- US Edition
Yonder
A captivating historical fiction middle grade novel that asks what it means to be a hero.
Danny Timmons has looked up to Jack Bailey ever since the older boy saved two small children from drowning during the Great Flood of 1940. Now, with his father away fighting in World War II and his mother about to have a new baby, Danny relies on Jack’s friendship and guidance more than ever.
So when Jack goes missing without a trace from their small Appalachian town, Danny is determined to find him. He wonders if Jack’s abusive father could be behind his disappearance, or if it has anything to do with Yonder—a hidden magical town Jack once spoke of, where flocks of rainbow birds fly through the sky and they’ve never heard of war. As answers elude him, Danny begins to fear that he didn’t know Jack as well as he thought.
Ultimately, Danny’s search forces him to reckon with even larger questions: What is America fighting for in this war? What role do each of us play in stopping injustices, big and small? And is there such a thing as a true hero?
Praise for Yonder:
A Junior Library Guild Selection
“Both timely and historical. An exploration of what it means to be brave and do good.”
—TAE KELLER, Newbery Medal–winning author of When You Trap a Tiger
“What does it mean to be a hero, and when is it all right—necessary, even—to put your own well-being ahead of others? Yonder is a thoughtful, eloquent, and honest examination of prejudice, loyalty, and what it means to be brave. I loved it.”
—ALAN GRATZ, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Ground Zero
“A beautiful and important novel that explores what it means to be a hero and the role of each of us to stand up for what’s right.”
—KARINA YAN GLASER, New York Times bestselling author
“Danny’s voice is true, strong, loving, and hopeful, and readers will recognize him as a hero in his own right. . . . Multilayered, moving, and tremendously powerful.”
—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“A heartfelt tale about what it means to be a hero and take a stand against injustice.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Standish’s uplifting mystery tackles big themes of abuse, bullying, heroism, mental health, and prejudice.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
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The Author
Ali Standish
Ali Standish’s award-winning and bestselling books include the Carnegie-nominated The Ethan I Was Before, August Isle (titled The Secret Summer in the UK), Bad Bella, The Climbers, How to Disappear Completely, The Mending Summer, and Yonder. Her books have received starred reviews, have been named as Indies Introduce and Indies Next titles, and have been nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards. She grew up splitting her time between North Carolina and several imaginary worlds. The only award she ever won in school was for messiest desk, but that didn’t stop her from going on to get degrees from Pomona College, Hollins University, and obtaining a master’s degree in Children’s Literature from the University of Cambridge. Ali also spent several years as a teacher/program administrator in the Washington DC Public School system. She still spends most of her time in her imagination, but you might just spot her walking her two rescue dogs with her Finnish husband and their son around her neighborhood in Raleigh, North Carolina.
You can visit her online at alistandish.com.