Zia Erases the World

Word enthusiast Zia Angelis, who has "medium-fair skin," misses the days of giggling over invented portmanteaus with her two best friends, but the onset of sudden depressive episodes--which she calls Shadoom, for "the room of shadows inside me"--has isolated the sixth grader and strained her once-close relationship with her stressed single mother. Things are further disrupted when Zia's Greek Yiayia moves in with the family, bringing with her an old family dictionary whose pages are embedded with an eraser shaped like a matáki, or evil eye, charm. Finding that using the eraser to remove words from the dictionary also disappears their real-life referents, Zia begins to erase terms. To help others, she nixes audition and wasp, then moves on to those that remind her of the Shadoom; soon, Zia even gains the self-confidence to befriend cool new girl Alice Phan, who is Vietnamese. But erasing words such as fear and pain cause staggering consequences: Zia's mother quits her two much-needed jobs, and even the beloved family cat has a dangerous encounter. Featuring a witty first-person narrator and threading in myriad cultural and etymological details, Barton's (the Heart of Thorns series) lightly magical middle grade debut emphasizes a potent message about "finding light between the shadows." Ages 8-12. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (Apr.)

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Raves for Zia Erases the World

"A stunning middle grade debut full of delightful humor, inventive wordplay, and provocative questions, Zia Erases the World reminds us that it's only when we name our fears that we can truly own them."—Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award winning author

"A heartfelt and honest exploration of depression. Bree Barton handles sensitive subjects with such care and compassion, and this story reaches out to readers to say, 'I see you. You are not alone.'"—Tae Keller, Newbery Award winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

"A magical, inventive, optimistic story that never shies away from what it really feels like to be human."—Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award winning author

"A future classic. Zia's story will take you by the heartstrings and never let you go."—Marie Miranda Cruz, author of Everlasting Nora

"Barton's sparkling prose creates a striking and intimate look at middle school, family life, and the things we have to work to unwind about ourselves. A beautiful book written with equal parts compassion and spunk."—Corey Ann Haydu, author of Edgar-Award-nominated Eventown

"A moving, hopeful tale about confronting depression."—Kirkus Reviews

"Featuring a witty first-person narrator and threading in myriad cultural and etymological details, Barton's lightly magical middle grade debut emphasizes a potent message about 'finding light between the shadows.'"—Publishers Weekly

"Zia's desperation to right the world for everyone around her is endearing, even as the consequences of her rash decisions quickly erupt around her. Determined and inquisitive Zia and her search for a 'cure' to feel whole will resonate across the board—no matter what age."—Booklist

"[A] solid addition to middle grade fiction tackling mental health and intergenerational healing."—BCCB

"Barton fits a lot into the narrative—depression, dementia, economic inequality, Greek and Vietnamese heritages, the small indignities of school—without overwhelming the story."—The Horn Book