Anatomy of Lost Things [Hardcover]

A laugh-through-your-tears middle grade novel about what it’s like to lose something precious. For fans of the Three Rancheros series by Kate DiCamillo.

A necklace. A bugle. A lion statue. What do they have to do with each other? Absolutely nothing unless you’re Tildy, Leon, or Nell. These items matter an awful lot to them. Not because of what they are, but what—and who—they represent.

Anatomy of Lost Things shares the crisscrossing stories of Tildy, Leon, and Nell, of the impossible losses they’ve each recently faced, and the unexpected histories of their prized objects. Written with heartbreaking honesty and humor, this novel unfolds in the tender space that exists between staggering loss and the start of recovery, and it finds plenty of hope and laughter waiting there.★ Sad, funny, and thematically rich; loaded with feels and appeals. —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

An enjoyable read with a pleasing construction. Perfect for readers looking for someone who mirrors their challenges. —Booklist

Well-developed throughout, the characters, even supporting ones, are complex and interesting. This intricate web of objects and people skillfully knits together into a touching, thought-provoking, and ultimately comforting story. —The Horn Book

Stout treats the kids’ fears with tenderness and brings nuance to the ways all three kids miss the adults in their lives. . . For a book dealing with such weighty topics, though, it sure is fun, combining mystery and the imagined history of objects, with just a touch of communing with the dead. —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books&llS¯