BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
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    • A Wish in the Dark
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    • From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    • Gone to the Woods
    • Ground Zero
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    • I will always Write Back
    • Instant Karma
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    • Never Caught
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    • Puppet's Payback
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    • Show me a Sign
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    • Spark
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    • Three Keys
    • Trapped in Hitlers Web
    • Tristan Strong
    • Verify
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    • We Must not Forget
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    • When you Trap a Tiger
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  • 2021
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    • Genesis Begins Again
    • Look Both Ways
    • Maybe He Just Likes You
    • Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
    • My Year in the Middle
    • New Kid
    • The One and Only Bob
    • Other Words for Home
    • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
    • A Single Shard
    • Stepsister
    • They Called Us Enemy
    • Thunder Head
    • The Traitor's Game
    • What'sHisFace
    • Where the Heart Is
    • Wildfire
    • Words on Fire
  • 2020
    • Grades 3-5 >
      • Amal Unbound
      • Among the Impostors
      • Blended
      • Endling the Last
      • Front Desk
      • The Girl in the Locked Room
      • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
      • The Losers Club
      • Not if I Save you First
      • The Perfect Score
      • Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw
      • The Time of the Fireflies
    • Grades 3-8 >
      • Ban this Book
      • Breakout
      • Grenade
      • The Night Diary
      • Patina
      • SLOB
      • Stolen Girl
      • The Unteachables
    • Grades 6-8 >
      • Cameron Waldo
      • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
      • The Bridge Home
      • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
      • Internment
      • The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
      • Monument 14
      • Never Say Die
      • Resistance
      • To Right the Wrongs
      • Shouting at the Rain
      • Warcross
      • Wind in the Willows
  • 2019
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    • Abby Helms
    • Abel Hoffman
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    • Allegra Johnson
    • Alyvia Rabe
    • Anna Hamilton
    • Anna Lind
    • Asher Gerlach
    • Asher Ham
    • Ashlyn Wendell
    • Ashton Brown
    • Augustus Haack
    • Bailey Dallmann
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Bailey Wilfahrt
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Beckett Ehrke
    • Braxton Mitchell
    • Briar Gunderson
    • Brigitte Basurto
    • Brittyn Frasier
    • Brody Dieghenbaugh
    • Brogan Pittz
    • Calin Light
    • Cameron Waldo
    • Camryn Jo Bunger
    • Carson Hamilton
    • Cash Schnuerle
    • Charlotte Nicholson
    • Chloe Henry
    • Cohen Wright
    • Colyns Mowry
    • Connor Edwards
    • Coralee Schurr
    • Corbyn Wright
    • Dakota Deterding
    • Dinah Sandman
    • Elin Patterson
    • Elsie Donley
    • Elsie Strand
    • Emily Lewis
    • Emma George
    • Emmett Nitchie
    • Evelyn Frerichs
    • Ford Mach
    • Gabriel Ayres
    • Gabriella Robinson
    • Gavin Kassing
    • Grayson Bray
    • Hadleigh Wasenius
    • Hailey Cepel
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Haisley McQuiston
    • Haley Downer
    • Hudson Schmidt
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Jackson Deaver
    • Jacob Jezbera
    • Jaelyn Bradley
    • Jaxton Stottler
    • Jayda Kincade
    • Jayden Glassmeyer
    • Jemma Just
    • Jerome Bieghler
    • John Wegner
    • Jonah Fegley
    • Juno Tischner
    • Kaden Russell
    • Kaden Schriner
    • KAIDEN KLEIN
    • Kaison Most
    • Kaitlyn Catanese
    • Kaiya
    • Kallie Wright
    • Kami Goedert
    • Kara Brockman
    • Karter Tilson
    • Katie Florell
    • Kenley Haussermann
    • Kinley Christensen
    • Kinley Hansen
    • Kyler Peterson
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyler Schroeder
    • Kylie Koeppen
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyrie Houghtelling
    • Kyson Bose
    • Laura Behrhorst
    • Lauren Quinn
    • Layla Popple
    • Leah DeWald
    • Leanna Ellingson
    • Lillian Helms
    • Logan Strolberg
    • Luke Lush
    • Lydia McGowen
    • Maddox Hartzog
    • Madi Trambly
    • Maggie Rawson
    • Mark Mahalek
    • Marley Hutchens
    • Marley Thorell
    • Mavrik
    • Mick Pfeil
    • Mikayla Kenton
    • Mistica Martin
    • Myley
    • Oliver Deibler
    • Palmer Loberg
    • Payton Adams
    • Peyton Soucie
    • Pierce Hytrek
    • Porter Wohlgemuth
    • Regina Pena
    • Rihanna Botello
    • Ruby Edwards
    • Rylan Lush
    • Santiago Carrasco Aguirre
    • Sofia Alvarez
    • Sutton Strong
    • Trinity Kappes
    • Truman Fennel
    • Whitney Wall
    • Will Nickerson
    • Wyatt Rice
    • Xavier Picotte
Picture
Golden Sower
​This beautifully written, emotional debut perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt or Ali Benjamin tells the story of a girl, her special needs brother, and the summer they will never forget.

