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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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GOING WHERE IT'S DARK

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

From the Newbery Award–winning author of Shiloh comes a middle-grade novel that combines adrenaline-fueled adventure with a poignant coming-of-age story about a boy who loves the challenges he faces when caving but finds daily life dealing with his stuttering problem a most difficult challenge.
Buck Anderson’s life seems to be changing completely. His best friend, David, has moved away; his anxious parents are hounding him more than ever; he has reluctantly agreed to fill in for his uncle and do odd jobs for a grumpy old veteran in town; and his twin sister has a new boyfriend and is never around anymore. To top it all off, Buck is bullied by a group of boys at school—mainly because he stutters.

There is one thing that frees Buck from his worries. It is the heart-pounding exhilaration he feels when exploring underground caves in and around his hometown. He used to go caving with David, but he's determined to continue on his own now. He doesn’t know that more changes are headed his way—changes that just might make him rethink his view of the world and his place in it.
Available products
Book

Published 2016-01-12 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2016-01-12 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Comments

Naylor's signature ability to coax profound truths out of ordinary characters and familiar events shines, and she avoids supplying easy answers. Change is hard. Familial relationships are complicated. And healing takes time. Buck's strength is inspirational, and his family's love and respect are heartwarming.

Naylor offers a well-constructed and well-paced story that will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt out of place or bullied.

Writing with characteristic sensitivity, Naylor delivers an engrossing account of a boy’s interior and exterior struggles.