Cindy Baldwin Knihy

An unexpected animal companion helps a girl with cystic fibrosis learn to write her own story in this captivating novel in verse by award-winning author and disabled activist Cindy Baldwin. Penny Rooney has cystic fibrosis, which means she has to do breathing treatments to help her lungs work. Some days, it seems like her CF is the only thing Penny knows about herself for sure. From her point of view, everyone around her can make sense of their place in the world. So why can't Penny even begin to write a poem about herself for school? Then during spring break Penny spots something impossible in the creek behind her house: a dolphin, far from its home. Penny names the dolphin Rose and feels an immediate bond, since the dolphin is also sick. But as Penny's CF worsens, she realizes that Rose needs to return to her pod to get better. Will Penny be able to help guide Rose back to the ocean, even if it means losing her friend? This heartwarming story, which marks the first time an author with cystic fibrosis is writing a protagonist with CF, will transport readers into a world full of friendship, family, and powerful self-discovery.

Ivy Mae Bloom is almost thirteen years old, her name is almost a complete sentence, and her family's RV is almost a home. Ivy desperately wants a place to put down roots, but it's her mama's job as a fallen star to tend the magic underpinning the world--a job that's kept Ivy's family living on the road since before Ivy was born. After Ivy steals Mama's entire supply of wish jars in the hopes of finding a place to call home, disaster strands her family in Whistling Ridge, North Carolina, with Mama's star sisters. Something is draining the magic from the town, and the star sisters can't pinpoint it. Ivy and her new friends find a clue in Whistling Ridge's history that might explain the mysterious threat. But how can she help the star sisters lift the curse if it means losing her best chance at a forever home?

Exploring themes of friendship and healing, this story follows characters as they navigate their emotions and relationships following a tragic loss. It resonates with readers who appreciate heartfelt narratives, similar to the works of Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Ali Benjamin. The author, known for her previous acclaimed work, delivers a poignant tale that highlights the power of connection in overcoming grief.