Shawn K. Stout

Anatomy of Lost Things

In 1939 Hangerstown, Maryland, eleven-year-old Frankie faces suspicion that her German-born father is a Nazi spy.

A tiny piece of sky

Do you believe in impossible things? Cutie Grackle does. She has to. Otherwise, she’ll never be more than a lonely 10 year old in a cursed family. Cutie Grackle is used to being different—she lives alone on a mountain with her feeble-minded uncle, and when she’s not sucking pebbles to trick her stomach into feeling full, she’s chatting with a weathered garden gnome for company. But having a flock of ravens follow you is more than just different. Cutie worries the birds are connected to the curse Uncle Horace tends to mutter about. And she’s right. The ravens present her with a fortune from a cookie, and when she touches it she’s pulled into a vision from her family’s past. It involves the curse and her long-lost mother. The birds offer up a series of objects, each imbued with memories that eventually reveal Cutie must do what her mother could not: break the curse. Part outdoor survival adventure, part fantastical quest, Shawn K. Stout’s The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle is a journey of hope, heart, and a willingness to believe in the impossible.

The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle

Awful Vera Bogg is Patsy's new best friend! Penelope is determined to win Patsy back. When the girls are chosen to paint a mural at Portwaller's Home for the Aged, it's Penelope's chance to show what a great friend (and talented artist) she is. But then a mean old lady called Nila Wister steals Penelope's paintbrushes, bullies her for treats and curses her with terrible Bad Luck! And, sure enough, no one can agree about the mural, Penelope's in trouble at school (again!), and Vera and Patsy are closer than ever. Can Penelope find a way to win her Good Luck and her best friend back once and for all?

Book 3

Penelope Crumb Finds Her Lucky Stars

THE SUMMER STORY OF THREE SISTERS, ONE RESTAURANT, AND A (POSSIBLE) GERMAN SPY World War II is coming in Europe. At least that’s what Frankie Baum heard on the radio. But from her small town in Maryland, in the wilting summer heat of 1939, the war is a world away. Besides, there are too many other things to think about: first that Frankie’s father up and bought a restaurant without telling anyone and now she has to help in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and washing dishes, when she’d rather be racing to Wexler’s Five and Dime on her skates. Plus her favorite sister, Joanie Baloney, is away for the summer and hasn’t been answering any of Frankie’s letters. But when some people in town start accusing her father of being a German spy, suddenly the war arrives at Frankie’s feet and she can think of nothing else. Could the rumors be true? Frankie must do some spying of her own to try to figure out her father’s secrets and clear his good name. What she discovers about him surprises everyone but is nothing compared to what she discovers about the world. In a heartfelt, charming, and insightful novel that is based on true events, Shawn K. Stout weaves a story about family secrets, intolerance, and coming of age that will keep readers guessing until the end. Praise for A Tiny Piece of Sky: “Through warm, funny characters, Shawn Stout builds a riveting bridge from the past that sheds light on today. Wholly memorable.”—Rita Williams-Garcia, Coretta Scott King Author Award winner for P.S. Be Eleven “Shawn Stout's Frankie Baum is that rare creation: a character so real, so true, we don't just feel we know her—we are her. Irrepressible Frankie meets issues like prejudice and loyalty head on, in a story both highly entertaining and deeply thought-provoking. She may be #3 in her family, but she'll be #1 in the hearts of all who read this book.”—Tricia Springstubb, author of What Happened on Fox Street “At turns hilarious, at turns heartbreaking, Shawn Stout’s story shows us the damage that a whisper campaign can do to a family and a community, and at the same time shows us, each of us, a way to find our hearts. Frankie Baum is a hero from a distant time and yet a hero for all times, the kind of hero who never gets old. I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end.”—Kathi Appelt, author of the National Book Award finalist & Newbery Honor book The Underneath "Stout uses an archly chummy direct address at several points, successfully and humorously breaking up tension in this cleareyed look at bad behavior by society....Successfully warmhearted and child-centered."—Kirkus Reviews "Through Frankie's thoughtful insights, Stout addresses injustices such as racism and xenophobia without turning didactic...the conclusion is a realistic mix of bittersweet and heartwarming."—Publishers Weekly "Fans of Augusta Scattergood’s Glory Be as well as those of Jeanne Birdsall’s Penderwicks series will enjoy this slice of history. A solid piece of historical fiction to add to middle grade collections."—School Library Journal "Tackling race, social justice, and even death, this well-paced novel will find the right audience among readers wanting fairness with their historical fiction."—BCCB "Young teens will enjoy Frankie’s spirit and humor while learning a little bit about people and prejudice along the way."—VOYA "In this coming-of-age story, Frankie sees people for who they really are, despite skin color or nationality. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will gravitate to this story."—School Library Connection

A Tiny Piece of Sky

Fiona Finkelstein was born to be a ballerina—if she can get over her stage fright, that is. The first in the feisty and endearing Not-So-Ordinary Girl trilogy. More than catching fireflies, more than eating triple–hot fudge sundaes, and even more than waking up on the first day of summer vacation, Fiona Finkelstein wants to become a ballerina. There’s just one problem: In her last recital, she starred as the unforgettable Fiona VOMITstein—her “performance” went all over the stage, and all over Benevolence Castles’s cancan costume. Can Fiona overcome her fears and blossom as a big-time ballerina in The Nutcracker, even in a snowstorm? Or will she be the only person in her family to have the flat-out worst case of stage fright ever? Originally published as Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina!!.

Ballerina Weather Girl

Fourth-grader Penelope Crumb's large nose leads to a family discovery.

