South of Somewhere

by Kalena Miller

Overview

STARRED REVIEW! "Precise, subtle details and complete emotional honesty bring these characters to life from the first page."—Kirkus Reviews starred review

"A charming entry in the crowded middle grade contemporary field."—School Library Journal

The unforgettable tale of a girl, her maybe-criminal mom, her babysitting business, and her pet pineapple.

When FBI agents swarm twelve-year-old Mavis Callahan's downtown Chicago home, her mom goes on the run. With the family’s house and bank accounts seized, Mavis’s dad takes her and her siblings to seek refuge with his sister just south of rural Somewhere, Illinois—a far cry from the big city lifestyle Mavis is used to. As Mavis grapples with her sudden turn in fortune, she learns to make new friends and starts a babysitting business to bring in some much-needed cash for the family. But she can’t help but wonder—is her mom truly guilty? And if not, why has she gone into hiding, contacting Mavis only through a series of postcards from exotic locales? Mavis isn’t sure if she’s ready for the truth, but she’ll do anything to find it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807577141
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	04/11/2024
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	271,495
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kalena Miller is the author of several books for children and teens. She graduated from Carleton College before receiving an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University. She currently lives with her husband and lovable, if slightly neurotic, dog in College Station, Texas, where she runs a bookstore with her mom. When she is not writing, reading, or selling books, Kalena enjoys tap dancing, crocheting, and watching an embarrassing amount of reality television.

Editorial Reviews

STARRED REVIEW! "Precise, subtle details and complete emotional honesty bring these characters to life from the first page."—Kirkus Reviews starred review
 

"A charming entry in the crowded middle grade contemporary field."—School Library Journal

"Miller writes a heartfelt and warm book about the importance of family and community"—Booklist

From the Publisher

03/01/2024

Gr 3–7—Returning from a Hawaiian vacation with her family, 12-year-old Mavis Callahan thinks her biggest problem is the sticky sand lingering between her toes. But when the Callahans turn onto their Chicago street, Mavis's plans to race her older siblings to the shower are derailed by the FBI. The agents are there to arrest her mom, Julie, for embezzlement. But Julie Callahan had mysteriously separated from the rest of her family at the airport, and now can't be reached. Mavis and her dad and siblings are stunned to learn that all their family assets, including their house, have been seized. They retreat to their estranged aunt's house in tiny Fairbank, IL. Cramming their family of four into Aunt Melissa's bungalow is a challenge for the privileged Callahans, but they soon adapt to their new normal. By spending time with her four-year-old cousin, Mavis learns that she actually enjoys babysitting, which soon leads to a friendship and joint babysitting venture with neighbor Emma. Meanwhile, questions swirl about Julie's whereabouts. Postcards from far flung, tropical destinations hint that she's on the run; but if the Callahan siblings and their new friends team up, they just might find her and get some answers. All main characters are presumed white. VERDICT A charming entry in the crowded middle grade contemporary field. Great for fans of Janae Marks and Dusti Bowling.—Dana West

School Library Journal

★ 2024-01-05
A wealthy girl’s life unravels when her mom is accused of embezzlement.

Unlike her two older siblings, 12-year-old Mavis has never questioned her lavish life—full of vacations and shopping trips, not to mention a home in one of Chicago’s richest neighborhoods. She also doesn’t doubt her position as the most-favored child, her wildly successful mother’s “mini-me.” Then one day, her mother disappears, and the FBI shows up. With their home seized and bank accounts frozen, Mavis’ stay-at-home dad is forced to beg for help from the once-close sister he’s ignored for the last 18 years. The shattered family moves into Aunt Melissa’s basement in a small town south of Somewhere, Illinois. Resilient Mavis makes a friend and starts a babysitting business. She also starts receiving postcards that lead her and her siblings to track their mother down. Complex, fully defined characters, including Mavis’ genuinely narcissistic mom and well-meaning but initially passive dad, plus a nuanced, realistic portrayal of a family putting itself back together, take what could have been a standard riches-to-rags story and turn it into a thoughtful exploration of class, love, and relationships. As Mavis gradually reframes her memories and expectations, she comes to treasure the rest of her family. Major cast members read white.

Precise, subtle details and complete emotional honesty bring these characters to life from the first page. (Fiction. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews