Going Overboard

by Caroline Huntoon

Overview

From author Caroline Huntoon comes a sparkling new middle grade novel, Going Overboard, a reverse-Parent Trap story where tweens Piper and Colton must force their parents to break up, or their lives will change forever.

Piper Shapiro has the best mom in the world: Noura, a single parent by choice who always has a plan, whether it's for a spontaneous Saturday adventure or helping Piper navigate middle school as a nonbinary kid. They're a package deal, and they tell each other everything. At least, they used to. But then Noura invites Piper out to dinner with her girlfriend Gwinny . . .and Gwinny’s son, Colton—a boy Piper knows, and doesn't exactly get along with. Piper panics when the realization hits: Noura and Gwinny are serious about each other. Suddenly, Piper’s life as half of a duo has an expiration date, and ze is horrified.

To put a stop to any potential wedding bells, Piper makes a plan: break up the parents and keep things the way they are—the way they should be. When Gwinny surprises everyone with a getting-to-know-each-other cruise for spring break, Piper's game is on—and Colton is in on it. The two of them work hard to make it clear that they are not one big happy family, even though it turns out that Colton might not be so bad after all. But when things with Operation Break Up go a bit too far, Piper starts to question everything… and realize that maybe a little change isn't a bad thing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250347268
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Caroline Huntoon (they/them) is a nonbinary storyteller and educator and the author of Skating on Mars, Linus and Etta Could Use a Win, and Going Overboard, all from Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. They grew up in Michigan but spent time in New York City, Walt Disney World, and Vermont before returning home. Now back in Michigan, Caroline is a single parent and lives with their headstrong and hilarious child, Winnie, and their adorable and needy dog, Oscar David. When they aren't writing, they work as an English teacher and theater director. Caroline loves to write stories for young people about loss, identity, and friendship that validate their messy and wonderful lives.
Caroline Huntoon (they/them) is a nonbinary storyteller and educator and the author of Skating on Mars and Linus and Etta Could Use a Win from Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan. They grew up in Michigan but spent time in New York City to earn their B.A. at Barnard College and see as much musical theater as possible, Walt Disney World to fulfill a lifelong dream of working on The Great Movie Ride, and Vermont to earn their M.A. from The Bread Loaf School of English. Now back in Michigan, Caroline lives with their headstrong and hilarious child, Winnie, and their adorable and needy dog, Oscar David. By day they work as an English teacher and theater director, and by night they write stories for young people about loss, identity, and friendship that validate their messy and wonderful lives.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Caroline Huntoon:

★ "Huntoon. . . writes beautifully with authority and insight, creating in Mars a fully realized, memorable character; this first novel is an important contribution to the slender body of nonbinary literature, which belongs in every library." —Booklist, starred review, on Skating On Mars

“Mars gives us a beautiful blueprint for what to do when you’re neither/nor instead of either/or, a sparkling bolt of bold Bowie lightning in a world of black and white. Their story skated into my heart and left a smile on my face.” —Jules Machias, author of Both Can Be True and Fight + Flight, on Skating On Mars

"The characters’ sweet demeanors, lively dialogue, and ever-changing relationships will keep readers rooting for them until the book’s final pages. . . A tender story about moving through hurt and embracing uncertainty." —Kirkus on Linus and Etta Could Use a Win

"Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, Linus and Etta is more than a win, it is a triumph. Readers will delight in this story of friendship and acceptance that has loveable leads, plenty of puns, and above all, a sparkling and lifesaving amount of queer joy." —Justine Pucella Winans, author of The Otherwoods, on Linus and Etta could Use a Win

From the Publisher