Lo and Behold

Ages 10 to 14, Grades 5 to 9

Can a virtual reality headset help change the way twelve-year-old Addie looks at things?

Introducing an unforgettable graphic novel about connection, friendship, and the wonder all around us from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass and debut illustrator Gabi Mendez.

When you’re named after a 250-year-old tortoise, you grow up believing life is full of possibilities and wonder. But ever since Addie’s family got turned upside down, those things have been harder for her to see.

The last thing Addie wants to do is make a new friend, but when her dad’s summer job takes them across the country, she meets Mateo and finds herself caught up in an exciting project. With the help of a virtual reality headset, she’s suddenly scaling castle walls, dodging angry kittens, and seeing the world in whole new ways. Plus, she has an idea that could be bigger than anything she’s imagined before, but can she right some wrongs first . . . or is it too late?

Story Locale:unspecified midwestern college town

About the Author

Wendy Mass is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty books for young readers (which have been translated into twenty-six languages and nominated for ninety-one state awards), including the Schneider Family Book Award-winner A Mango-Shaped Space, the bestselling Willow Falls and Candymakers series, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life (which was made into a feature film), and Bob (coauthored with Rebecca Stead). Wendy’s hobbies include geocaching, virtual reality, and learning magic tricks. Lo and Behold is her graphic novel debut. She lives with her family in New Jersey and online at wendymass.com and @wenmass.

Author Residence: Sparta, New Jersey

Author Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey

Gabi Mendez is a queer Latinx comics artist and illustrator and is making her graphic novel debut with Lo and Behold. Originally from San Pedro, California, Gabi is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the sequential art master’s program at SCAD. She writes a lot of silly comics, says “dude” too much, and just wants everyone to feel included. Gabi lives in Chicago, where she’s working on her next middle-grade graphic novel.

Illustrator Residence:Chicago, Illinois