Lemon Drop Falls

A moving but heartwarming story of grief and self-discovery, told with the dual timelines of THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH, and the family relationships of CATERPILLAR SUMMER.

Morgan is devastated by her mother’s sudden death.

Before, her mom’s amazing organizational skills kept the family on track, and her bowl of lemon drops was always on hand to make difficult conversations easy, turning the sourness of life into sweetness. Now – after – there’s no one to listen to Morgan’s worries about junior high, her increasingly confusing friendships. All she can do is try to carry out her final huge promise to her mother – that she would take care of her grieving dad and siblings — Janie and little Budge — keeping them safe and happy. But it’s tough filling in for an amazing mom, especially when Morgan’s anxiety is getting worse and worse.

When Dad insists on taking the family on their regular summer camping trip, Morgan knows he’ll handle this like he’s handled everything else since Mom died—throw some sleeping bags and oatmeal in the van and hope for the best. As usual, it’s Morgan’s job to plan for success. But with Janie and Budge being daredevils, and Dad high-jacking the lemon drops for all the wrong kinds of “talk therapy”, Morgan’s anxiety spirals into a panic attack, and Dad treats her like she’s impossibly broken.

Desperate to prove she’s got the strength to hold the family together, Morgan sets off alone to hike a flooding canyon trail. But somewhere on that lonely and dangerous journey, Morgan will encounter the truth about the final words her mother left her, her own resilience, and the possibility of new beginnings.

Rights details

World English Language: Jolly Fish Press (January 2022)

• Ages 8 - 12