In Your Shoes by Donna Gephart

“A unique and compelling novel from a master storyteller.” —School Library Journal, starred review

Some friendships find you when you least expect them. This heartfelt middle-grade gem—from the critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin—reminds us that you never really know who needs a friend the most.

Meet Miles. He’s an anxious boy who loves his family’s bowling center, even though he could be done in by a stray bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo somewhere along the way. (Hey, you never know.)

And then there’s Amy. The new girl at school, wishing she didn’t have to live above her uncle’s funeral home, quietly trying to write her way toward her own happily-ever-after.

When Miles and Amy meet—in the most unexpected way imaginable—that’s when everything begins.

This is a story about anxiety and bravery, grief and hope, and the small, surprising moments that knit two people together. It’s tender. It’s funny. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the last page.

Perfect for young readers exploring big feelings, new experiences, and the messy, wonderful business of making a friend. We’d happily slip this one into the hands of any reader who’s ever felt a little out of place—which is to say, all of us.

A warm, salty-air kind of read for a rainy afternoon. Pull up a chair and stay a while.

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