Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey: A Newbery Author's Illustrated AAPI Story for Children (Ages 8—12)

“Utterly endearing!” —Annie Barrows, New York Times-bestselling author of the Ivy + Bean books

“Hilarious and heart-melting.” —Sara Pennypacker, New York Times–bestselling author of Pax

Introducing eight-year-old Marisol Rainey—an irresistible new character from Newbery Medal winning and New York Times–bestselling Erin Entrada Kelly!

Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey is an illustrated novel about summer, friendship, and overcoming fears, told with warm humor and undeniable appeal. Fans of Clementine, The Year of Billy Miller, and Ramona the Pest will be thrilled to meet Marisol.

Marisol Rainey’s mother was born in the Philippines. Marisol’s father works and lives part-time on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. And Marisol, who has a big imagination and likes to name inanimate objects, has a tree in her backyard she calls Peppina . . . but she’s way too scared to climb it. This all makes Marisol the only girl in her small Louisiana town with a mother who was born elsewhere and a father who lives elsewhere (most of the time)—the only girl who’s fearful of adventure and fun.

Will Marisol be able to salvage her summer and have fun with Jada, her best friend? Maybe. Will Marisol figure out how to get annoying Evie Smythe to leave her alone? Maybe. Will Marisol ever get to spend enough real time with her father? Maybe. Will Marisol find the courage to climb Peppina? Maybe. 

Told in short chapters with illustrations by the author on nearly every page, Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey is a must-have for early elementary grade readers. Erin Entrada Kelly celebrates the small but mighty Marisol, the joys of friendship, and the triumph of overcoming your fears in this stunning new novel for readers of Kevin Henkes, Meg Medina, Andrew Clements, Sara Pennypacker, and Kate DiCamillo. 

Features black-and-white artwork throughout by Erin Entrada Kelly.

Erin Entrada Kellyis the author of the Newbery Medalwinning novelsHello, Universe and The First State of Being, which was also named a finalist for the National Book Award. She received a Newbery Honor for her acclaimed novelWe Dream of Space. Erin Entrada Kelly grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and now lives in Delaware. She teaches in the MFA in writing for children and young adults program at Hamline University. Her short fiction has been nominated for the Philippines Free Press Literary Award for Short Fiction and the Pushcart Prize. Before becoming a childrens author, Erin Entrada Kelly worked as a journalist and magazine editor and received numerous awards for community service journalism, feature writing, and editing from the Louisiana Press Association and the Associated Press.

Erin Entrada Kellys debut novel,Blackbird Fly, was aKirkusBest Book of the Year, aSchool Library JournalBest Book of the Year, an ALSC Notable Book, and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book. She is also the author ofThe Land of Forgotten Girls, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature;You Go First, an Indie Next Pick;Lalani of the Distant Sea, an Indie Next Pick;Those Kids from Fawn Creek, named to numerous best-of-the-year lists; and five popular novels for younger readers,Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey,Surely Surely Marisol Rainey,Only Only MarisolRainey,Your Turn Marisol Rainey,andFelix Powell, Boy Dog, which she also illustrated. Erin Entrada Kellys acclaimed nonfiction debut, At Last She Stood, tells the sweeping story of Filipino World War II guerrilla fighter Josefina Guerrero.