Chirp
Ebook
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Overview
"[A] deftly layered mystery about family, friendship, and the struggle to speak up." - Laurie Halse Anderson, bestselling author of Speak and Shout
From acclaimed author Kate Messner comes the powerful story of a young girl with the courage to make her voice heard, set against the backdrop of a summertime mystery.
When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, she’s recovering from the broken arm she got falling off a balance beam. And packed away in the moving boxes under her clothes and gymnastics trophies is a secret she’d rather forget.
Mia’s change in scenery brings day camp, new friends, and time with her beloved grandmother. But Gram is convinced someone is trying to destroy her cricket farm. Is it sabotage or is Gram’s thinking impaired from the stroke she suffered months ago? Mia and her friends set out to investigate, but can they uncover the truth in time to save Gram’s farm? And will that discovery empower Mia to confront the secret she’s been hiding--and find the courage she never knew she had?
In a compelling story rich with friendship, science, and summer fun, a girl finds her voice while navigating the joys and challenges of growing up.
Engaging storytelling that addresses an important issue from an acclaimed author: Kate expertly pairs serious issues with relatable characters and compelling plotting, handling them in a sensitive way that’s perfect for younger readers.
Timely and extremely important topic: Kate is providing an opportunity to start important conversations with middle-schoolers about sexual harassment and assault with an age-appropriate story.
Author poised for a big break out: Our sales of Breakout were very strong in the early weeks, with 500 pre-orders and four reprints in the first three months on sale. The novel earned two starred reviews as well. We have an opportunity to take Kate’s sales to the next level with her next book.
Active, well-respected author: Kate is extremely well-connected, does multiple Skype visits a week, runs a huge “Teachers Write” program over the summer, and is a regular at conferences and school visits. She has received numerous state awards and publishes a successful chapter book series with Scholastic and strong-selling picture books with Chronicle.
Summer-time mystery with truly unique elements: Kate always blends high-interest topics with her sensitive approach to issues, making her books perfect reads for upper elementary and middle-school kids. The story will have a classic feel of a summertime mystery, and also includes cricket farming and entrepreneur camp with girl-forward STEM elements.
Kate Messner strikes the perfect balance of joy, pain, and strength in this deftly layered mystery about family, friendship, and the struggle to speak up.
Chirp is so many things: a mystery, a family story, and a story of the power of friendship. It’s about learning to speak out when it seems the whole world would rather you shut up. Sure to be passed from kid to kid to kid
Once again, Kate Messner has written a book that will be a dear and important friend to her readers. A loving and compelling ode to the joy of friendship, the many kinds of strength, and the everyday bravery of girls.
Messner honors middle graders by exploring important, relevant issues at their level of understanding. This book will prompt discussions of gender inequality, consent, and sexual abuse. A must purchase.
Messner deftly weaves together myriad complex plot threads to form a captivating whole. . . . Rich, timely, and beautifully written.
Layering mystery elements, strong and myriad female characters, and a poignant analogy involving chirp-less female crickets, Messner gently guides Mia on a journey of resilience that both comforts and inspires.
Chockfull of strong female role models, Chirp is a riveting middle grade novel of empowerment that deftly tackles a delicate, imperative subject.
A deliciously layered concoction of mystery, friend bonding and girl power. . . . Messner gracefully spins multiple threads into one beautiful, empowering novel that is likely to satisfy warriors and quietly courageous readers alike.
Amid common themes of friendship and overcoming fears, Messner folds in strong messaging about sexual harassment. . . . This book directly addresses a relevant topic rarely discussed with middleschoolers.
Impactful. . . . A message many young people can benefit from hearing.
A timely ’#MeToo’ novel wrapped in intriguing parallel mysteries.
Resonant, necessary. . . . At its heart, Chirp is a female-powered story about courage.
An effective, authentically wrought look at how fear and ignorance can lead people to treat those of different races or from different places with suspicion. Messner shines a light on the ways that people are blind to their own privilege while quick to judge others.
An accessible format and a unique focus on contemporary issues of criminal justice and racial bias make this an essential purchase.
A sensitive coming-of-age tale about waking up to injustice and where that knowledge can lead.
Authentic . . . . Middle school worries and social issues skillfully woven into a moving, hopeful, STEM-related tale.
Vivid characters and situations, along with clear, simple writing and plotting, make this an accessible and enlightening read. A gentle but truthful look at poverty and homelessness.
An empathetic, beautiful, magical, fiercely necessary book that stares unflinchingly at the very real challenges contemporary kids face and gently assures them they are not alone. Kate Messner gives her readers a story to cherish.
Hopeful, empathetic, and unusually enlightening.
- Title: Chirp
- Author: Kate Messner
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 240
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781547602827, 9781547605705, 1547605707, 1547602821
- Resource ID: LLS:9781547602827
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T15:18:10Z
Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Her titles include award-winning picture books like Over and Under the Snow, Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, and How to Read a Story; novels like Capture the Flag, All the Answers, The Seventh Wish, and Breakout; the Fergus and Zeke easy reader series, and the Ranger in Time historical chapter book series. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family and is trying to summit all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in between book deadlines.
www.katemessner.com
@KateMessner