Books by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pieces of Blue

When Paul Hill drowns in a surfing accident, his broken-hearted wife, Lindsey, and their three children are left in huge financial trouble. Once Paul’s life insurance finally comes through, Lindsey impulsively uses the money to buy a charmingly ramshackle motel in Hawai’i, hoping for a fresh start. Teenage Olivia quickly develops a crush on a handsome but monosyllabic skateboarder. Twelve-year-old Carlos reinvents himself as a popular kid named Carl. And Sena, the youngest, will do whatever it takes to protect her beloved motel chickens.

But while the kids adjust, Lindsey is flailing, trying to pretend she knows how to bring a motel—and herself—back to life. Then a stranger rolls into the motel parking lot, and she’s surprised to feel a long-dormant part of herself stirring. She accepts his offer to help, unaware that he may have secrets of his own. And all the while, out in the Pacific, the trade winds are fiercely blowing.

Short

Julia is very short for her age and this is the summer she gets cast as a munchkin in a production of The Wizard of Oz. She hasn’t ever thought of herself as a performer, but as Julia becomes friendly with the poised and wise Olive – an adult with dwarfism who doesn’t let her size define her – and with a deeply artistic neighbor named Mrs. Chang, she finds that she may not be as tall as everyone else, but she more than deserves to hold her head high.

To Nightowl From Dogfish

Julia is very short for her age and this is the summer she gets cast as a munchkin in a production of The Wizard of Oz. She hasn’t ever thought of herself as a performer, but as Julia becomes friendly with the poised and wise Olive – an adult with dwarfism who doesn’t let her size define her – and with a deeply artistic neighbor named Mrs. Chang, she finds that she may not be as tall as everyone else, but she more than deserves to hold her head high.

Counting by 7s

Counting By 7s is the story of Willow Chance, a twelve-year-old girl who has been identified at an early age as ‘gifted’. Willow lives in Bakersfield, California and comes home from school one day to the news that her parents have been killed in a traffic accident.

What follows is Willow’s search to find a place where she belongs.

In equal parts an exploration of the pain of loss and of the triumph of moving forward, the novel looks at how one person can change the lives of many, often without even trying.

Appleblossom the Possum

Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it’s time for all of them–-even little Appleblossom–to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family and accidentally falls down their chimney! The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers who launch a hilarious rescue mission and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they’re about to find out!

With dynamic illustrations, a tight-knit family, and a glimpse at the world from a charming little marsupial’s point of view, this cozy animal story is a perfect read-aloud and classic in the making.

Just Call My Name

Emily Bell has it all. She’s in love with a boy named Sam Border, and his little brother has become part of her family. This summer is des- tined to be the best time of their lives–until a charismatic new girl in town sets her sights on Sam.

Now Emily finds herself questioning the loyalty of the person she trusts most. But the biggest threat to her happiness is someone she never saw coming. Sam’s criminally insane father, whom everyone thought they’d finally left behind, is planning a jailbreak. And he knows exactly where to find Emily and his sons when he escapes.

The happily-ever-after of Holly Goldberg Sloan’s acclaimed debut I’ll Be There is turned on its head in this riveting, emotional drama about friends, enemies and how those roles can shift in a matter of moments.

I’ll Be There

Raised by an unstable father who keeps the family constantly on the move, Sam Border hasn’t been in a classroom since the second grade. He’s always been the rock for his younger brother Riddle, who stopped speaking long ago and instead makes sense of the world through his strange and intricate drawings. It’s said that the two boys speak with one voice –and that voice is Sam’s.

Then, Sam meets Emily Bell, and everything changes. The two share an immediate and intense attraction, and soon Sam and Riddle find themselves welcomed into the Bell’s home. Faced with normalcy for the first time, they know it’s too good to last.

Told from multiple perspectives,I’ll Be There offers readers fresh voices and a gripping story, with vivid glimpses into the lives of many unique characters. It is a story about connections both big and small, and deftly explores the many ways that our lives are woven together.