When Impossible Happens

“Deftly combines humor and pathos to authentically represent grief through a child’s eyes while simultaneously treating readers to a gripping whodunit.”

“Swara is an engaging narrator in a cast of distinctive characters that bring her neighborhood to life, even amid a global pandemic. The characters’ authenticity shines during scenes of online school with a compassionate teacher hearing the very real concerns of children living through COVID-19. Humor keeps readers engaged through clever wordplay . . . A welcome perspective on life, loss, and current events.”

“In this much-needed fictional account of a non-American country during lockdown, De Suza perfectly captures the voice of an overeager 9-year-old, with tones of The Westing Game's Turtle Wexler and a sweet, interwoven story about how hard grief can be to combat . . . Young readers eager for longer chapter books and international stories will enjoy stepping into Swara’s shoes.”

“Interspersed with occasional lists and poems, brief, conversational third-person chapters trace the stages of grief, accompanying Swara’s investigation and deeply felt emotional beats as she slowly comes to terms with her loss. A compassionately rendered story, told with hope, humor, and pathos, for anyone navigating dark times.”