This wholesome, sensitive story follows three girls of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds during the summer before fifth grade, as they confront significant life changes. Artist Jada, uprooted from New Jersey to Utah by her father, hopes to convince her absent mother to come home. Musician Malia is worried that the arrival of her baby sister will shift family dynamics. Quiet writer Grace is mourning her best friend-s departure and struggling to find her voice. All three girls eventually journey to the Salt Lake City Library where a kind librarian lends them, in turn, a mysterious treasure box. As the girls alternately leave a significant item in it and receive the gift left by the previous borrower, they draw comfort from the gifts and from each other. All three girls- stories are relatable, as debut author Vickers addresses real fears confronting girls this age and explores their encounters from multiple perspectives. Themes of sharing, trust, and family never overshadow the story-s heart: a natural longing for friendship and the unfettered joy of finding it. Ages 8-12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. (Oct.)

Right from the start of this endearing debut, readers will feel the heartache and the exhilaration of what it means to be 10. Shy poet Grace is dreading starting fifth grade without her best friend. Outspoken painter Jada, meanwhile, uprooted from New York City, is trying her best to make a new home in Utah with her dad, while secretly searching for the mother who abandoned her. And sensitive musician Malia anxiously awaits the arrival of her new sister, worried that the baby will take her place in her mother's heart. When the girls discover a treasure box at the local library and anonymously begin to share treasures of their own, they also begin to find comfort and friendship. Told in alternating chapters, Vickers gives each girl a unique and engaging voice, allowing each character's artistic passions to play a key role in overcoming her personal struggles. The Salt Lake City setting and gracefully embedded ethnic differences add freshness to a story with a message that will stand the test of time: friendship is like magic.