Finding Esme
After her grandfather dies unexpectedly on Solace Hill, twelve-year-old Esme finds herself drawn again and again to the place where she lost him, despite her grandmother’s warnings to stay away.
Then, while chasing fireflies with her little brother Bo and their dog, Old Jack, Esme makes an incredible discovery: dinosaur bones buried beneath her grandfather’s abandoned tractor.
To Esme, the bones feel like more than a discovery. They might be a message from her grandfather, a final connection reaching beyond the grave.
But when word spreads that the family farm may be hiding something valuable, reporters, researchers, and curious neighbors descend upon Solace Hill. As Esme tries to understand whom she can trust, she must also face the painful realization that her memories of her grandfather are beginning to fade.
Set against a richly drawn rural Texas landscape, Finding Esme is a heartfelt middle grade story about family, friendship, grief, discovery, and finding where you belong.
“Esme is a brave, appealing heroine…”
- QB, Starred Review, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Inside the Story
ESME
A spirited twelve-year-old navigating grief, family secrets, and a remarkable gift for finding things.
SOLACE HILL
The place where Esme lost her grandfather—and where an extraordinary discovery waits beneath the earth.
THE DISCOVERY
Dinosaur bones hidden beneath an abandoned tractor turn Esme’s quiet world upside down.
THE GIFT
Like her grandmother Bee, Esme possesses an unusual ability to find what has been lost.
Finding Esme explores:
- Family, friendship, and belonging
- Grief and learning to let go
- Growing up and finding your place
- Family secrets and unexpected discoveries
- The bonds between generations
- Magical realism and Southern storytelling
- Dinosaurs, mystery, and adventure
Finding Esme
Educator Guides
Bring Finding Esme Into the Classroom
Explore Finding Esme with discussion questions, activities, and resources created for educators, librarians, and young readers.
Dive deeper into Finding Esme with the Reading Guide, featuring discussion questions and activities for young readers, educators, and book clubs. Then discover fun facts and behind-the-scenes details about Esme, Solace Hill, and the inspiration behind the story.
The Praise for Esme
“Esme grapples with her grief and the emergence of an unusual talent.”
- Julia Smith, Booklist Online Exclusive
“A poignant tale for readers who enjoy character-driven realism”
- Jess Gafkowitz, School Library Journal
Other Books by Suzanne
A heartfelt middle grade story blending grief, friendship, courage, and a touch of the mystical as young Odo learns to face his fears and step beyond the world he knows.
The Stolen One follows Katherine Bab as questions about her mysterious past lead her toward discoveries that could change everything she knows about herself.
A touching story about Merilee Monroe, a wonderfully unique girl whose carefully ordered world begins to change in unexpected ways.