Finding Esme

Fans of Wendy Maas and Lynda Mullaly Hunt will love this perfectly pitched story about friendship, family, and loss from Suzanne Crowley, the acclaimed author of The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous.

After her grandfather died from a heart attack while driving his tractor on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme's been inextricably drawn to that spot, although her grandmother warns her to stay away. But when she follows her little brother, Bo, and her dog, Old Jack, up the hill while chasing fireflies, she makes an incredible discovery—dinosaur bones peeking out from underneath the abandoned tractor.

The bones must be a message from her grandfather, a connection from beyond the grave. But when word gets out that the farm is hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and neighbors arrive in droves. Esme struggles to understand who has her best interests at heart, especially as the memory of her grandfather begins to slip away.

Full of friendship and adventure, and featuring a palpable Texas setting, Finding Esme is a moving and heartfelt story about family, friendship, and learning to deal with loss.

From acclaimed author Suzanne Crowley, this engaging adventure set on a Texas peach farm is just right for fans of Rebecca Stead and Ann M. Martin.

Can one incredible discovery heal a family's old wounds—or just create new ones?

• Dinosaur Discovery: Twelve-year-old Esme finds more than just fossils under Paps's old tractor—she finds a connection to the grandfather she misses so dearly.
• A Story About Grief: As memories of her grandfather begin to fade, Esme must learn to navigate her loss while protecting his legacy from a town suddenly desperate for a piece of her discovery.
• A Peculiar Family: With a mostly-absent father and a grandmother who can find anything with a witching stick, Esme’s family is anything but ordinary. Can she trust them when the whole world comes knocking?
• Rich Texas Setting: From the dusty peach orchards of her family farm to the close-knit community of Hollis, the heart of Texas beats on every page of this atmospheric story.