"An engaging, honest book." --Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life

"A beautiful story of family, forgiveness, life on an island, and growing up." --Kate Messner, author of Breakout and The Seventh Wish

Cat and her brother Chicken have always had a very special bond--Cat is one of the few people who can keep Chicken happy. When he has a "meltdown" she’s the one who scratches his back and reads his favorite story. She’s the one who knows what Chicken needs. Since their mom has had to work double-hard to keep their family afloat after their father passed away, Cat has been the glue holding her family together.

But even the strongest glue sometimes struggles to hold. When a summer trip doesn’t go according to plan, Cat and Chicken end up spending three weeks with grandparents they never knew. For the first time in years, Cat has the opportunity to be a kid again, and the journey she takes shows that even the most broken or strained relationships can be healed if people take the time to walk in one another’s shoes.

An Indies Introduce Pick
A Texas Bluebonnet Selection
A Parents Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Year
Activity 1:
Cat and Chicken have a lot of freedom to explore in their San Francisco neighborhood, which is called the “Inner Richmond.” Many of the places mentioned can be found using Google Maps or Google Earth. With adult supervision, try mapping: 544 Cabrillo Street, Frank McCoppin Elementary School, Green Apple Books, and Toy Boat Dessert Cafe. Zoom out to see how far their apartment is from the Steinhart Aquarium (California Academy of Sciences). How many blocks is their house from Ocean Beach?
​After plans with Rishi’s family fall through, Mom takes Cat and Chicken to Gingerbread Island in North Carolina. This is not a real place but was based closely on Topsail Island in North Carolina. Use your mapping tool to locate Topsail Island. What are some differences you notice between San Francisco and Topsail Island? How far apart are they?
Activity 2:
​Miss Sunshine’s is known for their delicious ice cream and unique flavors. “The ice cream was rich and creamy. Turtle Egg was chocolate-caramel eggs with a raspberry ribbon. The Gingerbread Island flavor had gum drops and tiny gingerbread people. [Cat] tried each flavor, even though cotton candy bubble gum twist hurt her teeth.” (page 159) First, brainstorm some ideas for flavors that would fit well with the island. What would be on your ideal ice cream bar? Alternatively, ask an adult to help you search recipes for making ice cream in a bag.
Activity 3:
​Imagine that you are creating a travel brochure for visitors to Gingerbread Island. Using information from Caterpillar Summer, describe the different activities and destinations. On one side, draw a map of Gingerbread Island. Be sure to label the fishing pier, sea turtle nesting sites, the miniature golf course, the library, the playground, Willis General, and Miss Sunshine’s ice cream shop.  
  • Home
  • 2022
    • A Wish in the Dark
    • All Thirteen
    • Before the Ever After
    • Caterpillar Summer
    • Dragon Hoops
    • Efren Divided
    • From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    • Gone to the Woods
    • Ground Zero
    • Hunger
    • I will always Write Back
    • Instant Karma
    • My Side of the Mountain
    • Never Caught
    • On the Horizon
    • Prairie Lotus
    • Puppet's Payback
    • Rescue
    • Show me a Sign
    • Song for a Whale
    • Spark
    • Strongheart
    • Three Keys
    • Trapped in Hitlers Web
    • Tristan Strong
    • Verify
    • War Stories
    • We Must not Forget
    • When Stars are Scattered
    • When you Trap a Tiger
    • Wild River
    • Wink
  • 2021
    • The 57 Bus
    • Above
    • All the Lovely Bad Ones
    • Allies
    • Because of the Rabbit
    • City of Ghosts
    • Clean Getaway
    • The Dark is Rising
    • Don't Tell the Nazis
    • A Drop of Hope
    • Echo Mountain
    • Endling the First
    • Finding Langston
    • The Fountains of Silence
    • Genesis Begins Again
    • Look Both Ways
    • Maybe He Just Likes You
    • Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
