Paper Heart
by
Cat Patrick
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Imprint
G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN
9781984815347
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language , Language: Infrequent Use , Violence: Self-Harm Reference/Discussion
In this companion to Tornado Brain, a moving tale of loss and healing comes full circle.
Tess has always understood her role in her family. She is supposed to be the “okay” one. The one no one has to worry about. But all Tess does is worry, constantly picking at her fingers every time a new worry arises. Still grieving her best friend’s death, she is consumed by the fear that everything was her fault and her sadness that Colette is never coming back. Worse still, it seems like everyone else has found a way to move on, even her twin sister Frankie. When her mom decides a change of location might do her good, Tess finds herself on an airplane bound for her aunt’s house in small town Wyoming and a summer vacation attending art camp.
Tess thinks she might never be able to move on from losing Colette but her quirky but determined cousin Kennedy and new friend Izzy are determined to help. When Tess becomes convinced that Colette’s ghost might be haunting her, Kennedy and Izzy find new ways for Tess to make peace with the past and finally let go of the grief that has been haunting her heart.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language , Language: Infrequent Use , Violence: Self-Harm Reference/Discussion
Details
Format
Page Count
288
Trim Size
8 3/10"x 5 1/2"
Dewey
F
AR
4.9: points 8
Lexile
730L
Genre
Fiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
0
JLG Release
Aug 2021
Book Genres
Realistic Fiction
Topics
Grief. Anxiety. Friendship. Art. Day camps. Family life. Crushes.
Standard MARC Records
Download Standard MARC Records
Cover Art
Download Cover Art
Praise & Reviews
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
Gr 4 Up–Patrick’s sequel to Tornado Brain, an intimate look into the world of a neurodivergent teen, shifts the focus to Frankie’s sister Tess, who is struggling with anxiety after the death of her best friend. Attending art camp in Wyoming just a few months after the tragic event, Tess battles “Mean Me,” the voice that tells her that she cannot do enough or be enough, and focuses her attention on her hands; she constantly tears and bites at her nails and cuticles. She can no longer draw, a skill that used to give her comfort. Tess finds herself shuffled between various groups of people trying to help. Her cousins and aunt and uncle delicately try to help her process her grief, and the townie art club kids welcome her with ease and understanding; both entities wind up giving her back a piece of herself that she thought was lost. Patrick provides a unique look into the world of a grief-stricken kid trying to stay above water. She intertwines mystery, realistic fiction, romance, and social-emotional issues with aplomb, creating a lovely and therapeutic story. Readers may recognize and sympathize feelings of standing in someone’s shadow and feeling lost, unable to ask for help. Tess is cued as white. VERDICT A suggested purchase for upper elementary and middle school libraries. Educators may want to use the book for group reads centered on coping with grief, trauma, and anxiety. Patrick weaves an authentic tale of a young girl with a sensitive heart who endures life’s hardships.–Rachel Joiner, Advent Episcopal Sch., Bessemer, AL
School Library Journal
Gr 4 Up-Patrick's sequel to Tornado Brain, an intimate look into the world of a neurodivergent teen, shifts the focus to Frankie's sister Tess, who is struggling with anxiety after the death of her best friend. Attending art camp in Wyoming just a few months after the tragic event, Tess battles "Mean Me," the voice that tells her that she cannot do enough or be enough, and focuses her attention on her hands; she constantly tears and bites at her nails and cuticles. She can no longer draw, a skill that used to give her comfort. Tess finds herself shuffled between various groups of people trying to help. Her cousins and aunt and uncle delicately try to help her process her grief, and the townie art club kids welcome her with ease and understanding; both entities wind up giving her back a piece of herself that she thought was lost. Patrick provides a unique look into the world of a grief-stricken kid trying to stay above water. She intertwines mystery, realistic fiction, romance, and social-emotional issues with aplomb, creating a lovely and therapeutic story. Readers may recognize and sympathize feelings of standing in someone's shadow and feeling lost, unable to ask for help. Tess is cued as white. VERDICT A suggested purchase for upper elementary and middle school libraries. Educators may want to use the book for group reads centered on coping with grief, trauma, and anxiety. Patrick weaves an authentic tale of a young girl with a sensitive heart who endures life's hardships.-Rachel Joiner, Advent Episcopal Sch., Bessemer, AL
Grades 6-9
Advanced Readers
For Grades 6-9
Your pre-teen and teen readers won't be able to get enough of these selections. The 12 books here are a bit longer than our B category titles, with more challenging storylines and a wealth of thought-provoking nonfiction.
12 books per Year
$243.96 per Year
Interests
Clean Books,Diversity,Fiction,High Interest/Reluctant Reader,Struggling Readers,Novels,Funny/Humorous,Realistic Fiction
Grades 6-9
Advanced Readers
12 books per Year
$243.96 per Year
