
A speculative middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls connected across time and space through a wormhole in their school locker. On the first day of eighth grade, thirteen-year-old Candace Wells opens her locker and is astonished when an unusual bird flies out. Soon after, a notebook mysteriously appears on the top shelf. There’s a name written in it, Tracey Auburn, and a year, 1988. On a whim, Candace writes in the notebook—and she's shocked when a short time later, Tracey Auburn writes back. Then an invitation appears from Loretta Young, who had the locker in 1948, and the three meet up in the present day. Tracey Auburn is now 53 and a college professor, and Loretta Young is 93 and a quantum physicist. Loretta tells them that her life’s work has been to study the portal and others like it across Chicago and the state of Illinois. But Loretta is now an old woman, and she needs Tracey’s and Candace’s help to complete her research.
Author

Sherri L. Smith is the award-winning author of YA novels LUCY THE GIANT, SPARROW, HOT SOUR SALTY SWEET, FLYGIRL and ORLEANS. In October 2015, she makes her middle grade debut with THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE from G.P. Putnam and Sons for Penguin Random House. Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist. She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.