A stray dog leads to major change for Cordy and her grieving family in this heartwarming novel by the beloved author of Counting by 7s. “It’s impossible to read a book by Holly Goldberg Sloan without coming away wiser, kinder, and happier. She is a singular talent indeed.”—Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal–winning author of The One and Only Ivan Cordy Jenkins is searching for something that will change her life, and for the safety that vanished when her father died. She is convinced that if she just tries hard enough, she will find part of what her family lost, which will stop her mom from wanting to leave the small town she and her little brother have always called home. What Cordy finds instead is a muddy, hungry little dog with bad breath. And he's the start of her family's new beginning. You’ll fall in love with Cordy and her family as they fall in love with the stray pup named Lost. Full of unforgettable moments, family, and warmhearted humor, Finding Lost is a tender story of making peace with the inevitable truth: that change is a constant, and that after profound loss there is still always the possibility of unexpected joy. “ Finding Lost is a moving gem of a dog story, full of love and life and heart and healing.”—Dan Gemeinhart, bestselling author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise “This is a tender, funny, and utterly charming novel that shows us life through a grieving middle schooler's eyes as she learns that change doesn't always mean loss.”—Alison McGhee, award-winning author of Telephone of the Tree “It’s impossible to read a book by Holly Goldberg Sloan without coming away wiser, kinder, and happier. She is a singular talent indeed.”—Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan “I loved this engaging story with its endearing characters and immensely satisfying ending.”—Ann Martin, Newbery Honor-winning author of A Corner of the Universe ★"Sloan populates her story with well-realized adult characters who genuinely show up for children. The Oregon setting isn’t mere backdrop; Cordy’s fascination with marine life, from molting crabs to a rare pink dolphin, is woven seamlessly into her emotional journey. Sloan’s gentle wisdom shines through: “So much stuff is how you choose to see it.”— Kirkus, starred review ★"Cordy’s unrealized passion for the ocean as well as her open-minded ponderings about life add depth to the leisurely paced narrative, while perceptive, kindhearted adult characters ground this hopeful story in a sense of community. ” —Publishers Weekly, starred review "First-person narration invites the reader into Cordy's introspective mind, as she follows her curiosity and learns not all change is bad. A fabulous cast of characters, from the loving librarian to Button's elderly neighbor, make this small Oregon town feel real. ” —Booklist "Sloan writes with vivid sensory details and a love for the natural world that Cordy shares. The characters are strong and likable, and the kind adults helping Cordy along the way add warmth to the story. Middle grade readers will root for Cordy’s family and the happiness they find after Lost comes into their lives.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Holly Goldberg Sloan (HollyGoldbergSloan.com) is the author of nine previous novels, including the E. B. White Read-Aloud Honor Book Counting by 7s, the New York Times bestseller Short, and the Christopher Award–winning The Elephant in the Room . After graduating from Wellesley College, she worked in commercial production and in her twenties began writing family feature films, including Angels in the Outfield and Made in America. She was the first woman to direct a live action film for the Walt Disney Company when she directed (and wrote) The Big Green. The mother of two sons, she and her husband, Gary Rosen, live in Los Angeles. 1. It’s always windy here. I live on the Oregon coast in a one-hundred-year-old wooden building that was supposed to store fishing stuff. At some point, a bathroom was put in. Then later what my mom calls “the worst kitchen in the world” was added. Mom says when she closes her eyes, she smells all the years of salty, slimy fishing nets. I don’t want to break it to her, but you can smell the past in here with your eyes open too. What we call the boathouse, even if it never held a boat, sits high up the bank five hundred yards from where the Siuslaw River hits the Pacific Ocean. But when we look out the front window, we don’t see water. Our view is of the Big House, which is the fancy place that the McKern family owns. This is their second home and they visit only a few times a year. In August, they always show up for ten days. That’s when Oregon weather can fool a person. It’s warm, but never hot. The rain and cold air go on a short summer vacation and the fog that normally pushes down on my town disappears. People drive up from California and some of them make a big mistake and bu