Some Kind of Happiness

Nominated by the Mystery Writers of America for the 2017 Edgar Award



“Finley’s marvelous adventure will resonate with anyone who has battled a broken heart through the power of story. The courage she finds along the way will leave you cheering - and believing in magic - even in the darkest part of the woods.” – Natalie Lloyd, author of A SNICKER OF MAGIC
“Imagine if Wednesday Addams had written THE PRINCESS BRIDE and you’ve got some kind of idea of SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS — a dark and meditative fantasy written with Claire Legrand’s signature light touch.” – Tim Federle, author of BETTER NATE THAN EVER
“A multilayered plot, engaging characters, and more than one mystery highlight this ambitious novel… . Legrand successfully weaves it all into a rich, nuanced tale that culminates in a convincing and satisfying conclusion.” * School Library Journal *
“Legrand has pulled off a difficult trick in this novel. She’s constructeda story-within-a-story fairy tale that’s utterly compelling but sounds asthough it was written by an 11-year-old girl… . A layered, thoughtful exploration.” * Kirkus Reviews
“Legrand handles the tough subject of childhood mental health gently and honestly, and… . paints a realistic picture of a girl trying to figure out what’s wrong with her. Finley’s quest to uncover family secrets reveals not just what kept her father away from his relatives but how a family sticks together through good times and bad.” * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“A quiet magic is at work in Legrand’s novel, in which she adeptly interweaves Fin’s imaginative writing with the real-life narrative, underpinning all with an appeal to honesty and self-acceptance. This beautiful and reflective tale carries echoes of Katherine Patterson’s The Bridge to Terabithia (1977) and will resonate with thoughtful readers who enjoy pondering life’s bigger questions.” * Booklist, STARRED REVIEW *
“Depression and anxiety are usually reserved for YA fare, so it’s refreshing to see those matters brought to younger readers and especially to those kids strug- gling to voice emotions they don’t yet understand. Legrand handles the topic with sensitivity and compassion… .” * The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books *

Claire Legrand used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now Ms. Legrand is a full-time writer living in New Jersey. She has written two middle grade novels—The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing in 2012, and The Year of Shadows—as well as the young adult novel Winterspell.

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