Middle Grade Fiction
Date Published: Feb 24, 2026
Publisher: Small Circles Press
Ivy’s life is a swirl of turbulence and change. It’s been almost a year since her sweet momma has died. Bottled up feelings tear her apart inside. Grandma wants to take her little dog away. Her BFFs pressure her to change. The cutest boy in school has a crush on her.
“It’s the universe, Ivy Leigh, welcoming in a little change.” Mr. Winters, her neighbor, a wannabe cowboy, tells her one day.
But change is so confusing. When a pair of bullies taunt her on the bus and tease her at school, Ivy makes a giant mistake.
With a mix of humor and poignant moments and a quirky cast of neighbors and friends, Ivy finds a way to understand herself and make up for that mistake she’s made. Best of all, Ivy remembers Momma: Feelings are like fireflies caught in a jar, Ivy Leigh. They belong in the open, where a warm breeze can carry them away!
About the Author
Gael Lynch is a writer and storyteller, a teacher whose love of kids and furry creatures has followed her throughout her life.
She now lives in coastal Carolina, a place of sunny beaches and warm breezes with her husband Tom and her rambunctious golden retriever, Wrigley.
However, Newtown, Connecticut, with its pastoral beauty and kind-hearted people will always be a place she calls home.
Contact Links
Twitter @gaellynch
Instagram: @lynchgael
