I'm so excited to have the Here In The Real World Blog Tour stopping by today. This tour is sponsored by HarperCollins Children's Books and hosted by The Children's Book Review.
Here In The Real World
By Sara Pennypacker
2/4/20
Balzer + Bray
From the author of the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestselling novel Pax comes a gorgeous and moving middle grade novel that is an ode to introverts, dreamers, and misfits everywhere.
Ware can’t wait to spend summer “off in his own world”—dreaming of knights in the Middle Ages and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called “normal” kids do.
On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon he starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot.
Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer—he doesn’t live in the “real world” like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge.
But when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware looks to the knights’ Code of Chivalry: Thou shalt do battle against unfairness wherever faced with it. Thou shalt be always the champion of the Right and Good—and vows to save the lot.
But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?
Eleven-year-old Ware is just fine with living in his own little world and is looking forward to doing just that as he spends the summer at Big Deal’s (his grandma) retirement community. Then Big Deal has an accident that lands her in the hospital and Ware finds himself signed up for Rec camp, where his mom hopes he has Meaningful Social Interactions. But an empty lot next to the Rec center, that is home to a demolished church, and a mysterious girl named Jolene, provide Ware with an unexpected sanctuary and an even more unexpected purpose driven mission.
Sara Pennypacker’s Here In The Real World is a quiet, yet powerful exploration of identity, family, friendship, courage, and love. A tenderly written, character driven story, full of heart swelling moments make this a fiercely lovely middle-grade read.
The true heart of Here In The Real World are its relatable, engaging, always surprising characters- from chivalrous Ware, determined Jolene, direct Big Deal, Ware’s fix-it-all mother, and more. Introverts, dreamers, artists, activists, misfits, outcasts, do-gooders, never-give-uppers, and visionaries are joyously celebrated throughout this story. Every reader who has ever felt out of place, lost, or too different will see themselves shine bright through these characters.
Here In The Real World is a beautifully written middle-grade book, with unforgettable characters and a heartfelt, stirring story.
Sara Pennypacker is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Pax; the award-winning Clementine books and its spinoff series, Waylon!; and the acclaimed novel Summer of the Gypsy Moths. She divides her time between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Florida. You can visit her online at www.sarapennypacker.com.
OFFICIAL LINKS
Enter for a chance to win a Sara Pennypacker book prize pack!
Five (5) winners receive:
- A hardcover copy of Here in the Real World
- A paperback copy of Pax
Giveaway begins January 21, 2019, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends February 21, 2019, at 11:59 P.M. PST.
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are eighteen years of age or older in their state or territory of residence at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law.
HarperCollins is responsible for prize fulfillment.
Both of these books are ones I really want to read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so interesting! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHere in the Real World sounds fantastic and have read PAX and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMy real life hero is my grandpa. He is the strongest person I know and by far the wisest.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book because i read the summary and was won over. Even if i don't win i still am going to read this story.
ReplyDeleteI loved Pax and very much looking forward to Here in the Real World. The students in my school library are also great fans of Sara Pennypacker.
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