- US Edition
The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe
For fans of Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly, a middle grade novel about one unadventurous girl who discovers she is anything but.
Eleven-year-old Loah Londonderry is definitely a homebody. While her mother, a noted ornithologist, works to save the endangered birds of the shrinking Arctic tundra, Loah anxiously counts the days till her return home. But then, to Loah’s surprise and dismay, Dr. Londonderry decides to set off on a perilous solo quest to find the Loah bird, long believed extinct. Does her mother care more deeply about Loah the bird than Loah her daughter?
Things get worse yet when Loah’s elderly caretakers fall ill and she finds herself all alone except for her friend Ellis. Ellis has big problems of her own, but she believes in Loah. She’s certain Loah has strengths that are hidden yet wonderful, like the golden feather tucked away on her namesake bird’s wing. When Dr. Londonderry’s expedition goes terribly wrong, Loah needs to discover for herself whether she has the courage and heart to find help for her mother, lost at the top of the world.
Beautifully written, The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe is about expeditions big and small, about creatures who defy gravity and those of us who are bound by it.
Awards and Praise for The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe:
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Publishers Weekly New and Noteworthy Title
★ “There is plenty to keep readers engaged in this heartfelt exploration of goodness. . . . Satisfying and life affirming: a perfect thing in the universe of juvenile fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
★ “Through metaphor and imagery, Springstubb’s (Every Single Second) tender, sensitively written story captures the essences of places and characters, including frequently dismayed, brave Loah.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Readers will cheer as Loah steps up and makes things happen, with the help of some unexpected friends. It’s a sweet, satisfying story full of heart—and fascinating facts about birds, climate change, and the environment. . . . An excellent choice for fans of realistic fiction and readers interested in nature.”—School Library Journal
Rights details
World English Language & Chinese (simplified and complex): Holiday House (June 2021)
Audio: Live Oak Media
The Author
Tricia Springstubb
Tricia’s (she/her) books have received numerous starred reviews, appeared on many best-of-the-year and state-book lists, and received recognition from the Junior Library Guild, the Parents Choice Awards, and the American Library Association Notable Books committee. She is a two-time recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Award for Individual Excellence.
Tricia, who has worked as both an educator and a public library children’s associate, loves visiting schools and libraries. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and leads writing workshops for children and adults.
Mother of three grown daughters and four perfect grandbabies, she lives, works, plays and gardens in Cleveland, Ohio.
Tricia is represented by Kristin Ostby.