“Monday is Granny’s day … Tuesday is Aunt M.’s day.” Mimi’s mom died five months ago, and she and her older siblings, Conor and Sally, would be lost without the support of their wonderful extended family. Her grandparents, aunts, and uncles provide routine and a sense of normalcy while her dad remains in a fog of depression. But even surrounded by so much love, it still hurts. At school, Mimi struggles to stay engaged until a terrific new teacher combines compassion with expectation. At home, she and Sally are often at odds. Mimi has been reading Sally’s diary and discovers Sally has a secret: She’s been stealing from the neighborhood store. When Sally is caught, the resulting drama and chaos shock Mimi’s dad into action, and gradually the family begins to function again. Mimi’s voice is childlike and believable, and the behavior of Mimi and her siblings as well as her lively and loving extended family is utterly real, in John Newman’s honest, tender novel. As an aside, Mimi is adopted from China, while her two older siblings are not. When a classmate makes a nasty comment, saying Mimi hasn’t lost her “real” mother, Mimi’s response powerfully negates that lie and is a cathartic moment in the narrative. (Ages 8–10)

Mimi's life is off the rails since the sudden loss of her mother. What will it take to pull her and her family together? A spot-on, witty, and genuinely moving novel.

One hundred and forty-nine days ago, Mimi's mam died. Everyone's given up. Dad keeps burning pizzas, and he doesn't smile anymore. Sally wears only black now and has a terrible secret. Conor plays the drums all night and keeps the neighbors awake. The dog, Sparkler, hasn't been walked in months. And that's not even counting how terrible things are at school. But Mimi isn't one to give up. In his solo novel debut, John Newman has crafted a story both touching and comic-- a portrait of loss, compassion, and the power that comes from sticking together.