Jennifer Mary G

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LOOKING UP by Stephan Pastis Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and
heartwarming middle grade novel about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of
life—featuring black and white illustrations throughout!

Living alone with her mother in a poorer part of town, Saint—a girl drawn to medieval knights,
lost causes, and the protection of birthday piñatas—sees the neighborhood she has always
known and loved disappearing around her: old homes being torn down and replaced by fancy
condos and coffee shops. But when her favorite creaky old toy store is demolished, she knows
she must act.

Enlisting the help of Daniel “Chance” McGibbons, a quiet, round-faced boy who lives across the
street (and whose house also faces the wrecking ball), Saint hatches a plan to save what is left
of her beloved hometown.

PRAISE FOR LOOKING UP
“Will delight readers. The story is generously illustrated with Pastis’ characteristic black-and-
white cartoon line drawings … Pastis fills this deceptively simple first-person account with
humor, puns, turns, and twists—and the final twist gives this friendship tale its surprising depth.
Words and art combine to create a moving story.” – Kirkus Reviews 
 
“Deceptively funny illustrated novel about loneliness and grief …Pastis’s distinctive, heavily
lined b&w illustrations effectively convey the protagonists’ depth of emotion via amiable
faces composed of two dots for eyes and a curve nose, while prose contains his signature
absurd humor, which lightens this meditation on mourning.”– Publishers Weekly 

“Readers will rally around Daniel, Saint, and elderly toy store owner Muffins, while seeing the
dilemmas faced by Saint’s mom and Daniel’s uncle, who are struggling to make ends meet and
care for their children. With this hilarious book and its comical black-and-white illustrations
throughout, Pastis once again reaches out to reluctant readers with a multilayered tale of loss,
grief, and growing up. With an imaginative ending that will make readers think, there is more
than meets the eye in this funny gem.”– School Library Journal
 
“A fabulous chapter book that, to an extent, doubles as an all-age graphic novel too. There’s so
much to love about Looking Up that you won’t be sure what your favorite aspect of the book is.
The humor fires on all cylinders. The heart of the book sneaks up on readers and provides a
story on dealing with the ups and downs of life, as well as the invaluable worth of a great
friend. If you’re in middle elementary school or middle school, you will love this book. It
provides those ages something to learn, but it’s wrapped alongside so much humor and fun
that it will be irresistible to all ages eight and up.” – Daddy Mojo  

Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of LOOKING UP, US ONLY.
CLICK HERE to enter the giveaway! Ends October 10th , midnight EST.

Tour Schedule: Week One:

9/25/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
9/25/2023	@hodophile_z	IG Post
9/26/2023	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
9/26/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
9/27/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Blog Spotlight
9/27/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
9/28/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
9/28/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
9/29/2023	@dharashahauthor	IG Post
9/29/2023	avainbookland	IG Review

Week Two:

10/2/2023	Get outside and read	IG Post
10/2/2023	@evergirl200	IG Review
10/3/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
10/3/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
10/4/2023	FUONLYKNEW	Review
10/4/2023	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
10/5/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/5/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
10/6/2023	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post
10/6/2023	Two Points of Interest	Review