Words Apart

Olive collects words. Rare words, common words, fancy words, funny words. She expresses herself by writing poetry, making crossword puzzles, and creating dictionary definitions for what she refers to as “neologisms.”

Her sister, Mattie, could not be more different. Mattie struggles with words and so instead prefers pictures, expressing herself through cartoons and sketches.

Despite their differences, the two girls are inseparable. Or at least, they were. After their dad moves away and Olive develops her first crush, the sisters’ dynamic changes. Olive wants to spend more time with people who aren’t related to her, but Mattie doesn’t want anything to change. When their dad starts acting suspiciously and Mattie’s grades begin to fall, the sisters’ relationship fractures. Olive and Mattie must discover that love isn’t always how we envision it.

PRESS

“Poetry, word play, and comics intertwine in surprising ways throughout this moving story of family and friendship.” – Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzy

“This book will expand your heart as much as it will your vocabulary. It’s a beautiful reminder that family comes in all form(at)s. Simply stupendous!” – Kate O’Shaughnessy, Newbery Honor Award-winning author of The Wrong Way Home

“A masterclass in the verse-novel, as well as a joyride for logophiles young and old.” – Lindsay Lackey, author of the award-winning All the Impossible Things

Illustrated by Phillippa Corcutt and Rachael Corcutt

Words Apart

Olive collects words. Rare words, common words, fancy words, funny words. She expresses herself by writing poetry, making crossword puzzles, and creating dictionary definitions for what she refers to as “neologisms.”

Her sister, Mattie, could not be more different. Mattie struggles with words and so instead prefers pictures, expressing herself through cartoons and sketches.

Despite their differences, the two girls are inseparable. Or at least, they were. After their dad moves away and Olive develops her first crush, the sisters’ dynamic changes. Olive wants to spend more time with people who aren’t related to her, but Mattie doesn’t want anything to change. When their dad starts acting suspiciously and Mattie’s grades begin to fall, the sisters’ relationship fractures. Olive and Mattie must discover that love isn’t always how we envision it.

PRESS

“Poetry, word play, and comics intertwine in surprising ways throughout this moving story of family and friendship.” – Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Emmie and Positively Izzy

“This book will expand your heart as much as it will your vocabulary. It’s a beautiful reminder that family comes in all form(at)s. Simply stupendous!” – Kate O’Shaughnessy, Newbery Honor Award-winning author of The Wrong Way Home

“A masterclass in the verse-novel, as well as a joyride for logophiles young and old.” – Lindsay Lackey, author of the award-winning All the Impossible Things

HarperCollins
September 23, 2025
ISBN 10 : 0358729912
ISBN : 9780358729914
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 – 12 years