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2026 Crystal Kite Award Winner
Texas Institute of Letters Honor Winner of Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book
Kansas National Education Association Reading Circle Commission 2025 Recommended Title
2026 IPPY Awards Gold Medalist, Juvenile Fiction
2025 Northern Lights Book Award Winner – Middle Grade Fiction
2025 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist – Middle Grade Fiction
2026 Next Generation Indies Book Awards Finalist – Children’s/Juvenile Fiction
36th Annual Reading the West Book Awards Nominee – Young Readers

If thirteen-year-old Sage had done one thing differently that day last November, everything would be fine. Only she didn’t, so she and her dad had to leave Philadelphia for a new life in middle-of-nowhere Virginia. Her dad has never actually said he blames her for what happened, but how could he not?

Sage is determined to push it all out of her mind, but then, just before summer vacation, she hears from the grandparents she’s never met. They want her to visit, and she realizes this could be her chance to mend the rift that’s kept everybody apart.

When she meets Grandmother Marion, though, Sage is sure her trip is headed for disaster. Except she wasn’t counting on making a new friend or rescuing a sweet stray dog. With them by her side, maybe she can find the courage to face what she’s been avoiding all along.

From the award-winning author of It Happened on Saturday comes a heartfelt and empowering story that explores the complexity of family relationships, the value of forgiveness, and how to find your way forward in a tough situation with resilience and hope.

“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.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“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.” —Midwest Book Review

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

“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.” —Publishers Weekly

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

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

“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.”
—Lynne Kelly, author of Song for a Whale”

“Racing the Clouds is a powerful story about how someone who’s experienced devastation can once more get a hold on love and goodness. Dunlap’s voice is exceptional, and her stunning book is a new must-read for middle graders.”
—Claire Swinarski, author of What Happened to Rachel Riley?

“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.”
—Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon

“Racing The Clouds is delicately woven through the authentic voice of thirteen-year-old Sage, as she shows readers the secrets and instabilities of her dysfunctional family and how she tries to heal the hurts. 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.”
—Crystal Allen, author of Between Two Brothers and How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy

“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!”
—Meg Eden Kuyatt, author of Good Different

“A thoughtful, approachable exploration of a really difficult topic, with an endearing protagonist kids will love to root for. Dunlap explores the complex dynamics of families caught in the struggles of addiction with nuance and heart.”
—Erin Becker, author of Crushing It

“Racing the Clouds is an honest and deeply empathetic journey through a summer of big questions and unexpected answers. For a story so lifelike and relatable, it never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat.”
—Cliff Lewis, author of We the Future

“Racing the Clouds is immensely important and impossible to put down. Thirteen-year-old Sage jumps off the page as author Sydney Dunlap allows us to know her in a deep authentic way. Sage is a unique and memorable character, while her universal struggles will have readers examining their own lives for the better. I highly recommend this brilliant book.”
—Sandy Grubb, author of Just Like Click

“Dunlap’s Racing the Clouds is a deeply moving look at guilt and blame, and the importance of forgiving others—and ourselves. This is a must-read for anyone struggling with an imperfect family, who needs a reminder of the courage it takes to seek connection.”
—Leah Stecher, author of The Things We Miss

“A sensitively told and compassionate story that leads readers through pain and towards acceptance. Dunlap masterfully brings complex characters to life, making you root for them through tough times.”
—Cliff Burke, author of My Not-So-Great French Escape