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Back to Wonder
Coming Soon! March 23, 2027
Christy Ottaviano Books
ISBN: 978-0-316-32367-3
Stranger Things meets Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being in this captivating mystery by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chambliss Bertman.
The year is 1985 and three kids are brought together unexpectedly after discovering an abandoned hot air balloon in an overgrown field―Elizabeth, who is tired of abiding by her parents’ strict rules and craves an exciting adventure; Lily, who cares deeply about the natural world and wishes she had the ability to make things better; and Jacob, who loves art and recently relocated to the area to live with his grandparents.
Investigating where this balloon could have come from leads the misfits on a quest to find Steven Spielberg, rumored to be filming in the area. All three hope meeting the famous director will lead them closer to solving their own problems. But when the quest goes terribly wrong, the trio must rely on one another for more than just safety. With a dash of the fantastical, this compelling mystery-adventure gets at the heart of discovering that the hero you’ve been waiting for is closer than you think.
Reviews for Back to Wonder
“A big-hearted adventure that reminds us, whatever we’re facing in this world, good friends and a sense of wonder are the secrets to making it through.” —Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of The Trouble with Heroes
“Beautifully written, insightful, and original!” —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting By 7s
“An enchanting mystery. I can’t wait for the next trip to Wonder!” —Adrianna Cuevas, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez
“The perfect balance of ‘80s nostalgia and timely coming-of-age themes.” —Lindsay Currie, New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Locked Rooms
“Delightful!” —Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of Alone and Away
“The perfect mix of cozy mystery and classic.” —Nicole D. Collier, author of Just Right Jillian
“Back to Wonder brought me back to all that was good about the ‘80s.” —Waka T. Brown, author of While I Was Away
“A magical tale of friendship, adventure, and—yes—wonder. Bertman hits all the right notes.” —Ben Guterson, New York Times bestselling author of the World Famous Nine series
“An action-packed quest that is simply Wonderful.” —Erin Soderberg Downing, author of What Happened Then and Just Like Home
“Magic, mystery, and strong characterization expertly crafted. A terrific read.” —Gennifer Choldenko, Newbery Honor author of Al Capone Does My Shirts
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