Excerpt from Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Mrs. B. didn't need to say anything; the heavy scent of roses in the hallway announces Mom's presence. When I enter the private room, she's gently massaging rose-scented lotion on my grandmother's thin arms. A fresh bouquet of yellow roses adds to the floral saturation level.

GrandMary's been at EverCare for six weeks now and, the month before that, in the hospital. She had a stroke at my high school graduation party. Visiting every morning is part of the New Normal, which is what I call what happens when your universe is shaken so badly you can never regain the same axis as before. But you try anyway.

My grandmother's eyes connect with mine. Her left brow raises in recognition. Her right side is unable to convey anything.

"Bon matin, GrandMary." I kiss both cheeks before stepping back for her inspection.

In the Before, her scrutiny of my fashion choices bugged the crap out of me. But now? Her one-sided scowl at my oversized T-shirt feels like a perfect slap shot to the top shelf.

"See?" I playfully lift my hem to reveal yellow spandex shorts. "Not half-naked."

Halfway through her barely perceptible eye roll, GrandMary's gaze turns vacant. It's like a light bulb behind her eyes that someone switches on and off arbitrarily.

Excerpted from Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. Copyright © 2021 by Angeline Boulley. Excerpted by permission of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.