• US Edition

Anatomy of Lost Things

A laugh-through-your-tears middle grade novel about what it’s like to lose something precious.

A necklace. A bugle. A lion statue. What do they have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing unless you’re Tildy, Leon, or Nell. These items matter an awful lot to them. Not because of what they are, but what—and who—they represent.

Anatomy of Lost Things shares the crisscrossing stories of Tildy, Leon, and Nell, of the impossible losses they’ve each recently faced, and the unexpected histories of their prized objects. Written with heartbreaking honesty and humor, this novel unfolds in the tender space that exists between staggering loss and the start of recovery, and it finds plenty of hope and laughter waiting there.

 

Awards and Praise for Anatomy of Lost Things:
A Junior Library Guild Selection

★ “Sad, funny, and thematically rich; loaded with feels and appeals.” —Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

“This clever, complex, and quirky book is full of my favorite things: friendship, humor, a little heartache, and a lot of hope. What a beautiful book, from first page to last. I will miss these sweet characters but am grateful to have met them.” —Jo Knowles, author of See You At Harry’s and Where the Heart Is

“This book is a treasure! I wanted to crawl into this story and hang out with is assortment of wacky, wonderful characters. A loving look at how we define ourselves through relationships, place, and the objects we endow with meaning—and how losing them can sometimes lead to self-discovery. Full of warmth, humor, whimsy, and, above all, emotional honesty. The kind of novel that feels like a friend.” —Jennifer Ziegler, author of Worser

“An enjoyable read with a pleasing construction. Perfect for readers looking for someone who mirrors their challenges.”—Booklist

“Folksy third-person prose renders the characters’ alternating perspectives as well as varying digressions, making for a leisurely paced narrative that builds toward credible—including one fittingly offbeat—resolutions.”—Publishers Weekly

Rights details

The Author

Shawn Stout

Shawn Stout’s (she/her) delightful Penelope Crumb rivals Ramona, Clementine and Judy Moody! As well as the PENELOPE CRUMB series, Shawn’s also the author of the FIONA FINKELSTEIN mini-series and the standalone novel, A TINY PIECE OF SKY.

She earned an MFA in Writing for Children at Vermont College of the Fine Arts in 2009 and lives in Frederick, Maryland with her husband and two dogs.

www.shawnkstout.com

Shawn is represented by Kristin Ostby.

View author profile