Newbery-winning Rules meets Counting by 7s in this affecting story of a girlโs devotion to her brother and what it means to be homeWhen eleven-year-old Thyme Owensโ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, itโs just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thymeโs best friend and everything she knows and l ...Full description
Newbery-winning Rules meets Counting by 7s in this affecting story of a girlโs devotion to her brother and what it means to be homeWhen eleven-year-old Thyme Owensโ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, itโs just the second chance that he needs. But it also means the Owens family has to move to New York, thousands of miles away from Thymeโs best friend and everything she knows and loves. The island of Manhattan doesnโt exactly inspire new beginnings, but Thyme tries to embrace the change for what it is: temporary.After Valโs treatment shows real promise and Mr. Owens accepts a full-time position in the city, Thyme has to face the frightening possibility that the move to New York is permanent. Thyme loves her brother, and knows the trial could save his lifeโsheโd give anything for him to be wellโbut she still wants to go home, although the guilt of not wanting to stay is agonizing. She finds herself even more mixed up when her heart feels the tug of new friends, a first crush, and even a crotchety neighbor and his sweet whistling bird. All Thyme can do is count the minutes, the hours, and days, and hope time can bring both a miracle for Val and a way back home.With equal parts heart and humor, Melanie Conklinโs debut is a courageous and charming story of love and familyโand what it means to be counted.