Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances: a Brave Girl collection story

A heartwarming and magical middle-grade adventure about grief, guilt, and the power of connection.

Thirteen-year-old Lola is determined to honor her perfect twin sister, who died in an accident Lola can’t forgive herself for. To make things right, she’s on a mission to complete their Perfect Pairs Collection—but one mistake lands her in serious trouble. Now, instead of facing reform school, Lola must spend August with her eccentric, agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his crumbling mansion on the Connecticut River.

What begins as punishment quickly turns into a summer full of strange discoveries: a Zen garden gone wrong, a holographic projector spitting ghostly messages from her late aunt, a mysterious houseboat, and even a wandering wolf. As Lola races to complete her lucky baker’s dozen of perfect pairs, she starts to realize that magic isn’t about collections or luck—it’s about healing, forgiveness, and finding where she truly belongs.

Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and Anne Ursu, this touching, funny, and imaginative story explores family, loss, and the courage it takes to let go.

Editorial Reviews:

“Marvelously mystical, delightfully quirky, and satisfyingly tenderhearted.”  –R.B. Shifman, YA author of “Paper Airplane, Broken Bones”

“Kimberly Behre Kenna has once again created an irresistible brave girl middle-grade readers will cheer for and love.”  –Ona Gritz, author of “The Space You Left Behind” and “Take a Sad Song”

“Kenna’s compelling middle grade tale, woven with mysterious magic, is about a young girl and her uncle, both shattered by their grief, who learn the redemptive power of community and family. Hopeful and absorbing, it’s sure to resonate deeply with young readers.” –Laura Segal Stegman, middle-grade author of Summer of L.U.C.K. trilogy

“Kenna gives an authentic voice to a young adolescent struggling to come to terms with a tragedy and whether that tragedy will define her.” –Eva Silverfine, YA author of “Ephemeral Wings”

“‘Lola Gillette’ is a perfect addition to Kimberly Behre Kenna’s Brave Girls Story Collection. Like Artemis and Jett before her, Lola is a smart, resourceful character who is trying to make sense of her world and is willing to stand up for herself and others along the way.” –Linda B. Davis, award-winning author of “Food Fight”

“Author Kimberly Behre Kenna has crafted a heartfelt, authentic novel that speaks to the tough stuff of adolescence: guilt, bad choices, difficulty fitting in, feeling misunderstood, and finding (and forgiving!) yourself” –E.C. Quinn, author of “Premonition: The Gift”

“Kenna’s new novel is another winner with perfect middle-grade voice, angst, and strength.” –Lee Y. Miao, author of “Take a Shot, Kipp”

“Hair-raising touches of magic and vivid descriptions really bring things to life on the page.” –Julie Swanson, author of North of Tomboy and Going for the Record

“Soul-mending… [Kenna has written] another story of deep healing and hope.” –Laurie Beth Schneider, author of “Gittel”