an emotionally sensitive and elegantly written novel about loss and the first stirrings of love. --Publishers Weekly, starred review * Filling a much-needed gap in middle grade literature, this story addresses not just the topic of a first crush, but also the invisibility frequently felt by middle children...Young readers will find Ivy's challenges very real and will sympathize with her choices, both good and bad. --School Library Journal, starred review * A sweet and gentle story of self-discovery and a beautiful addition to the growing genre of middle-grade realism featuring girls who like girls. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review * A heartwarming and engaging tale that treats Sunny's emerging sexual identity with care, authenticity, and age appropriateness. --School Library Journal, starred review * [The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James] is an accomplished, layered, moving story featuring a girl questioning her sexuality. Bighearted in every way. --Booklist, starred review * Ivy's story is no mere niche-filler in LGBTQ middle-grade realism -- it's a standard-setter. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review Praise for The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James is a moving coming of age story that is not only engaging to read but is also deeply important. Sunny is a funny, thoughtful, and wonderfully rendered character who will stay with you long after you have finished reading.--Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Amal Unbound Praise for Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World A Stonewall Children's & Young Adult Honor Book---

Praise for The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James: The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James will make you ache for the twelve-year-old you once were, and anxious to share this book with every pre-teen you know. I may be Ashley Herring Blake's biggest fan! --p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Shannon Hitchcock, author of One True Way and Ruby Lee & Me [Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea] is a moving story of grief and guilt. This novel deals with loss in a way that feels accessible but never condescending. --Booklist Praise for Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea: Packing an emotional punch, this delicately woven novel by Blake (The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James) features clearly wrought characters who capture the heart. --Publishers Weekly The author allows the reader to feel the pain that death and divorce bring, the joys of finding acceptance with peers, determining one's own sexual identity, and learning to begin the healing process from physical and mental pain. Readers will be able to see themselves in the characters and may find ways to deal with the struggles they are going through in their own lives. --School Library Connection Blake captures all the exhilaration of a first crush without shying away from Ivy's confusion.... The sisters' relationship is one of the great rewards of this novel that includes a large and vivid cast of secondary characters, who give the story its sense of abundant texture. --New York Times Book Review Praise for Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World: A Stonewall Children's & Young Adult Honor Book The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James pulls at the heart strings from the very first sentence. Part soul-crushing, part soul-fulfilling, laced in humor and unwavering hope. Readers will root for Sunny from start to finish. Ashley Herring Blake hits all the feels with this one. Love is love is Love. Surely a message we all can get on board with!--Tami Charles, author of Like Vanessa and Definitely Daphne * [The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James] is an accomplished, layered, moving story featuring a girl questioning her sexuality. Bighearted in every way.--Booklist, starred review * A heartwarming and engaging tale that treats Sunny's emerging sexual identity with care, authenticity, and age appropriateness.--School Library Journal, starred review * A sweet and gentle story of self-discovery and a beautiful addition to the growing genre of middle-grade realism featuring girls who like girls.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review * Filling a much-needed gap in middle grade literature, this story addresses not just the topic of a first crush, but also the invisibility frequently felt by middle children...Young readers will find Ivy's challenges very real and will sympathize with her choices, both good and bad.--School Library Journal, starred review * Ivy's story is no mere niche-filler in LGBTQ middle-grade realism -- it's a standard-setter.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review * This is an emotionally sensitive and elegantly written novel about loss and the first stirrings of love.--Publishers Weekly, starred review In The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, Ashley Herring Blake honors the big, messy emotions inherent in being a preteen girl. Sunny is portrayed with such deep empathy and respect that she's destined to be a treasured friend for readers. This book is a joy.--Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl Sunny's bravery and buoyant spirit as she explores the truth about her family and herself will leave a lasting impression on the reader's heart.--Barbara Dee, author of Everything I Know About You and Halfway Normal There are some books that we never forget. This is one of those books. Impactful, emotional, and important.--Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery award-winning author of Hello, Universe

Author Information

Ashley Herring Blake is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars, as well as the Stonewall honor novel Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, and The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea. Ashley lives in Georgia with her husband and two sons.

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