The Swift Boys & Me

Book excerpt: New York Times bestselling author Kody Keplinger's wonderful middle-grade debut! The lyrical and moving middle-grade debut from YA author Kody Keplinger!Twelve-year-old Nola Sutton has been best friends and neighbors with the Swift boys for practically her whole life. There's the youngest, Kevin, who never stops talking; the oldest, Brian, who's always kind and calm; and then there's Canaan, the ringleader and Nola's best-best friend. Together, they have a summer of fun adventures planned. But then everything changes overnight. When the boys' dad leaves without even saying good-bye, it completely destroys the Swift family, and all Nola can do is watch. She tries to hold on to them, but they are changing. Kevin stops talking, Canaan starts hanging out with mean boys, and Brian is never around. Nola just wants things to go back to the way they were -- the way they've always been.Is Nola strong enough to save the Swift boys from themselves, or has she lost them forever?