A big-hearted, beautiful, and funny novel told from multiple
viewpoints about neurodiversity, friendship, and community from the
award-winning author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, Leslie
Connor.
Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin's best friend has never spoken a word
to her. In fact, Frenchie Livernois doesn't talk.
Aurora is bouncy, loud and impulsive--"a big old blurter." Making
friends has never come easily. When Frenchie, who is autistic, silently
chose Aurora as his person back in third grade, she chose him back. They
make a good team, sharing their love of the natural world in coastal
Maine.
In the woods, Aurora and Frenchie encounter a piebald deer, a rare
creature with a coat like a patchwork quilt. Whenever it appears, Aurora
feels compelled to follow.
At school, Aurora looks out for Frenchie, who has been her classmate
until this year. One morning, Frenchie doesn't make it to his classroom.
Aurora feels she's to blame. The entire town begins to search, and
everyone wonders: how is it possible that nobody has seen Frenchie?
At the heart of this story is the friendship between hyper-talkative
Aurora and nonvocal Frenchie. Conflict arises when Aurora is better able
to expand her social abilities and finds new friends. When Frenchie goes
missing, Aurora must figure out how to use her voice to help find him,
and lift him up when he is found.
Featuring a compelling mystery and a memorable voice, this is a natural
next-read after Leslie Connor's The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.
* Kids' Indie Next Pick * New England Book Award Finalists 2022 *
"Leslie Connor brilliantly depicts a genuine and meaningful friendship
between a dynamic girl and her nonvocal friend. By showing the ways
Aurora and Frenchie communicate, Connor gives us a blueprint for seeing
autistic children in a new light. I loved, loved, loved this book!"
--Cammie McGovern, author of Frankie and Amelia and Chester and Gus
