When the Ground Is Hard

Edgar Award nominee stuns in this heartrending tale set in a Swaziland boarding school where two girls of different castes bond over a shared copy of Jane Eyre.

Adele Joubert loves being one of the popular girls at Keziah Christian Academy. She knows the upcoming semester at school is going to be great with her best friend Delia at her side. Then Delia dumps her for a new girl with more money, and Adele is forced to share a room with Lottie, the school pariah, who doesn't pray and defies teachers' orders.

But as they share a copy of Jane Eyre, Lottie's gruff exterior and honesty grow on Adele, and Lottie learns to be a little sweeter. Together, they take on bullies and protect each other from the vindictive and prejudiced teachers. Then a boy goes missing on campus and Adele and Lottie must rely on each other to solve the mystery and maybe learn the true meaning of friendship.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Published: 06/04/2019
ISBN: 9780525515579
Pages: 272
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2019
Booklist 05/15/2019 pg. 56
School Library Journal 06/01/2019 pg. 80
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2019

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 506679 / When the Ground Is Hard
Reading Level: 5.3 / Interest Level: Middle Grade Plus / Point Value: 10