Product Description
In the fifth book in Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell’s beloved series about the Baxter children, when things don’t turn out according to plan, the siblings must stick together and remember who they are.
Things are changing in Bloomington for the Baxters. When Ashley’s teacher, Mr. Garrett, takes a month off work for the birth of his baby, the intimidating Ms. Stritch takes his place. Ashley tries but can’t seem to crack the new teacher’s tough exterior. Meanwhile, Brooke struggles when a popular girl excludes her at lunch, Erin adjusts to getting glasses, and when Kari is given a dance solo for the upcoming recital, she takes her success a little too seriously.
When Principal Bond announces a new Character Awards initiative, competition breaks out between siblings and friends, until the students forget the point of the awards. Through it all, the town prepares for a major blizzard that Luke worries will cancel his class’s field trip to see the Harlem Globetrotters.
With so many obstacles in their lives, the Baxter Children have the opportunity to remember what being Baxters really means.
About the Author
Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books were developed into a TV series. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. She and her husband, Donald, live in Tennessee near their children and grandchildren.
Tyler Russell has been telling stories his whole life. In elementary school, he won a national award for a children’s book he wrote, and he has been writing ever since. In 2015, he graduated with a BFA from Lipscomb University. Soon after, he sold his first screenplay, Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle, which premiered in December of 2017 on Hallmark. Along with screenplays and novels, Tyler is a songwriter, singer, actor, and creative who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he enjoys serving his church, adventuring around the city, and spending time with his family.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1: Back to the Rock 1 Back to the Rock
ASHLEY
The Baxter family children needed a meeting.
That’s what Ashley Baxter figured. She sat with her four siblings at the dining room table that Saturday morning, hands cupped around a mug of orange juice. She leaned close to the drink and blew over the top of it. The orange juice rippled just below the rim and splashed over the sides.
Luke stared at her. He was the youngest. “Why do you blow on it?” Luke kneeled on the chair and leaned nearly all the way across the table, using his elbows as supports. “It’s not hot.”
“It is to me, Luke.” Ashley remembered to smile. “It’s my own personal almost-coffee. Because I’m in a thinking mood.” She patted Luke’s head. “You’ll understand when you’re my age.”
Ashley was in fifth grade. Luke was in second. He wouldn’t know anything about hard mornings or remembering to smile. But today was especially hard for Ashley for one reason. The same reason they needed a meeting. Two words:
Character and awards.
“Ashley.” Brooke smiled at her from the kitchen, where she was helping Mom make French toast. “If you think life is hard now, just wait. Middle school is right around the corner.”
“No, thank you.” Ashley swapped a look with Kari. “We’re never growing up, right, Kari?” Kari was in sixth grade, and she and Ashley shared a room. Next year Kari would be in middle school, too.
“That’s the deal.” Kari nodded. “Never grow up.”
Dad walked into the kitchen. “Something smells great!” He hugged Mom and grinned at Brooke. “Another perfect winter Saturday for the Baxter family.”
Ashley blew at a wisp of her brown hair. “I’m not sure about that, Dad.” She looked at Erin, thei
