Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances

A heartwarming and magical middle-grade adventure about grief, guilt, and the power of connection.

Thirteen-year-old Lola is determined to honor her perfect twin sister, who died in an accident Lola can't forgive herself for. To make things right, she's on a mission to complete their Perfect Pairs Collection-but one mistake lands her in serious trouble. Now, instead of facing reform school, Lola must spend August with her eccentric, agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his crumbling mansion on the Connecticut River.

What begins as punishment quickly turns into a summer full of strange discoveries: a Zen garden gone wrong, a holographic projector spitting ghostly messages from her late aunt, a mysterious houseboat, and even a wandering wolf. As Lola races to complete her lucky baker's dozen of perfect pairs, she starts to realize that magic isn't about collections or luck-it's about healing, forgiveness, and finding where she truly belongs.

Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and Anne Ursu, this touching, funny, and imaginative story explores family, loss, and the courage it takes to let go.