The Infinity Year of Avalon James

August 22, 2016
“When you’re ten years old, your life’s really starting to open up. It’s just kind of a special time, a magical time when anything can happen, where the possibilities are endless.” After a tough year in which Avalon James saw her father go to prison, she and her best friend Atticus are counting on these words from Atticus’s grandfather—and on the magical possibility of “Infinity Year powers,” which supposedly kick in at age 10 and last for a year. But as the months march on, Avie isn’t having luck recognizing any new superpowers in her life. The potentially heavy theme—a parent in prison and the social isolation that follows—is well balanced by Avie’s humor and hope. As she works to be a champion speller, a few mistakes (both spelling and social) lead to severe consequences, but also give her a greater understanding of her father’s mistakes. Blending realism with just a touch of magic, Middleton’s debut novel demonstrates a keen awareness of the infinite possibilities of childhood. Ages 8–12. Agent: Susan Hawk, Bent Agency.