Publishers Weekly
11/15/2021
With a deeply introspective bent that delves into the darkness of grief and the light found on the other side, Clark’s tender debut will strike a chord with readers who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Brown-haired, brown-eyed, implied-white Londoner Kitty Wentworth, 10, has just lost her mother to lung cancer as the book begins—her honey-haired, blue-eyed sister Imogen, 13; their father; and their maternal grandmother share the grief. Shortly after Kitty’s 11th birthday, however, their father uproots the two girls for a three-month stay in New York City as he pursues a career opportunity. While she’s not thrilled by this trip Kitty finds herself enthralled by all her new city has to offer—less pleased by her father’s friend, Jen, and Jen’s “junior kindergarten”–age son, Dash, both implied white. Despite difficulties in adjusting, Kitty slowly begins to find her way, meeting new friends, having new adventures, and ultimately, working through her grief. Elevated language and an older-sounding narrator make this ideal for more mature readers, for whom the stark examination of loss, death, and the wide variety of complex emotions will resonate strongly. Ages 8–12. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (May)
From the Publisher
Joy, sorrow, humor, hope—this book has it all. I loved every page. Kitty and I would have been great friends.” — Erin Entrada Kelly, author of Newbery Medal winner Hello, Universe and Newbery Honor winner We Dream of Space
"Delightful and utterly compelling. Glitter Gets Everywhere sparkles like the gem that it is." — Ann M. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Rain, Reign
“Kitty Wentworth draws readers into her personal journey through grief with surprising honesty and abundant humor. A touching debut that brims with authenticity. Well done!” — Leslie Connor, National Book Award Finalist, and author of A Home for Goddesses and Dogs
"A heartfelt novel that is sure to touch readers deeply, Glitter Gets Everywhere offers a gentle exploration of grief, sprinkled with moments of humor worthy of Louise Rennison. Kitty is an immensely loveable character, and middle graders will find her transatlantic adventures relatable, poignant and honest. I loved this book!" — Ali Standish, award-winning author of The Ethan I Was Before
"This tender, witty debut made me cry, laugh, and think deeply. Glitter Gets Everywhere sparkles with insights about the beautiful, complicated ways people move forward after a heartbreaking loss. " — Laurie Morrison, Author of Up for Air and Saint Ivy
"The well-drawn characters are distinctive individuals who see things from different points of view. The narrative engages readers with its well-paced story and articulate portrayal of emotions. Clark portrays Kitty and her circle of family and friends with perception, wit, and finesse in this absorbing first novel." — Booklist (starred review)
"The heart-rending topic; the well-drawn family relationships; and Kitty’s brave, honest, and often funny responses to her tragedy are the soul of this book. Heartfelt and comforting." — Kirkus Reviews
"Clark offers a solid depiction of therapy as positive and sometimes necessary. Throughout, Kitty deals with her grief openly and honestly, doing her best to work through it. A touching story of grief and change." — School Library Journal
"With a deeply introspective bent that delves into the darkness of grief and the light found on the other side, Clark’s tender debut will strike a chord with readers who have experienced the loss of a loved one." — Publishers Weekly
"Kitty is a perceptive narrator, keenly aware of the emotional currents around her. Clark’s characters, both adult and child, are fully realized and slightly eccentric without being caricatures. The book takes a thoughtful approach to grief and recovery, exploring Kitty’s emotional growth in a nondidactic way." — The Horn Book
Ann M. Martin
"Delightful and utterly compelling. Glitter Gets Everywhere sparkles like the gem that it is."
Laurie Morrison
"This tender, witty debut made me cry, laugh, and think deeply. Glitter Gets Everywhere sparkles with insights about the beautiful, complicated ways people move forward after a heartbreaking loss. "
Erin Entrada Kelly
Joy, sorrow, humor, hope—this book has it all. I loved every page. Kitty and I would have been great friends.
The Horn Book
"Kitty is a perceptive narrator, keenly aware of the emotional currents around her. Clark’s characters, both adult and child, are fully realized and slightly eccentric without being caricatures. The book takes a thoughtful approach to grief and recovery, exploring Kitty’s emotional growth in a nondidactic way."
Ali Standish
"A heartfelt novel that is sure to touch readers deeply, Glitter Gets Everywhere offers a gentle exploration of grief, sprinkled with moments of humor worthy of Louise Rennison. Kitty is an immensely loveable character, and middle graders will find her transatlantic adventures relatable, poignant and honest. I loved this book!"—Ali Standish, award-winning author of The Ethan I Was Before
Leslie Connor
Kitty Wentworth draws readers into her personal journey through grief with surprising honesty and abundant humor. A touching debut that brims with authenticity. Well done!
Booklist (starred review)
"The well-drawn characters are distinctive individuals who see things from different points of view. The narrative engages readers with its well-paced story and articulate portrayal of emotions. Clark portrays Kitty and her circle of family and friends with perception, wit, and finesse in this absorbing first novel."
School Library Journal
05/01/2021
Gr 5–8—When your world comes tumbling down, the last thing you want to do is change what's left. Unfortunately for Kitty, that's just what's happening to her. After she loses her mother to cancer, her father gets an opportunity to work in New York City for a short time. Kitty tries to fight it, even, in one hilarious sequence, creating a slideshow of pigeons getting into a subway car to dissuade her pigeon-fearing father. Nevertheless, they go to New York for one semester. Both Kitty and her sister, Imogen, see therapists in New York to deal with their grief; Clark offers a solid depiction of therapy as positive and sometimes necessary. Throughout, Kitty deals with her grief openly and honestly, doing her best to work through it. When describing her grief and the world around her, the precocious 10-year-old uses lyrical language that can seem\\ too mature for her years. Readers from New York City and London will delight in the descriptors for both cities, including a plot point involving The Great British Baking Show (as Americans call it). Few descriptors are given for Kitty and other characters, besides hair; most characters seem to be cued as white. VERDICT A touching story of grief and change; a strong realistic fiction purchase.—Kerri Williams, Center Moriches Free P.L., NY
Kirkus Reviews
2021-02-26
Losing your beloved Mum to cancer has to be one of the worst things in the world to happen to a child, but 10-year-old Kitty finds her own way of coping with this terrible loss.
Kitty lives in the upscale Hampstead borough of London with her older sister, Imogen; her father; and her cat, Cleo. Her beloved Gran is close by, and her godmother provides support, food, and wisdom for the bereft and grieving family. Going back to school is particularly tough, however. Everything reminds Kitty of her mother, and she feels lethargic and dejected. As Gran says, comparing grief to glitter, “If you throw a handful of glitter in the air, even if you try your very best to clean it up, you’ll never get it all. I keep finding glitter tucked into unexpected corners. I suppose it will always be there.” When her father’s work responsibilities bring a chance to spend some time living in New York City, Kitty is resistant. At Dad’s insistence, they go, however, and the family learns the language and customs of this new place. Kitty ultimately comes to realize that memories of her mother are the glitter that will be with her wherever she goes. The heart-rending topic; the well-drawn family relationships; and Kitty’s brave, honest, and often funny responses to her tragedy are the soul of this book. All characters present White.
Heartfelt and comforting. (Fiction. 8-12)
