Worth a Thousand Words

by Brigit Young

Overview

Whether it’s earrings, homework, or love notes, Tillie “Lost and Found” Green and her camera can find any lost thing—until a search for a missing person forces her to step out from behind the lens in Brigit Young's middle-grade debut novel, Worth a Thousand Words.

Ever since a car accident left Tillie Green with lasting painful injuries, she's hidden behind her camera. She watches her family and classmates through the lens, tracking down misplaced items and spotting the small details that tell a much bigger story than people usually see. But she isn’t prepared for class clown Jake Hausmann’s request: to find his father.

In a matter of days, Tillie goes from silent observer to one half of a detective duo, searching for clues to the mystery of Jake’s dad’s disappearance. When the truth isn’t what Jake wants it to be, and the photographs start exposing people’s secrets, Tillie has to decide what—and who—is truly important to her.

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250308757
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	04/14/2020
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	700L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Brigit Young was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is the author of the middle grade novels Worth a Thousand Words, The Prettiest, and Bright. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughters.

Editorial Reviews

A Junior Library Guild Selection

“A suspenseful mystery/detective story [that] deepens into a nuanced coming-of-age story . . . [An] affecting debut novel.” —Horn Book

“The mystery . . . will keep readers turning pages in this touching debut coming-of-age novel.” —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

12/03/2018
Four years ago, Tillie was in a car accident that damaged her hip and spine, leaving her in nearly constant pain and with a leg that doesn’t “work properly.” Ever since, Tillie has retreated behind her camera, viewing the world at a distance, until her pictures help a classmate find a missing earring and earn her the affectionate nickname “Lost and Found.” Now Tillie is in demand as a detective, tracking down lost items—though not lost people, as she clarifies to Jake, a classmate whose dad has gone missing. But Jake is persistent, and soon the pair visits his father’s office and last whereabouts. All the while, Jake insists that his dad is in danger, often in scenarios taken from his favorite old movies. Meanwhile, Tillie’s relationship with her own father is fraught: he was driving the car when she was injured and has been distant ever since. Working with Jake challenges Tillie to step out from behind her camera and into the world, and Young handles both her injury and its aftermath with realism and sensitivity. The mystery of Jake’s dad will keep readers turning pages in this touching debut coming-of-age novel. Ages 8–12. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly