Noah is used to being a straight-A student, swim champ and all-around easy kid.
But things haven't been the same since Noah's older brother Jamie ran away to Halifax, leaving only a note behind. His parents spend every free second on the phone or driving to Halifax to try to find Jamie, and Noah is left trying to mask his anxiety and grief by pretending to be the perfect son who does everything right. But inside he feels like crying and gets a knot in his stomach whenever he thinks of Jamie.
Some warmth returns to their home when Grandma Aisling comes to stay, bringing her fiddle and her genius for making chocolate cake with her. At school, funny and kind Alysha joins his class and Noah has a new friend to distract him from his worries. When a swim competition is announced with the grand prize being a trip to Halifax, Noah knows he has to win it so he can go to Halifax himself—and get Jamie back.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
“The book offers front-row seats to the myriad of emotions someone can experience when a loved one is struggling. A perfect addition to middle grade realistic and sports fiction collections. Recommended for all libraries.”
“Schwartz Fagan’s well-paced narrative convincingly portrays the anxiety of a family dealing with crisis, the pleasures of having a loving grandparent, and the typical—yet still excruciating—ups and downs of adolescence. An absorbing family drama, helmed by an uncertain but sympathetic protagonist coming into his own.”