Happy launch day to my friend Heidi Stemple, whose debut middle grade novel launches from Wordsong today! The Poetry Of Car Mechanics is a novel-in-verse about 15-year-old Dylan, who seeks solace through birdwatching and poetry in the woods behind his grandfather’s auto shop. When he rescues an injured hawk, he must learn to confront the broken parts in himself.
The Poetry Of Car Mechanics
Author: Heidi E.Y. Stemple
Book designer: Barbara Grzeslo
Publisher: Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books For Young Readers
ISBN-10: 1662660219
Starred review in School Library Journal excerpt:
“Stemple’s artful writing will have readers flying through the pages, though the emotional depth deserves a moment to pause and savor each word… Hand to fans of tender explorations of young masculinity.”
Starred review in The Bulletin Of The Center For Children’s Books excerpt:
“Dylan’s poignant, crystal-clear verse narration contains layers of grief…despite this, Dylan has a steady, quiet sense of self… the cadence and brevity of stanzas and lines shift with Dylan’s emotions, and casual observations organically lead to profound insights without Dylan seeming overly wise for his years. This is one for the quiet kids, who know who they are and where they want to fly but who haven’t yet found the right flock.”
Related posts in my blog:
Three Questions with Heidi Stemple: Advice For Young Readers, Owls, and YOU NEST HERE WITH ME