    • My Year in the Middle
    • New Kid
    • The One and Only Bob
    • Other Words for Home
    • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
    • A Single Shard
    • Stepsister
    • They Called Us Enemy
    • Thunder Head
    • The Traitor's Game
    • What'sHisFace
    • Where the Heart Is
    • Wildfire
    • Words on Fire
  • 2020
    • Grades 3-5 >
      • Amal Unbound
      • Among the Impostors
      • Blended
      • Endling the Last
      • Front Desk
      • The Girl in the Locked Room
      • Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
      • The Losers Club
      • Not if I Save you First
      • The Perfect Score
      • Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw
      • The Time of the Fireflies
    • Grades 3-8 >
      • Ban this Book
      • Breakout
      • Grenade
      • The Night Diary
      • Patina
      • SLOB
      • Stolen Girl
      • The Unteachables
    • Grades 6-8 >
      • Cameron Waldo
      • The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
      • The Bridge Home
      • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
      • Internment
      • The Mechanical Mind of John Coggin
      • Monument 14
      • Never Say Die
      • Resistance
      • To Right the Wrongs
      • Shouting at the Rain
      • Warcross
      • Wind in the Willows
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • About
  • Contact
  • Rules
  • Books I've Read
    • Abby Helms
    • Abel Hoffman
    • Abigail Lashley
    • Adrian Sand
    • Adelyn Wells
    • Alex Klatt-terabelian
    • Allegra Johnson
    • Alyvia Rabe
    • Anna Hamilton
    • Anna Lind
    • Asher Gerlach
    • Asher Ham
    • Ashlyn Wendell
    • Ashton Brown
    • Augustus Haack
    • Bailey Dallmann
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Bailey Wilfahrt
    • Baylee Kipp
    • Beckett Ehrke
    • Braxton Mitchell
    • Briar Gunderson
    • Brigitte Basurto
    • Brittyn Frasier
    • Brody Dieghenbaugh
    • Brogan Pittz
    • Calin Light
    • Cameron Waldo
    • Camryn Jo Bunger
    • Carson Hamilton
    • Cash Schnuerle
    • Charlotte Nicholson
    • Chloe Henry
    • Cohen Wright
    • Colyns Mowry
    • Connor Edwards
    • Coralee Schurr
    • Corbyn Wright
    • Dakota Deterding
    • Dinah Sandman
    • Elin Patterson
    • Elsie Donley
    • Elsie Strand
    • Emily Lewis
    • Emma George
    • Emmett Nitchie
    • Evelyn Frerichs
    • Ford Mach
    • Gabriel Ayres
    • Gabriella Robinson
    • Gavin Kassing
    • Grayson Bray
    • Hadleigh Wasenius
    • Hailey Cepel
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Haisley McQuiston
    • Haley Downer
    • Hudson Schmidt
    • Ivy Nelson
    • Jackson Deaver
    • Jacob Jezbera
    • Jaelyn Bradley
    • Jaxton Stottler
    • Jayda Kincade
    • Jayden Glassmeyer
    • Jemma Just
    • Jerome Bieghler
    • John Wegner
    • Jonah Fegley
    • Juno Tischner
    • Kaden Russell
    • Kaden Schriner
    • KAIDEN KLEIN
    • Kaison Most
    • Kaitlyn Catanese
    • Kaiya
    • Kallie Wright
    • Kami Goedert
    • Kara Brockman
    • Karter Tilson
    • Katie Florell
    • Kenley Haussermann
    • Kinley Christensen
    • Kinley Hansen
    • Kyler Peterson
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyler Schroeder
    • Kylie Koeppen
    • Kyper Vaughn
    • Kyrie Houghtelling
    • Kyson Bose
    • Laura Behrhorst
    • Lauren Quinn
    • Layla Popple
    • Leah DeWald
    • Leanna Ellingson
    • Lillian Helms
    • Logan Strolberg
    • Luke Lush
    • Lydia McGowen
    • Maddox Hartzog
    • Madi Trambly
    • Maggie Rawson
    • Mark Mahalek
    • Marley Hutchens
    • Marley Thorell
    • Mavrik
    • Mick Pfeil
    • Mikayla Kenton
    • Mistica Martin
    • Myley
    • Oliver Deibler
    • Palmer Loberg
    • Payton Adams
    • Peyton Soucie
    • Pierce Hytrek
    • Porter Wohlgemuth
    • Regina Pena
    • Rihanna Botello
    • Ruby Edwards
    • Rylan Lush
    • Santiago Carrasco Aguirre
    • Sofia Alvarez
    • Sutton Strong
    • Trinity Kappes
    • Truman Fennel
    • Whitney Wall
    • Will Nickerson
    • Wyatt Rice
    • Xavier Picotte