Racing the Clouds

“Dunlap manages to keep the story breezy while never ignoring the emotional depths of the situation, letting Sage—and possibly readers—come to a place of healing at just the right time. . . . A heartfelt contemporary novel for fans of Jennifer L. Holm’s Sunny Side Up and Gennifer Choldenko’s The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman.”

“A compelling, emotionally engaging, heartfelt coming-of-age novel….Racing the Clouds is an original, skillfully written, and fully absorbing novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for young readers ages 10-14.”

“Descriptions of Sage’s guilt over the events surrounding her mother’s absence, as well as the teen’s love for dogs and stellar ping-pong skills, coalesce into a fully fleshed-out character. Her struggles in learning how to cope with current and past events and accept help make for a satisfying emotional journey by Dunlap.”

“Complex emotional themes are handled with a gentle touch in this realistic story of resilience.”

“Sad but delicately handled. . . . For readers of Ann Braden’s The Benefits of Being an Octopus.”

“A riveting novel with crucial themes, Racing the Clouds lays bare the communal effects of drug addiction as a girl seeks generational healing.”

“Starring a relatable and compassionate character who’s stronger than she should have to be, Racing the Clouds is a compelling page-turner about forgiveness, rebuilding from wreckage, and letting go of secrets when they’re too heavy to hold onto.”

“Told with touching honesty and profound sympathy, Racing the Clouds lovingly reminds us about the importance of having the hard conversations, the value of standing in another person’s shoes for a while, and the extraordinary resilience of family.”

“Sydney Dunlap does it again in this powerful sophomore novel. With wonderfully earned twists, this fast-paced, unputdownable novel centers important timely issues through the lens of a relatable protagonist. A book we need now more than ever!”

“Sydney Dunlap has unveiled a beautiful story sure to invoke classroom conversation around trust, fear, love, and family. This is a must for any library wanting stories of hope and forgiveness.”