Happy Release Day!
Congratulation Kimberly
on the release today of
Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances!
Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna
Middle Grade, 170 pages
Published March 3 by Willow River Press
A heartwarming and magical middle-grade adventure about grief, guilt, and the power of connection.
Thirteen-year-old Lola is determined to honor her perfect twin sister, who died in an accident Lola can’t forgive herself for. To make things right, she’s on a mission to complete their Perfect Pairs Collection—but one mistake lands her in serious trouble. Now, instead of facing reform school, Lola must spend August with her eccentric, agoraphobic Uncle Milo in his crumbling mansion on the Connecticut River.
What begins as punishment quickly turns into a summer full of strange discoveries: a Zen garden gone wrong, a holographic projector spitting ghostly messages from her late aunt, a mysterious houseboat, and even a wandering wolf. As Lola races to complete her lucky baker’s dozen of perfect pairs, she starts to realize that magic isn’t about collections or luck—it’s about healing, forgiveness, and finding where she truly belongs.
Perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and Anne Ursu, this touching, funny, and imaginative story explores family, loss, and the courage it takes to let go.
My thoughts about Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"My name is Lola. I am a thief."
This story grabbed me from the very first lines. Since I had already read one of this author's stories, I knew this tale was going to be another exciting adventure.
Lola feels like an outcast in her own family. When she is sent away to spend a month with a quirky uncle as her punishment for stealing, she discovers a world full of caring people who just want to help. She takes on the quest of trying to make her uncle happy and accepting of his life as it is now, after the death of his wife. With a full community behind her, it just may happen.
Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances was a wonderful story of second chances, just like the title says, but also a story of the strength and determination of others when they all pull together for a common cause. This was a delight to read and would be enjoyed by all middle graders.
I received a copy of Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances from BooksForward and this is my honest opinion.
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An Interview with
Kimberly Behre Kenna
How does your teaching background influence your writing?
I’ve spent most of my adult life working with kids in one way or another. My teaching years were filled with my own learning about the power of play, asking big questions, and finding connections, all of which infuse my writing. I loved my students’ sense of humor, their bravery, and I was curious about their shifting social dynamics! These firsthand insights help me craft characters and conflicts that resonate and reflect both the chaos and wonder of growing up. I write books that I would have used in my classroom to foster deep discussions and promote a sense of community.
What was your inspiration for “Lola Gillette,” the third book in your Brave Girls collection?
My two main inspirations were a visit to Gillette Castle State Park here in CT and growing up with twin younger sisters. My first visit to the park was during the pandemic, and as we hiked the trails with the castle in the background, I was enthralled by the beauty of the woods above the CT River and was intrigued by the castle and the life of its former owner, William Gillette. A perfect setting for a mysterious adventure! I’d always been curious about my twin sisters’ energetic connection as well as their stark differences, and I wondered how they’d survive if they were ever separated. As with my previous two books, I let “what-if” questions lead the way into Lola’s story.
What strengths do the characters in this book have? What does being quirky mean to you?
In my opinion, being quirky is a strength. Having unusual interests, thinking differently, and connecting things that don’t usually go together leads to exceptional creativity in problem solving, the arts, and life in general. Some consider reclusive Uncle Milo odd because of his huge clan of cats, his interests in gardens and floral design, and his desire to sculpt wooden door locks that are puzzles to solve. Based on real-life actor and inventor William Gillette, Milo’s quirks are gifts for all. Lola is impulsive but insightful, and her self-awareness ultimately allows her to rely on her flawed but beautiful self as opposed to magic. My characters are resilient and open to learning beyond what they believe is true…once they get out of their own way!
Why do we need middle-grade novels that highlight difficult topics, and how do we write such books in an age-appropriate way? How can books provide validation and healing for struggling kids?
Middle-grade novels that address difficult topics help young readers see their own struggles reflected and named, offering both validation and hope. As an author, it’s my responsibility to balance authenticity with sensitivity and contain it all within an engaging story infused with humor and hope. Critique partners and sensitivity readers help me do this appropriately, in a way that draws kids in without overwhelming them. If readers share a character’s challenges, it reassures them they’re not alone. For those unfamiliar with those challenges, the characters provide insights into different ways of living that inspire empathy in readers.
How can teachers, parents and social workers/therapists use fiction books as a way to discuss difficult topics, and why should they?
Fiction offers a safe, indirect way for kids to explore hard truths without feeling personally exposed. Discussing difficult topics via book groups or a family read helps children name emotions, ask questions, and build language for things they may not yet understand. It also supports connection and trust, showing that no feeling or experience is too big for conversation. These kinds of stories reveal various possible roadmaps for dealing with challenges, showing young readers that transformation and healing are possible.
How are writing and reading transformative and empowering for all ages, but especially important for kids?
Writing and reading allow people of all ages to make sense of their experiences, imagine possibilities, and find their voice, and for kids, this power is magnified. Writing gives them agency, a way to reshape their world via thoughtful questions and imagination. Just think, we can write about our past experiences and change those stories’ endings in whatever way we want! Sharing writing with others takes bravery, resulting in a deeper understanding of others and ourselves. Regardless of our differences, reading and writing are ways to recognize our similarities and the role each of us plays in this one gigantic web of life.
What’s next for you? Do you have plans to continue the Brave Girls collection?
I’m working on final revisions of a mystical YA novel that features a brave girl and boy trying to untangle mysteries in an unpredictable forest. A fourth MG is in the works, but I’m only on the first draft. That protagonist is still trying to teach me a few things, and she definitely has a lot to say!
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About the author
After years as an adolescent and family counselor, and then as a fifth grade teacher of ecology and language arts, Kimberly returned to school for her MA in creative writing from Wilkes University.
Her middle-grade novel, Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade (Regal House/Fitzroy) was a finalist and received Honorable Mention in the 2019 Tassy Walden New Voices in Children’s Literature Competition. Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm (Black Rose) is the second book in her Brave Girls Collection. A third in the collection, as yet unpublished, won second place in The Institute of Children’s Literature 2022 MG Mystery Contest.
Her poems and stories have been published in American Writers Review, Mused, Plumtree Tavern, and Rubbertop Review. Her full-length play, Ana’s Hummingbird, was given a staged reading at The Dramatists Guild in NYC. She’s a member of SCBWI and PEN America, and now devotes herself to writing full time.
Connect with Kimberly
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