Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods introduces introverted, daydream-prone Zoe, who’s afraid her real life will never be as exciting as her imaginary one. Zoe Reindeer considers herself “just Zoe”—never measuring up to her too-perfect older sister or her smarty-pants little brother. Truthfully, though, she’d rather just blend in with the plants at the family business, Doc Reindeer’s Exotic Plant Wonderland. She does have one friend, Q, and he’s the best one ever—but he’s moving away, leaving Zoe to fend for herself, and she doesn’t know what she’ll do without him. That is until a tall astronomer from Madagascar comes to the nursery looking for a Baobab tree. His visit starts a ball rolling that makes Zoe long for real adventures, not just imaginary ones—and shows her that perhaps her first real adventure is finally beginning.
On sale: August 1, 2017
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 3-7
Page count: 224 Pages
ISBN: 9780425288917
Reading level: Lexile: 710L
Brenda Woods (www.brendawoods.net) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, grew up in southern California, and attended California State University, Northridge. Her award-winning books for young readers include
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond (a CCBC choice and a
Kirkus Best Book), Coretta Scott King Honor winner
The Red Rose Box, ALAN Pick
Saint Louis Armstrong Beach, and
VOYA Top Shelf Fiction selection
Emako Blue. Her numerous awards and honors include the Judy Lopez Memorial Award, FOCAL award, Pen Center USA’s Literary Award finalist, IRA Children’s Choice Young Adult Fiction Award, and ALA Quick Pick. She lives in the Los Angeles area.
Praise for Zoe in Wonderland:“Spunky and inquisitive narrative voice. . . . Woods balances serious issues with humor. Zoe’s character is consistently relatable and encouraging to those who might not feel very special and who are trying, like Zoe, to understand themselves and the world around them.”—
The Horn Book“Woods develops a realistic adolescent struggle with self-acceptance. . . . Young readers will easily identify with Zoe’s unbridled curiosity and wishes for the future, and the ending satisfies. . . . This touching tale about finding strength in uniqueness is a well-crafted read from start to finish.”—
Kirkus Reviews“Woods handles big challenges . . . with sensitivity and a light touch. Readers will find it easy to sink into Zoe’s warm family life, realistic in its squabbles, worries, and powerfully evident love.”—
Publishers Weekly“Many readers will see themselves in Woods’s authentic portrayal of an African American girl finding her place in her family and in the world around her.”—
School Library Journal
