UNDER THE SURFACE, DANGER LURKS…
Twelve-year-old Grace believes that all adults are trustworthy and good. So begins a coming-of-age story full of laughter and tears that takes place one hot summer in upstate New York in the 1950s.
On the surface, Stillwater seems an idyllic place, but danger lurks underneath. Grace and her best friends, Maggie and Louanne, grapple with divorce, domestic violence, and mental illness. Grace is devastated when she finds out her father committed suicide when she was eight. Several suspicious fires break out in the area, and Louanne's schizophrenic uncle Tony, the town bogeyman, is accused of setting them. Grace believes he's unfairly targeted because he's mentally ill and convinces her friends to help her find the real arsonist.
ISBN: 978-1-68401-929-8
$16.95
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What People Are Saying
“Mary Jo Hazard brings Stillwater’s characters to life in such a vivid and memorable way. Because I have spent so much of my own career writing about families and the secrets often kept by loved ones, I so enjoyed dipping into this bittersweet coming-of-age story.”
—J. Randy Taraborrelli, New York Times bestselling author
“A deeply moving coming-of-age novel about family secrets, mental health, and the importance of girlhood friendships.”
—Teri Case, award-winning author of Tiger-Drive
“When I first read Stillwater, Mary Jo Hazard’s inaugural novel, I was hypnotized by her compelling prose and immersed in the mysteries of a small town that felt eerily all too familiar. You will speed through this gem and ask for more when the last page is consumed. Hazard has done a masterful job!”
—Dr. Robert Huizenga, board-certified internist in Beverly Hills specializing in obesity, weight loss, and sports-related injuries. Dr. H is one of the specialists on NBC’s show, “The Biggest Loser.”
“In this bittersweet coming-of-age story, Mary Jo Hazard cracks open issues of divorce, suicide, and mental health in a time when they were taboo topics. Through rich historical details and the feisty and lovable trio of Grace, Maggie, and Louanne, Hazard shows us the power of friendship and takes us into a world where the colorful characters aren’t always who they seem.”
—Lisa Manterfield, award-winning author of The Smallest Thing