The Zebra Wall

When ten-year-old Adine’s mother has a new baby, eccentric Aunt Irene comes to stay and shares Adine’s bedroom—events that shake up her family life and require a great deal of adjustment.

The Vorlob family is making preparations. Preparations for the new baby, soon to arrive.

Getting ready includes painting a mural in the baby’s nursery and making a list of possible names. Adine, age ten, is used to the routine in this story about sisters—she has four already: Bernice, Carla, Dot, and Effie.

This time, however, the routine is broken. In more ways than one. Most significantly, Aunt Irene will be staying with the Vorlobs until Mrs. Vorlob is rested and back on her feet.

Aunt Irene arrives, as does the baby, but nothing goes quite as expected. Especially for Adine.

Multiple award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Kevin Henkes brings his insightful, gentle, real-world insight to middle grade novels, including:

• Billy Miller Makes a Wish
• Bird Lake Moon
• The Birthday Room
• Junonia
• Olive's Ocean
• Protecting Marie
• Sun & Spoon
• Sweeping Up the Heart
• Two Under Par
• Words of Stone
• The Year of Billy Miller
• The Zebra Wall

The Vorlob family is making preparations. Preparations for the new baby, soon to arrive. Getting ready includes painting a mural in the baby's nursery and making a list of possible names. Adine, age ten, is used to the routine -- she has four sisters already: Bernice, Carla, Dot, and Effie. This time, however, the routine is broken. In more ways than one. Most significantly, Aunt Irene will be staying with the Vorlobs until Mrs. Vorlob is rested and back on her feet. Aunt Irene arrives, as does the baby, but nothing goes quite as expected. Especially for Adine.

“This is not another new-baby story; Henkes knows that every worry in a child’s life has many layers. He depicts Adine’s concerns with depth and sweetly persuasive touches of compassion, treating the thoughts and feelings of a 10-year-old with uncanny justice.” - Publishers Weekly

“Fans of Beverly Cleary and Betsy Byars will enjoy this Henkes selection.” - School Library Journal

“Henkes’s tale of antipathy and accommodation has offbeat humor and realistic moments. It will be best appreciated by those who like their family stories with spice rather than sugar.” - ALA Booklist