Essie has grown up in the public library, raised in secret by the four librarians who found her abandoned as a baby in the children's department. With four mothers and miles of books to read, Essie has always been very happy living there.
But now that she is eleven, Essie longs for a little more freedom . . . and maybe a friend her own age. She seems to get her wish when her moms let her go by herself to the mall. On her second trip there, she meets G.E., a mysterious boy who looks so much like her she can't help but think they may be twins. Maybe he was raised by four dads in the appliance section of the department store. Maybe his story is intertwined with hers, and their happy ending is as one big family. But as she gets to know G.E. better, she learns that nothing is as simple as it seems in her stories--not even her own past.
With her signature warmth and offbeat humor, Newbery Honor author Polly Horvath invites book lovers to sit back in their own library nooks and check out a whimsical adventure perfect for readers trying to find their place in the world.
"A love letter to books and the dreamers who read them. Hand this charming story to precocious readers and fans of Matilda."--School Library Journal
"Horvath takes as much care with the characterizations of the four librarians as she does with Essie's, and as always her storytelling abilities are top-notch."--The Horn Book
"[A] quirky tale."--Publishers Weekly
"A lovely daydream for readers."--Kirkus Reviews
"Give this one to a quiet kid who loves the throwbacks but wants one with a very slightly more modern perspective."--The Bulletin
"Fast paced, richly imaginative, and written with abundant humor. An engaging choice for reading aloud."--Booklist