The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle
On shelves now!
Ten-year-old Cutie Grackle knows almost nothing about her family history, but she has no trouble believing it includes a curse. It isn’t until five ravens start following her that she worries much about it, though. She’s too busy trying to trick her stomach into feeling full and keeping tabs on the bewildered uncle she lives with. But when those ravens bring her a trinket that pulls Cutie into a vision from her family’s past, the truth is impossible to deny. As other trinkets and memories follow, Cutie learns not just that the curse exists, but that it’s her destiny to do what her long-lost mother could not: break it.
Praise
“Cutie Grackle is an authentic, enchanting, big-hearted character brave enough to believe in the impossible. She’ll make you believe in it too.” – NATALIE LLOYD, New York Times bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic and Over the Moon
“A compelling hybrid tale of realistic survival and supernatural adventure; fans of Kate DiCamillo will enjoy the style of writing in this unique middle grade novel.”—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Told primarily through Cutie’s unsparing point of view (with occasional asides from the ravens) and fully at home in its Appalachian setting, the novel treats poverty, loss, and the magical with matter-of-fact acceptance. . . . An intriguing story from an author who deserves more acclaim.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Cutie is a practical and intuitive narrator, picking up on clues the ravens leave her and making astute observations about her life in poverty and the factors that keep her there. Stout depicts the tumultuous circumstances of Cutie’s life sensitively. . . .”—THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS
“Navigating sensitive topics like unequal food access, disabilities, and the loss of one’s parents, the approachable adventure novel The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle conveys empathy for both people and nature.”—FOREWARD REVIEWS
