The New York Times bestselling debut novel from acclaimed children’s author Katherine Hannigan is both very funny and extraordinarily moving.

Who is Ida B. Applewood? She is a fourth grader like no other, living a life like no other, with a voice like no other, and her story will resonate long after you have put this book down.

How does Ida B cope when outside forces—life, really—attempt to derail her and her family and her future? She enters her Black Period, and it is not pretty. But then, with the help of a patient teacher, a loyal cat and dog, her beloved apple trees, and parents who believe in the same things she does (even if they sometimes act as though they don’t), the resilience that is the very essence of Ida B triumph…and Ida B. Applewood takes the hand that is extended and starts to grow up.

This modern classic is a great choice for independent reading.

What happens when a girl who talks to trees has to learn how to talk to people again?

• Homeschooling to Public School: For Ida B, leaving her family’s farm for the halls of Ernest B. Lawson Elementary is a disaster she never planned for.
• A Parent’s Illness: A heartfelt and honest look at how a family changes when a mother gets sick, perfect for starting important conversations with children.
• Finding Your Voice: When Ida B enters her ‘Black Period,’ she must find her way through big feelings of anger and sadness with the help of a patient teacher.
• Resilience for Kids: A story that shows how even in the hardest times, the strength to grow up and reconnect with the world is always inside you.