LOUISE HAWES

Margaret K. McElderry Books,
Simon & Schuster

What if the most famous poet alive finds his house trashed by a group of kids?
What if one of those kids lives in a world where everything has a voice?
What if poetry is a matter of survival for them both?

A 2017 Bank Street 
Best Children’s Book of the Year, Outstanding Merit, 

Fourteen and Older, Fiction

                                       Booklist: 
"Hawes’ simple, lovely poetry illustrates Sarah’s inner journey as her rocky relationships with estranged parents, friends, and boyfriend change. This is a tale of forgiveness, listening to the world, and looking beyond the surface."

                                Publishers Weekly:
'"Full of poetry and ideas, Sarah’s narration has an exuberant innocence, bringing a fresh and joyful quality to a story about a girl learning to love the possibilities that come with independence: the chance to discover one’s true self and desires, while forging a path forward that might fulfill them."

                                        Kirkus: 
"Hawes excels in crafting rounded characters with varied home situations teens can relate to, and poems infused throughout the narrative offer poetic points of attachment as well as examples of different writing techniques (group- and free-writing, donning blindfolds, etc.) budding writers might attempt.”

English Plus Language Blog: 

“Its approach and writing style remind this reviewer of ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE. In other words, it is as much for adults as it is for teens…Hawes has a great ear and a tender sense of transcience that comes alive in the poetry and character of Mr. Baylor. 

Pick up the book for the story. Keep it for the poetry."