Back to the Bright Before

Author Katherin Nolte Illustrated by Jen Bricking

Grades 6-8 Ages 8-12

A magical adventure about two brave siblings determined to find a treasure that could save their family -- now in paperback!

When eleven-year-old Pet Martin’s dad falls from a ladder on their family farm, it isn’t just his body that crashes to the ground. So does every hope her family had for the future. Money is scarce, and Pet’s mom is bone-tired from waiting tables at the local diner, and even with the extra hours, it’s not enough for a third surgery for Pet’s dad. Her five-year-old brother, Simon, now refuses to say anything except the word “cheese.” Worst of all? The ladder accident was Pet’s fault.

She’s determined to fix things—but how? Good old-fashioned grit…and maybe a little bit of magic. 

When a neighbor recites a poem about an ancient coin hidden somewhere on the grounds of the local abbey, Pet forms a plan. With her brother, a borrowed chicken, and a stolen pony, Pet runs away from home. If she can find the coin, Daddy can have his surgery, Momma can stop her constant working, and Simon might speak again. But Pet isn't the only one who wants the coin…which means searching for it is more dangerous than she ever imagined. 

This dazzling debut novel filled with magic, family, and adventure is sure to be an instant classic.

Available Formats

Trade Paperback 9780593565131
Hardcover 9780593565100
eBook 9780593565124
Unabridged Audiobook Download 9780593679715
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