Still Sal
Format:Paperback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Publishing:23rd Oct '25
£7.99
This title is due to be published on 23rd October, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
"Filled with emotionally complex characters and riveting, poignant moments, along with plenty of humor, Still Sal is not to be missed." —BookPage (starred review)
Kirkus Best Middle Grade Books of 2024!
A stand-alone companion to two-time Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes’s award-winning and acclaimed The Year of Billy Miller. With themes of family, friendship, and resilience, this very funny school story focuses on Billy’s little sister, Sal, and her first day of school. For fans of Ramona, Ivy + Bean, and Dory Fantasmagory.
Sal has been looking forward to first grade for a long time. But her excitement quickly turns to disappointment when she learns that her best friend, Griff, is in the other first-grade classroom and has the most popular teacher. Then Sal’s name is spelled wrong on her name tag, she trips in front of the cool fifth graders, and her self-portrait doesn’t turn out the way she wanted it to. In fact, everything about school is an absolute disaster. Poor Sal!
Luckily for Sal, she has understanding parents, a terrific new teacher, and empathetic friends who remind her that it takes time to adjust to change. And sure enough, after a few days, Sal feels like herself again.
Still Sal highlights themes of family, friendship, social and emotional growth, resilience, and adapting to change. The fourth stand-alone book in the Miller Family sequence includes black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Kevin Henkes on almost every page and is an excellent choice for early elementary grades, for readers ready for a short novel, and for family and classroom read-alouds.
“Sal Miller’s sense of self is shaken just before the start of first grade. . . . Henkes’ graceful, easy prose, sharp insights, and impressive ability to convey the way children think shine here. He invites readers to empathize with Sal, feeling her disappointment and annoyance with a world that doesn’t always understand her as well as the satisfaction with small victories that bring her back to herself. . . . A delightful, understated triumph.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Sometimes poignant, sometimes amusing. . . . An engaging, perceptive early chapter book.” — Booklist (starred review) “Sal Miller is six. Her life is changing so much. . . . Henkes again navigates the vicissitudes of his young protagonist’s life with warmth, humor, and utmost respect. . . . With gentle support from parents and teachers, Sal comes to understand that her life might change, but she is still Sal.” — Horn Book (starred review) "Filled with emotionally complex characters and riveting, poignant moments, along with plenty of humor, Still Sal is not to be missed." — BookPage (starred review) “The drama and emotion of being a six-year-old are captured beautifully in Henkes’s pitch-perfect continuation of the “Miller Family” series. . . . Henkes’s tender treatment of his characters shines here, and kids will deeply relate to Sal’s struggles and successes. A joy to read for all ages.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
ISBN: 9780063389632
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 295g
256 pages