Now You Say Yes

Two recently orphaned siblings embark on an unforgettable cross-country road trip in search of their place in the world.

When her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Mari is desperate to avoid being caught up in the foster system....again. And to complicate matters, she is now the only one who can take care of her super-smart and on-the-spectrum nine-year-old stepbrother, Conor. Is there anyone Mari can trust to help them? Certainly not her mother's current boyfriend, Dennis. Not the doctors or her teachers, who would be obliged to call in social services.

So in a desperate move, Mari takes Conor and sets out to find their estranged grandmother, hoping to throw themselves at the mercy of the only person who might take them in. On their way to New England, the duo experiences the snarls of LA traffic, the backroads of the Midwest, and a monumental stop in Missouri where they witness the solar eclipse, an event with which Conor is obsessed.

Mari also learns about the inner workings of her stepbrother's mind and about her connections to him and to the world...and maybe even a little about her own place in it. This heartwarming, fast-paced, and engaging middle grade novel is a beautiful exploration of identity and family.

Bill Harley is a storyteller, songwriter, author, and playwright best known for his work with children and families. Considered by fans and peers alike to be one of the best storytellers in the country, his work is a celebration of commonality and humanity, delivered through comic narrative songs and confessional spoken pieces.
 
A prolific recording artist, Bill has produced thirty-five award-winning recordings, garnering two Grammy awards, numerous Parents' Choice awards, and recognition from the American Library Association and the National Parenting Association. Entertainment Weekly describes Harley as "the Mark Twain of contemporary kids’ music", Publishers Weekly says, "Harley's witty ebullient performance will have listeners laughing out loud", and the Washington Post describes Harley as "…a champion yarn-spinner and tunesmith with a sense of wonder, whimsy and mischief…" Visit him at www.billharley.com.


Bill not only traveled the same highways as Mari and Conor to write their story, but he also invented the fictitious girls' band that entertains them while they're on the road (and wrote all their songs!).