Balance

Twelve-year-old Adele is certain her chaotic, sprawling family lacks the elegance she craves. Armed with an unabridged dictionary and lofty ambitions, she navigates a French au pair's romantic dramas, a glamorous cousin's cruelties, her grandmother's decline, a new baby, and her own painful discoveries about love and honesty. Through a year of birthday parties, ice storms, funerals, and family councils, Adele gradually trades her illusions for something real—coming to appreciate her hardworking mother, her devoted father, and the messy love that surrounds her.

• A hilarious, big-hearted heroine who wants a dictionary for her birthday and thinks her family is beneath her
• Perfect for tween girls navigating self-worth, sibling chaos, and the pressure of social media and cell phones
• A clean, wholesome coming-of-age story parents can hand to their daughters with confidence
• Explores grief, growing up, and generosity with wit rather than heaviness

“"I want a dictionary for my birthday ..." and then she looked directly at Brady, " ... so I can rise above the common."”

Perfect for a bright, imaginative 10-13-year-old girl who loves words, feels out of step with her big or busy family, and enjoys character-driven stories with humor and heart.