Description
Hannah loves the familiar rhythm of her days—walking to school with her best friend Izzi, spending afternoons with Nana and Pop, and cozy weekends with her parents.
When Nana gives her a special worry stone to bring calm in uncertain moments, Hannah tucks it safely in her pocket. But change is coming.
First, her beloved teacher Mr. Spicer leaves. Then, the unthinkable—Izzi is moving away. As Hannah struggles with the idea of goodbye, her worry stone is always in her hand, but it can’t stop the storm of emotions building inside her. A moment of anger threatens to shatter everything they’ve shared, and Hannah is left to find a way to make things right.
With courage, kindness, and the quiet strength of her worry stone, Hannah learns that endings are also beginnings—and that friendships, like the smoothest of stones, can be carried with us wherever we go.
A heartfelt verse novel for younger readers, about friendship, change, and finding the courage to embrace new beginnings—even when goodbye feels impossible.
Review
Life in 4S is pretty good, because Mr Spicer is the best teacher ever. Hannah fits in happily there with her best friend, Izzi, and when she is not at school she has her wonderful Mum and Dad. They work too hard, but that means that she gets to spend a lot of time with her amazing Nana and Pop.
Hannah has always worried, but her anxiety is heightened when Mr Spicer announces that he is leaving. Then Izzi tells her that she is moving house too, and Hannah’s worry stone gets extra attention. Mr Spicer leaving is bad enough, but how will she ever survive when Izzi leaves too?!
This is a terrific verse novel that deals with issues of change, resilience, anxiety and new beginnings. Beautifully written and full of kindness, I highly recommend this lovely story to all readers aged 7 and up.
