12/01/2024

Reading Level: Grade 2-3 • Interest Level: Grade 9-12

Songs for the Offseason

Available: 12/01/2024
Author: Ryan Wolf
Specs: 5 1/2” x 8 1/4” • 200 pp. • Excerpts from other Books within this Series, Written in Verse, About the Author Section, High / Low Content
HC ed.: 9781978597440 • $25.80 | $19.40
eBook: 9781978597464 • $25.80 | $19.40
Pbk. ed.: 9781978597457 • $16.35 | $14.20
It’s the summer before his senior year, and Dustin can’t wait to take a special trip to Japan with his high school baseball team. His plans are quickly dashed by the sudden death of his similarly athletic cousin. As someone focused on fitness, Dustin is deeply shaken by this loss. While attending his very first funeral, Dustin meets Andrea, the new stepdaughter of a distant relative who seems to have a playlist for every occasion. At first, Dustin dislikes her. But as the summer continues, death seems to be stalking them both. More funerals crop up, one after another, challenging Dustin’s sense of stability. Andrea is there at every gathering, each with its own flair and antics by quirky family members, trying to find meaning in the madness alongside Dustin. As they reflect on life, death, and music, they learn to embrace the weird ways people cope—and find a path forward.
“A lyrical and sweet coming-of-age story. … Wolf creates an emotional tone that beckons to readers, inviting them to reflect on their own mortality and place in the world.” —Kirkus Reviews

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About the Author:
Ryan Wolf has been writing books since he was in third grade. He has published stories, poems, essays, reviews, and journalism. He is the also the author of the YA novel Watches and Warnings, as well as the chapter-book series Creepy Critter Keepers. Ryan holds his master's degree from the University of Chicago. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois, with his wife, Jenna. Learn more about Ryan at www.ryanswolf.com.