The Sea in Winter

American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! In this evocative and heartwarming novel for readers who loved The Thing About Jellyfish, the author of I Can Make This Promise tells the story of a Native American girl struggling to find her joy again.

It’s been a hard year for Maisie Cannon, ever since she hurt her leg and could not keep up with her ballet training and auditions.

Her blended family is loving and supportive, but Maisie knows that they just can’t understand how hopeless she feels. With everything she’s dealing with, Maisie is not excited for their family midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up.

But soon, Maisie’s anxieties and dark moods start to hurt as much as the pain in her knee. How can she keep pretending to be strong when on the inside she feels as roiling and cold as the ocean?

The Heartdrum imprint centers a wide range of intertribal voices, visions, and stories while welcoming all young readers, with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country and on the strength of young Native heroes. In partnership with We Need Diverse Books.

• A Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Story: Follows twelve-year-old Maisie as she navigates the pain of a dream deferred and the confusing space between who she was and who she is becoming.
• Authentic Indigenous Voices: Explore the contemporary life and rich history of the Makah and Klallam peoples through a family road trip across Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
• Navigating Tough Emotions: A gentle and honest look at feelings of depression and anxiety after an injury, offering a hopeful path toward emotional healing.
• Complex Family Dynamics: Maisie’s loving blended family wants to help, but her journey shows that sometimes the hardest part is learning how to let them in.