Finding Someplace - Tapa dura

A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year

"Reesie has inherited her Ma Maw's style as well as her sewing machine. She's a girl with dreams and ambition who can't imagine being derailed by anything, and readers will understand her aching vulnerability as she confronts a force even she can't control. Patrick builds to the climax beautifully and delivers a character who puts readers in the moment. A perfect storm of suspense and fine character building." --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"Though Reesie lives through a national disaster, something most readers will not have experienced, her voice and concerns are authentic and relatable. A powerful read for middle grade readers already familiar with the hurricane or those learning about it for the first time." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Patrick's sensitive, effective portrayal of Reesie's inner life and growth will evoke sympathy and respect . . .The depiction of the vibrant life and community of the largely African-American Ninth Ward pre-Katrina makes Reesie's eventual return particularly powerful, and the author's note is a restrained but heartbreaking call for social justice." --The Bulletin

"Reesie's determination-both to achieve her own dreams and to take care of those close to her-shine in this intimate look at the impact of a devastating natural disaster and the commitment of those dedicated to rebuilding" --Publishers Weekly

"Patrick captures Reesie's terror in ways young readers will relate to-not just her fear of the dark and the flooding but also of being separated from her parents and responsible for her own rescue. The aching loss of the aftermath Reesie's lingering guilt over losing important possessions at the evacuation center; her difficulty processing the "bigness" of the destruction; the financial and marital problems engulfing her parents-is sensitively portrayed." --Booklist

"The novel's thoughtful and reflective stance will engage readers who want to understand cause and effect, and this novel has great potential for the classroom." --VOYA

Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw's sewing machine. She'll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration.

But on Reesie's birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun.

This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.

A Christy Ottaviano Book