The Things We Miss

Gr 5 Up–Stecher’s debut novel is about the joys and struggles of dealing with middle school and growing up. J.P. is not looking forward to the start of seventh grade, but gets news from her best friend, Kevin, that their favorite show Admiral K is getting a movie. After her first day, she goes to her neighbor’s treehouse wishing to skip all of her middle school woes when suddenly a golden doorknob appears on the wall. Curious, she opens the newly formed door and steps through, finding herself three days in the future, remembering nothing that happened over those days. With this new magical way out, J.P. starts using the door as an escape more and more as the bullying increases and her grandfather’s cancer returns, missing the bad parts of her life, but the good moments as well. Stecher’s story is one of learning from mistakes and being present, with a twist of magic. The relationships between J.P. and Kevin, and between J.P. and her mom, are believable, and will resonate with young readers. Stecher doesn’t shy away from tough conversations and deep topics in this imaginative debut.