Avalon James and Atticus Brightwell have a secret--one that they aren't allowed to discuss with anyone. This secret is shared between two best friends. When you and your best friend turn ten years old magical things are said to happen. You both will receive some kind of magical power. It can be a power you can call on time and time again. Or it can be a power that comes once when you need it most. It's your Infinity Year and the possibilities are endless.
The past year hasn't been great with her family being torn apart and bullying at school, so Avalon is depending on her magical ability to appear soon and help. With the clock ticking and her eleventh birthday approaching, which would be the end of her powers, Avalon's hopes are running high. Will she and Atticus get the powers they so desperately want and need?
Dana Middleton's debut novel is a wonderfully enchanting story of the possibility of magic and the even more magical bond between two best friends.
Industry Reviews
"All these painfully acquired life lessons are related in Avalon's genial, evocative voice, convincingly illuminating many of the issues of a year that can offer infinite possibilities, even if the magic is imagined. A fine, tenderly nuanced tale of the remarkable power of friendship."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Revealing her negative traits as well as more admirable qualities, Avalon's first-person narrative is forthright and engaging . . . This offers a number of realistically drawn characters, both kids and adults, portrayed as complex people who interact and cope with their troubles in individual ways. A well-knit first novel with an involving, affecting story."--Booklist, starred review
"Blending realism with just a touch of magic, Middleton's debut novel demonstrates a keen awareness of the infinite possibilities of childhood."--Publishers Weekly
"Avalon has a bright and relatable sensibility that will endear her to readers; her friendship with Atticus is genuine and refreshingly free of boy-girl antagonism and snark. Atticus is a vegetarian and requires medication to address bed-wetting issues, two situations not rare among preteens but seldom addressed in middle grade fiction . . . VERDICT Featuring a positive depiction of boy-girl friendship and appealing characters, this is recommended for general purchase."--School Library Journal
"Avie is an appealingly flawed heroine; she's self-aware enough to know that for social interaction she needs to rely on Atticus' calm demeanor to counterbalance her own instincts to lash out. She's got a good heart, though, and when her impulsiveness is pinned to loyalty she's unstoppable. The predicaments in which she finds herself showcase the difficulty of dealing with the keenly felt adult/child disconnect when it comes to fairness both in families and at school, situating this perfectly for the late elementary crowd."--BCCB "All these painfully acquired life lessons are related in Avalon's genial, evocative voice, convincingly illuminating many of the issues of a year that can offer infinite possibilities, even if the magic is imagined. A fine, tenderly nuanced tale of the remarkable power of friendship."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Revealing her negative traits as well as more admirable qualities, Avalon s first-person narrative is forthright and engaging . . . This offers a number of realistically drawn characters, both kids and adults, portrayed as complex people who interact and cope with their troubles in individual ways. A well-knit first novel with an involving, affecting story."--Booklist, starred review
"Blending realism with just a touch of magic, Middleton s debut novel demonstrates a keen awareness of the infinite possibilities of childhood."--Publishers Weekly
"Avalon has a bright and relatable sensibility that will endear her to readers; her friendship with Atticus is genuine and refreshingly free of boy-girl antagonism and snark. Atticus is a vegetarian and requires medication to address bed-wetting issues, two situations not rare among preteens but seldom addressed in middle grade fiction . . . VERDICT Featuring a positive depiction of boy-girl friendship and appealing characters, this is recommended for general purchase."--School Library Journal
"Avie is an appealingly flawed heroine; she s self-aware enough to know that for social interaction she needs to rely on Atticus calm demeanor to counterbalance her own instincts to lash out. She s got a good heart, though, and when her impulsiveness is pinned to loyalty she s unstoppable. The predicaments in which she finds herself showcase the difficulty of dealing with the keenly felt adult/child disconnect when it comes to fairness both in families and at school, situating this perfectly for the late elementary crowd."--BCCB
" "A fine, tenderly nuanced tale of the remarkable power of friendship."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Blending realism with just a touch of magic, Middleton s debut novel demonstrates a keen awareness of the infinite possibilities of childhood."--Publishers Weekly
"Avalon has a bright and relatable sensibility that will endear her to readers; her friendship with Atticus is genuine and refreshingly free of boy-girl antagonism and snark. Atticus is a vegetarian and requires medication to address bed-wetting issues, two situations not rare among preteens but seldom addressed in middle grade fiction . . . VERDICT Featuring a positive depiction of boy-girl friendship and appealing characters, this is recommended for general purchase."--School Library Journal
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