The Things We Miss

"Magical and heartbreaking! You will read this book in one gulp." - Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times-bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish

When You Reach Me meets Starfish in this heartfelt contemporary middle grade about a misfit girl who finds a way to skip all of the hard parts of life.

J.P. Green has always felt out of step. She doesn't wear the right clothes, she doesn't say the right things, and her body...well, she'd rather not talk about it. And seventh grade is shaping up to be the worst year yet. So when J.P. discovers a mysterious door in her neighbor's treehouse, she doesn't hesitate before walking through. The door sends her three days forward in time.

Suddenly, J.P. can skip all the worst parts of seventh grade: Fitness tests in P.E., oral book reports, awkward conversations with her mom...she can avoid them all and no one even knows she was gone.

But can you live a life without any of the bad parts? Are there experiences out there that you can't miss?

This moving middle grade novel about mental health, body acceptance, and self-confidence asks what it truly means to show up for the people you love-and for yourself.

A 2025 ALA Notable Title

Author: Leah Stecher
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 05/07/2024
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.70w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781547613021

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.7
Point Value: 8
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 523663 / Things We Miss


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/19/2024
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2024
Kirkus Reviews 03/15/2024
Booklist 05/01/2024 pg. 52
Foreword 04/25/2024
Shelf Awareness 12/12/2024
School Library Journal 06/01/2024 pg. 80

About the Author

Leah Stecher was born and raised in Southern California and currently lives in coastal Maine. By day, she edits policy papers for an environmental nonprofit; by night, she writes middle grade fiction. She has strong opinions on tea blends, chocolate chip cookie recipes, and action movies.
@leahstecher