Box Girl — Sarah Withrow

Eighth-grader Gwen Bainbridge’s mother ran away five years ago. Now Gwen is receiving postcards from her that promise a reunion � -- postcards with a French postmark and no return address. Every night, Gwen pulls the cards from their secret place, makes a box out of them, and chants a spell that will take her to her mother. Until that happens, she plans to be a loner. After all, why make friends when she might be leaving any minute? Or so she thinks until she meets Clara, the new girl in her class. Clara sings to herself, moves her head like a chicken, and is determined to befriend Gwen. Despite herself, Gwen is drawn to this free spirit. But there’s a problem: How can Gwen invite Clara home for dinner with her dad and Leon, her dad’s boyfriend? This sensitive portrayal of a controversial subject from an award-winning writer shows the healing power of friendship. �"Eloquent first-person narrative traces the gradual change Gwen undergoes as she learns to reach outward to find love and acceptance.” � -- Publishers Weekly