Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?
Praise
“Through Aurora, we see Frenchie’s humanity; in turn, Aurora’s patience, perceptiveness, and empathy shine….. funny, heartwarming, and keenly observant… finely crafted plot….a well-earned happy resolution.” — Hornbook
“….elements of suspense and pastoral literature… an engaging story. A strong choice for readers seeking stories with neurodiverse characters or books with heartwarming friendships.” — Booklist
“Connor creates a playground of a coastal Maine town where the quirky locals are accessible and caring. Aurora’s buoyant enthusiasm infuses the story with adventurous fun…” — Kirkus
Awards and Accolades
"Children seeking a gentle story of rare birds being seen, supported and understood will feel right at home within these pages." – New York Times
Finalist: New England Book Award, 2022
About
Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin’s best friend has never spoken a word to her. In fact, Frenchie Livernois doesn’t talk.
Aurora is bouncy, loud and impulsive—“a big old blurter.” Making friends has never come easily. When Frenchie, who is autistic, silently chose Aurora as his person back in third grade, she chose him back. They make a good team, sharing their love of the natural world in coastal Maine.
In the woods, Aurora and Frenchie encounter a piebald deer, a rare creature with a coat like a patchwork quilt. Whenever it appears, Aurora feels compelled to follow.
At school, Aurora looks out for Frenchie, who has been her classmate until this year. One morning, Frenchie doesn’t make it to his classroom. Aurora feels she’s to blame. The entire town begins to search, and everyone wonders: how is it possible that nobody has seen Frenchie?
At the heart of this story is the friendship between hyper-talkative Aurora and nonvocal Frenchie. Conflict arises when Aurora is better able to expand her social abilities and finds new friends. When Frenchie goes missing, Aurora must figure out how to use her voice to help find him, and lift him up when he is found.
Featuring a compelling mystery and a memorable voice, this is a natural next-read after Leslie Connor’s The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.
Pre-Order Now!
ISBN: 0062999362
Imprint: Katherine Tegen Books
On Sale: 02/15/2022
Pages: 336
List Price: 16.99 USD
Age: 8-12
