Lenny's Book of Everything

February 11, 2019
Curious, practical narrator Lenny Spink lives in a small apartment in an Ohio suburb with her lovable younger brother, Davey, who can’t seem to stop growing, and their single mother, who frets endlessly about his ever-increasing size and how she will afford clothes that fit him. With their father MIA and the smarmy Mr. King worming his way into their mother’s life, Lenny and Davey find joy and inspiration in the weekly arrival of new sections for the build-it-at-home encyclopedia set they’ve won. But even as they dream of exploring the world pictured in those colorful pages, it becomes increasingly clear that Davey’s puzzling growth spurts may be dangerous. Though Davey’s character at times lacks depth and some may be bothered by the illness-as-literary-construct, Foxlee (A Most Magical Girl) surrounds him with characters who are as endearing as they are flawed: the fiercely protective Lenny, whose sharp tongue belies her longing for stable relationships, and Mrs. Gaspar, their meddlesome but doting neighbor. Themes of family and forgiveness are front and center, but the heart of this story—and the magic of it—is the devotion of these two siblings who together navigate the harsh realities of life and loss. Ages 8–12. Agent: Catherine Drayton, InkWell Management.

August 24, 2018
Anticipation for Karen Foxlee’s new novel is sky-high given her recent gem A Most Magical Girl. Rest assured, Lenny’s Book of Everything will exceed all expectations. Lenny’s younger brother Davey won’t stop growing, her father has left their family, and her mother is ‘made entirely out of worries’. Each chapter of Lenny’s story is marked by two constants: Davey’s escalating height and the weekly arrival of the Burrell’s Build-it-at-Home Encyclopaedia. The latter allows the siblings to experience the wonders of the world; Lenny becomes so obsessed with beetles that her mother confiscates those pages, while Davey dreams of birds of prey and travelling to Great Bear Lake. However, as Davey’s health deteriorates, Lenny must face up to some agonising realisations. She does so with the help of some expertly crafted characters, including her charming friends CJ Bartholomew and Matthew Milford, Hungarian neighbour Mrs Gaspar with her memorable dreams, and the mysterious Great Aunt Em. But it is the palpable bond between Lenny and Davey that will have readers of all ages enrapt. This bittersweet tale about heartbreak and healing has a sense of whimsy that never feels forced. Foxlee’s writing is brimming with perfectly constructed moments that merge into a truly sensational, heart-wrenching read. This is the kind of book that makes a reader feel grateful it exists.

Karys McEwen is head of library at Glen Eira College in Melbourne