Crossing the Pressure Line

Honorable Mention for the Tofte/Wright Children's Book Award of Wisconsin

Silver Finalist in Children's Fiction for the Midwest Book Awards

Silver Winner in Young Reader Fiction for the Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Awards

Twelve-year-old Clare Burch has just lost the person she loves most in the world. She wonders if her feelings of sorrow and self-blame over her grandfather's death will ever go away.

Out of the blue, a special request sends Clare on a journey from her home in Chicago to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. She knows that she must honor Grandpa Anthony's last wishes, even though they completely upend her summertime plans.

Clare heads to rural Alwyn with her little blind dog and a duffel bag full of worries. What will she do without her best friends and swim team? Who will take her fishing and spoil her with candy now that her grandfather is gone? And most important, is she strong enough to let him go, forever?

During her summer up north, Clare stumbles upon the answers to her many questions. Even more, as she makes peace with why she couldn't save Grandpa Anthony, she ends up rescuing someone else from danger.

Above all, Clare learns to listen to the courageous voice inside-and discovers just how tough she really is.

A Wisconsin native, Laura Anne Bird grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in English. She lives in Madison with her husband, three teenagers, and little blind dachshund. When she's not reading, writing, or reviewing books, she loves to exercise and explore the outdoors. Crossing the Pressure Line is her first novel. You can find her on Instagram @laura_at_the_library.