Things That Surprise You

A poignant, charming middle grade novel, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and Fish in a Tree. A beautifully layered story about navigating the often shifting bonds of family and friendship, and learning how to put the pieces back together when things fall apart.

Emily Murphy is about to enter middle school. She's sort of excited…though not nearly as much as her best friend Hazel, who is ready for everything to be new. Emily wishes she and Hazel could just continue on as they always have, being the biggest fans ever of the Unicorn Chronicles, making up dance moves, and getting their regular order at The Slice.

But things are changing. At home, Emily and her mom are learning to move on after her parents' divorce. Hardest of all, her beloved sister Mina has been in a treatment facility to deal with her anorexia. Emily is eager to have her back, but anxious about her sister getting sick again.

Hazel is changing too. She has new friends from the field hockey team, is starting to wear makeup, and have crushes on boys. Emily is trying to keep up, but she keeps doing and saying the wrong thing. She wants to be the perfect new Emily. But who is that really?

• Navigating Friendships: Best friends Emily and Hazel were supposed to take on middle school together, but now Hazel has new friends and new interests. Can their relationship survive?
• A Moving Sister Story: Emily is desperate to have her older sister Mina back home from a treatment facility for an eating disorder, but she's also terrified of her getting sick again.
• Starting Middle School: From new crushes and changing friends to trying to find the right lunch table, Emily struggles to figure out who she is and where she fits in.
• Heartfelt Realistic Fiction: A poignant and honest look at the tough and tender moments of growing up, dealing with divorce, and finding your voice when everything around you is changing.

Praise for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE: “Jennifer Maschari’s debut novel is a work-out for the heart, making it now ache with loss, now race with fear. Charlie Price has to make a terrible choice between what has been and what could be, and readers will stick with him every poignant, suspenseful step of the way. Charlie’s journey is more than remarkable. It’s unforgettable.” - Tricia Springstubb, author of Moonpenny Island

Praise for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE: “What a beautiful book Jen Maschari has written—a brave and big-hearted exploration of the sustaining power of friendship and the infinite treasure of memory our loved ones give us.” - Anne Ursu, author of Breadcrumbs and The Real Boy

Praise for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE: “Beautifully crafted sentences read almost as if they were poetry...Fans of both fantasy and realistic fiction will appreciate this painful but ultimately triumphant, multilayered novel.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE: “A beautifully written meditation on grief … Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.” - Booklist

“A highly devourable novel at once honest, heartbreaking, and hilarious. Maschari deftly captures a middle school landscape fraught with fickle friends, family friction, and shifting social hierarchies, all faced by a hero who struggles to fit in no matter how hard she tries. Emily Murphy is all of us, striving to discover the best versions of ourselves in world where change is never easy and often unavoidable, but worth it in the end.” - John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day

“A highly devourable novel at once honest, heartbreaking, and hilarious. Emily Murphy is all of us, striving to discover the best versions of ourselves in a world where change is never easy and often unavoidable, but worth it in the end.” - John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day

“Engaging and believably realistic…a fine read.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Recommended for middle grade collections, especially for readers with friends or family members dealing with eating disorders.” - School Library Journal

“Thoughtful and original” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books