In Your Shoes

In Your Shoes

"A unique and compelling novel from a master storyteller." — School Library Journal, starred review  The critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin delivers another heartfelt story that will remind readers you never know who needs a friend the most. Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family's bowling center—even though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there.  Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn't have to live above her uncle's funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after.  Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that's when it all begins. . . . "A unique and compelling novel from a master storyteller."— School Library Journal,  starred review "Told from the alternating perspectives of the endearing protagonists, the novel humorously verifies that loss can lead to surprising beginnings."— Publishers Weekly  "Earnest and gently humorous insights into themes of friendship, loss, and perseverance." — Kirkus Praise for Lily and Dunkin: "Gephart clearly has a lot of heart, and she tells their stories with compassion."-- Kirkus  "A thoughtfully and sensitively written work of character-driven fiction that dramatically addresses two important subjects that deserve more widespread attention."-- Booklist, starred  “Gephart sympathetically contrasts the physical awkwardness, uncertainty, and longings of these two outsiders during a few tightly-plotted months, building to a crescendo of revelation…[A] valuable portrait of two teenagers whose journeys are just beginning.”--PW    "This would be a fantastic addition to any middle grade library collection, and is highly recommended for all ages."-- VOYA   "Lily and Dunkin is a delight. Here’s a book for anyone who’s ever struggled with being different--or anyone who’s ever loved someone who bears the burden of difference. . . . Crucial, heart-breaking, and inspiring.” —Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of  She’s Not There  and  Stuck in the Middle with You Donna Gephart’s award-winning novels are packed with humor and heart. They include Death by Toilet Paper; Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen; How to Survive Middle School; and As if Being 12-3/4 Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! Donna is a popular speaker at schools, conferences, and book festivals. For reading guides, resources, writing tips, and more, visit donnagephart.com. Follow Donna on Facebook and Twitter. Miles   Miles Spagoski jogged the four blocks to his family’s bowling center, shivering and imagining ways he might die--a frozen tree limb could crack off and land on his head, a distracted driver fiddling with a car’s heating controls could swerve onto the sidewalk and plow him flat, or, if he was outside long enough, plain old hypothermia could be the end of his short, sad story.   But the moment Miles entered Buckington Bowl, his worries melted away like snowflakes on a warm palm. Miles relaxed, as much as someone like him could relax, onto a stool behind the front counter and kicked off his worn sneakers.   He loved his family’s bowling center first thing in the morning, before his dad put the oldies rock station on to play through the crackly speaker system, before pins crashed on lanes 1 through 48, before video games near the snack counter beeped and blinked and beckoned. Before--   “Hey, Spagoski!” Randall Fleming yelled through the thick glass doors, startling Miles. Backpack slung over one shoulder, face pressed against the glass where the painted words read “No gum allowed in this building,” Randall made smudges with his mouth and pounded the door with a gloved fist. “Open up. My snot’s freezing.”   Miles unlocked the automatic doors for his best friend to slip through. He’d tried to make Randall call him by his first name, but there were five other Mileses in their grade, so Randall insisted on “Spagoski” for specificity. He was stubborn like that.   “Why didn’t you open up sooner?” Randall blinked, blinked, blinked. “My eyeballs were turning into ice cubes out there.”   “It’s not that cold.” Miles reached behind the counter and grabbed Windex and a rag. “Why’d you have to slobber all over the door? You know I have to clean that.”   Randall shrugged. Miles went outside in his socks to quickly wipe the smudges off the glass, then darted back in, shivering again. “It’s fr-fr-freezing! Feels like the temperature dropped twenty degrees since I got here.”   “Told you,” Randall said, stamping his brand-new sneakers, even though there wasn’t any snow on the ground. “They should cancel school today and give us one more day of winter vacation.”   Miles imagined spending the whole day bowling. He’d take his first break at lunch when his dad started grilling in the bowling center’s kitchen. And when Miles’s arm got sore from rolling so many strikes, he’d hang out with the regulars, like Stick, who’d teach him the finer points of pla