Twelve-year-old Margot Stafford is an observer and an artist, far different from her activist older brother and idol, Eli. She spends her time drawing and painting on her own and hanging out with her best friend, Suzanne. Her art class—taught by the eccentric Mr. Grunwald—is the one place where Margot can truly be herself. But even there, she holds on to worries about her depressed mother, whose boyfriend, JP, moves into their house and seems to change her mom in ways Margot can’t understand.
JP becomes harsh and quick-tempered, and Eli is too busy to notice. For Margot, neither school nor home feels good right now. Trouble in Math class has forced her into an after-school tutoring program that she resents. And if all that weren’t enough, Suzanne is drifting into another friend group and leaving Margot even more alone.
But the words of Mr. Grunwald give her confidence in her own art . . . and in her ability to recognize the beauty around her. A chance discovery in an abandoned art studio inspires Margot to follow a new path. Slowly, she finds that just as neglected artwork can be restored and celebrated . . . neglected people can be restored and celebrated, too.
The story of Margot brings to light the rich imagination of a child who finds herself adjacent to mental illness. With equal parts heartache and hope, this debut novel about one girl and her resilience is also a colorful picture of family love, even in the face of crisis.
