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New York Times bestselling author Janae Marks delivers a stunningly crafted and twisty mystery about the tests of friendships that examines what matters most when everything can change in a split second-perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Anne Ursu.
That clock can't be right. When Elise wakes up the morning after her birthday celebration, she's surprised to find herself in her bedroom. Last she can remember, she had fallen asleep next to her best friends at her slumber party in her basement, and it was October. But now she's alone, and her phone says it's April 8. Elise doesn't understand. How could she have woken up six months later?
No one else is acting like anything strange has happened, yet Elise can't remember the last half year. To make matters worse, her friends refuse to talk to her and Elise doesn't know why. She also has no idea how she got signed up for photography club or why her former best friend, Cora, is talking to her again. Is it a memory problem? Could it be magic? Every day that passes takes Elise further from the world she knew. Thankfully, Elise has Cora to lean on in this new reality, and the two come together to investigate why Elise woke up in the future-and, more important, how to get her back to her past and away from this nightmare.
Praise for A Soft Place to Land: "A Soft Place to Land confirms Marks' status as one of the brightest new stars of contemporary middle grade. Whereas Zoe Washington explored injustice and systemic racism, A Soft Place to Land explores class in a story-driven way that never feels heavy-handed." - BookPage
"Blending mystery with realistic fiction, Joy's story of how complicated life is for a kid will resonate with readers in tender and poignant ways." - Booklist (starred review)
"A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other." - Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done
"This relatable story touches on topics such as divorce (Joy's parents briefly separate, then reconcile), the ups and downs of having a job at a young age, and the difficulties that arise from keeping secrets from family and friends. An engaging coming-of-age story that will appeal to a wide range of readers." - School Library Journal
"Marks has a keen eye and ear for the telling particulars of the family's struggle to forge ahead in a new setting, and the book is sensitive to everyone's need for a space to be alone from time to time. Fans will welcome her introduction to another determined and resilient Black tween heroine."
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends." - Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp
"A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love." - Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"With a dash of mystery, sprinkle of passion, and whole lot of heart, From the Desk of Zoe Washington has found a winning recipe."
- Coe Booth, author of Kinda Like Brothers
"This poignant look at friendship, loss, and facing consequences hits all the right notes. It will squeeze your heart in such a special way. Marks tenderly blends mystery, compassion and the highs and lows of friendship in a perfect melody. A Soft Place to Land will have readers cheering for Joy and longing for a hideout of their very own." - Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say
Praise for From the Desk of Zoe Washington: "How could someone innocent end up in prison? With the help of her grandmother and her friend Trevor, Zoe beg
That clock can't be right. When Elise wakes up the morning after her birthday celebration, she's surprised to find herself in her bedroom. Last she can remember, she had fallen asleep next to her best friends at her slumber party in her basement, and it was October. But now she's alone, and her phone says it's April 8. Elise doesn't understand. How could she have woken up six months later?
No one else is acting like anything strange has happened, yet Elise can't remember the last half year. To make matters worse, her friends refuse to talk to her and Elise doesn't know why. She also has no idea how she got signed up for photography club or why her former best friend, Cora, is talking to her again. Is it a memory problem? Could it be magic? Every day that passes takes Elise further from the world she knew. Thankfully, Elise has Cora to lean on in this new reality, and the two come together to investigate why Elise woke up in the future-and, more important, how to get her back to her past and away from this nightmare.
Praise for A Soft Place to Land: "A Soft Place to Land confirms Marks' status as one of the brightest new stars of contemporary middle grade. Whereas Zoe Washington explored injustice and systemic racism, A Soft Place to Land explores class in a story-driven way that never feels heavy-handed." - BookPage
"Blending mystery with realistic fiction, Joy's story of how complicated life is for a kid will resonate with readers in tender and poignant ways." - Booklist (starred review)
"A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other." - Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done
"This relatable story touches on topics such as divorce (Joy's parents briefly separate, then reconcile), the ups and downs of having a job at a young age, and the difficulties that arise from keeping secrets from family and friends. An engaging coming-of-age story that will appeal to a wide range of readers." - School Library Journal
"Marks has a keen eye and ear for the telling particulars of the family's struggle to forge ahead in a new setting, and the book is sensitive to everyone's need for a space to be alone from time to time. Fans will welcome her introduction to another determined and resilient Black tween heroine."
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends." - Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp
"A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love." - Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me
"With a dash of mystery, sprinkle of passion, and whole lot of heart, From the Desk of Zoe Washington has found a winning recipe."
- Coe Booth, author of Kinda Like Brothers
"This poignant look at friendship, loss, and facing consequences hits all the right notes. It will squeeze your heart in such a special way. Marks tenderly blends mystery, compassion and the highs and lows of friendship in a perfect melody. A Soft Place to Land will have readers cheering for Joy and longing for a hideout of their very own." - Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say
Praise for From the Desk of Zoe Washington: "How could someone innocent end up in prison? With the help of her grandmother and her friend Trevor, Zoe beg