{"product_id":"the-lightness-of-hands-isbn-9780062382900","title":"The Lightness of Hands","description":"\u003cp\u003eA quirky and heartfelt coming-of-age story about a teen girl with bipolar II who signs her failed magician father up to perform his legendary but failed illusion on live TV in order to make enough money to pay for the medications they need—from the author of Symptoms of Being Human. Perfect for fans of Adi Alsaid, David Arnold, and Arvin Ahmadi.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSixteen-year-old Ellie Dante is desperate for something in her life to finally go right. Her father was a famous stage magician until he attempted an epic illusion on live TV—and failed. Now Ellie lives with her dad in a beat-up RV, attending high school online and performing with him at birthday parties and bars across the Midwest to make ends meet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut when the gigs dry up, their insurance lapses, leaving Dad’s heart condition unchecked and forcing Ellie to battle her bipolar II disorder without medication.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen Ellie receives a call from a famous magic duo, who offer fifteen thousand dollars and a shot at redemption: they want her father to perform the illusion that wrecked his career—on their live TV special, which shoots in Los Angeles in ten days. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEllie knows her dad will refuse—but she takes the deal anyway, then lies to persuade him to head west. With the help of her online-only best friend and an unusual guy she teams up with along the way, Ellie makes a plan to stage his comeback. But when her lie is exposed, she’ll have to confront her illness and her choices head-on to save her father—and herself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when the biggest illusion is the lie you tell the person you love most?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAuthentic Mental Health Representation:\u003c\/b\u003e Ellie’s heartfelt, honest narration of her life with bipolar II disorder, from the dizzying highs of hypomania to the crushing lows of depression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Cross-Country Con:\u003c\/b\u003e With ten days to get from the Midwest to LA, Ellie is betting everything on a lie—and the hope that her dad won’t find out until the cameras are rolling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAn Unlikely Romance:\u003c\/b\u003e Along the way, she teams up with Liam, a guy from her past she’s not sure she can trust, sparking a complicated and tender connection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMagicians and Illusions:\u003c\/b\u003e A richly detailed story of stage magic, sleight of hand, and one legendary, dangerous illusion that could give Ellie and her dad a second chance—or destroy them for good.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Garvin uses his knowledge of magic and personal experience with bipolarism to add insight to this dramatic story as he skillfully evokes the traveling performers’ gritty lifestyle and the enticement of illusion.”  - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“In \u003cem\u003eThe Lightness of Hands\u003c\/em\u003e, Jeff Garvin has created magic—but it’s no sleight-of-hand. This book is a gripping, moving, heart-filled triumph. You’ll want to give it a standing ovation.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJeff Zentner, Morris Award–winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Equal parts caper, road trip, heartbreak, and coming-of-age, \u003cem\u003eThe Lightness of Hands\u003c\/em\u003e is a knockout of a book. Readers will root for Ellie and her magical story until the very last page.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“In this heartbreaking novel about a girl coming-of-age under the most difficult of circumstances, Jeff Garvin pulls off the ultimate magic trick: an impossible-to-put-down, moving story of survival and love.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJulie Buxbaum, New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and Hope and Other Punchlines\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Riley Cavanaugh is a sharp, funny, powerful voice for those who haven’t quite found theirs yet. Both highly entertaining and highly necessary, Symptoms is the kind of book that makes you a better human for having read it. I loved it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDahlia Adler, author of Under the Lights and Just Visiting\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A moving portrayal of what it means to be different, yet the same, all at once. Jeff Garvin has written a beautifully thoughtful book.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRenee Ahdieh, author of The Wrath and the Dawn\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An important introduction for readers who know little about gender fluidity and a welcome nod to those who may be experiencing similar feelings.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An important, moving portrayal of the way mental illness affects the life of a teenage girl; a worthy addition to any library.”  - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Garvin's portrayal of Ellie's bipolar experience is exceptional; the world of magic is also superbly rendered.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“An #OwnVoices story about identity in the face of a mental illness, honesty to self and others, and delayed grief, that takes readers on both a literal and internal journey.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eALA Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN: “Riley is a smart, funny, sharp-eyed force” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“One of the first YA books to deal with the complex issue of gender fluidity…Riley’s emotional life and personal growth shed welcome light on a hitherto obscure subject.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Vibrantly imagined…a welcome mirror for gender-fluid teens.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Jeff Garvin has written a gorgeously crafted story with a complex, fascinating, and intensely real lead who I know will stay with me for a long time. Riley is a character who’s deeply needed in young adult fiction, and this book is a beautiful new addition to the queer YA canon.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRobin Talley, author of What We Left Behind\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“With a main character who truly deserves to be called unique, combined with heartbreak and triumphs that are universal, this unforgettable book made me laugh, and also cry: Garvin’s powerful new voice rocks!”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLissa Price, international bestselling author of Starters\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889532825829,"sku":"NP9780062382900","price":10.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062382900.jpg?v=1730231449","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-lightness-of-hands-isbn-9780062382900","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}