That Smudge of Smoke

Set in the Chesapeake Bay area in 1929, That Smudge of Smoke, by Edith M. Hemingway, is a compelling work of historical fiction. After her mother dies suddenly, twelve-and-a-half year old Penelope Grace Sinclair (Piper) must go live aboard a steamboat captained by her father. Before she saw her father only twice a month when he was off-duty. Now, she must see him every day. As Piper learns how to adjust to her father and grieve for her mother, she also learns about life and work on a steamboat just before the Great Depression. To keep her company, Piper keeps a diary which she names Dorie. Magically, Dorie comes alive and tells her side of the story too. Until a mysterious accident happens that separates Dorie and Piper, and all seems lost! Then, in 2015, a boy named Garrett, who is struggling to cope with his father's traumatic injury, finds Dorie. Garrett reads Piper's story, bringing the past to life again. Because of words and music, families discover that the power of friendship can carry them through hard times. For fans of Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea) and Natalie Babbit (Tuck Everlasting), That Smudge of Smoke weaves together fantasy and history to create a heartwarming read for middle-school audiences.