Phoebe Stone transitioned from a successful career as a fine art painter to captivating young readers. Her background in visual arts, marked by a unique, brightly colored narrative and metaphorical style, influenced many regional artists. Stone found she could merge her passion for images and words in picture books, often building upon her previous work in sequences. Her prose is celebrated for its poetic quality, earning acclaim for her novels and recognition for her illustrated works.
Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows Felicity Bathburn in Bottlebay, Maine, as she navigates family dynamics with her quirky relatives and her affection for their foster child, Derek. Tension escalates when a man appears, claiming to be Derek's biological father, raising unsettling questions that lead Felicity to doubt his intentions and protect those she cares about.
Set in Paris, a twelve-year-old girl named Petunia begins to emerge from the shadow of her favored half-sister, Ava. As she navigates new friendships and uncovers family secrets, Petunia discovers a surprising talent for dress design inspired by classic French dolls. This newfound confidence creates tension with Ava, who struggles to cope with Petunia's blossoming creativity and independence, leading to a compelling exploration of sibling rivalry and self-discovery.
In a small, Virginia town, sixth-grader Jessie Lou Ferguson has a crush on the hugely popular Conrad Parker Smith, and when he suddenly develops a medical problem and the teacher asks Jessie Lou to help him, they become friends, to her surprise.