Penelope Crumb

Penelope Crumb is not having a very good week. First she accidentally comes to school dressed as an elephant. Next, in gym class she's made to dance with a boy who is known as Lippy Gordon because of how sweaty his lip is. Penelope is mortified. And she's extra mortified when she discovers that Lippy doesn't want to dance with her either! When Grandpa tells Penelope that he sings to the moon when he's having trouble, Penelope grabs onto this plan. But sometimes you need more than the moon to fix things...

Book 4

Penelope Crumb is Mad at the Moon

Patsy Cline is becoming best friends with another girl! It looks like Penelope is going to lose Patsy to Vera Bogg... forever. So Penelope starts a secret museum full of things that remind her of the people she loves, in case she loses them too. Lizzie Maple, who loves adventures, is on board to help. But other people seem to think 'taking their things for a museum' is the same as 'stealing'... and Penelope is suddenly in a whole lot of trouble! Can Penelope win back Patsy Cline? And can she figure out a way to create her memory museum without stealing things?

Book 2

Penelope Crumb Never Forgets

Victoria Ying

Determined to prove that she is capable of doing things on her own, Fiona promises to watch over the chickens at the local county fair and gets a lesson in being responsible.

Don't Chicken Out

Valeria Docampo

“Kids who have outgrown the Junie B. Jones series will enjoy Penelope’s equally comical narrative style.” —BCCB In the third book in this hilarious, endearing series, all Penelope Crumb wants is to be someone's "Favorite." She’d thought she was her Grandpa Felix’s Favorite, and her mom’s Favorite, and her friend Patsy Cline’s Favorite, but she’s starting to realize that maybe she’s not. And it’s all The Bad Luck’s fault. So since Penelope's a superb artist, she comes up with a plan—she's going to be the boss of the mural her school is making at the Portwaller’s Blessed Home for the Aged, which will make her into everyone’s Favorite. And maybe it’ll frighten The Bad Luck away. But things don't quite go as planned there either. And when an old woman named Nila promises to help Penelope find her luck so everyone will like her again, things get even worse! In the end, Penelope finds out that friendships aren't about luck—and that it doesn't matter if you're anyone's Favorite when there are tons of people who love you. In a book that’s equal parts humor and heart, it’s clear to see why young readers will count Penelope as one of their Favorites. Praise for PENELOPE CRUMB * “Penelope Crumb . . . channels the quirkiness of Ramona Quimby and the detective skills of Cam Jansen . . . Penelope will delight children and parents alike.”—Shelf Awareness, starred review “Penelope is an intrepid heroine with a unique and frequently amusing narrative voice . . . kids who have outgrown the Junie B. Jones series will enjoy Penelope’s equally comical narrative style.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Readers will root for and relate to this fresh-voiced young heroine who joins the likes of Ramona, Judy Moody and Clementine.”—Kirkus Reviews

Penelope Crumb Finds Her Luck

Angela Martini

Fiona Finkelstein does not get along with Milo, a new student in her Ordinary, Maryland, fourth-grade class, and when he starts a meteorology club she responds by trying to start a matchmaking club.

Miss Matched

Penelope "channels the quirkiness of Ramona Quimby!" --Shelf Awareness Penelope Crumb is not having a very good week. First she accidentally comes to school dressed as an elephant (dress like an animal day is next week), and then in gym class she's forced to square dance. With a boy who is known as Lippy Gordon because of how sweaty his lip is. All the time. Penelope is mortified. And then is extra mortified when she discovers that Lippy doesn't want to dance with her either! When Grandpa tells Penelope that he sings to the moon when he’s having trouble, Penelope grabs onto this plan. But sometimes you need more than the moon to fix things. Another sweet and funny Penelope book. Equal parts humor and heart, this is a character not to be missed. Perfect for fans of Ramona Quimby, Judy Moody and Clementine, and for fans who have just outgrown Junie B. Jones and Katie Kazoo. Praise for PENELOPE CRUMB IS MAD AT THE MOON: "Stout’s series about this tween’s worries, insecurities, quirkiness and wit deserves a space in library collections looking for precocious, independent girl characters who might not be perfect but are something else: realistic."--School Library Journal Praise for the PENELOPE CRUMB series: * "Penelope Crumb... channels the quirkiness of Ramona Quimby and the detective skills of Cam Jansen... Penelope will delight children and parents alike."–Shelf Awareness, starred review "Penelope is an intrepid heroine... kids who have outgrown the Junie B. Jones series will enjoy Penelope's equally comical narrative style."–The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Readers will root for and relate to this fresh-voiced young heroine who joins the likes of Ramona, Judy Moody and Clementine."–Kirkus Reviews

Penelope Crumb Is Mad at the Moon

Some interesting facts about Penelope Crumb... She has: A brother so awful he MUST be an alien. A mum who draws body parts (ewww!). Her grandpa's nose ... but no grandpa. Her family haven't seen him since her dad died. So Penelope and her friend Lizzie Maple set off across town to find Grandpa Felix, skipping school, taking trains and calling every F. Crumb in the phone book. But what if Grandpa Felix doesn't want to be found? One last fact about Penelope: she doesn't take no for an answer.

Book 1

Penelope Crumb Follows Her Nose

Nine-year-old Marylander Fiona Finkelstein tries to deal with stage-fright, missing her actress mother, and hoping that her father, a television meteorologist, does not get in trouble when she antagonizes the anchorman.

Fiona Finkelstein tries her hand at making matches in this second book of the lively and lovable Not-So-Ordinary Girl trilogy. Fiona has proved herself as a ballerina, but she’s got other talents as well. Such as…matchmaking? Maybe. She sets out to start a club with her friends and classmates to pair people with things and activities they might enjoy, but the results aren’t quite what she hoped for. It turns out Fiona is much better at match-BREAKING… Originally published as Fiona Finkelstein Meets Her Match!!.

Shawn K. Stout

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