Novels

Novels by Shelley Tougas

A Patron Saint for Junior Bridesmaids (Macmillan’s Roaring Brook, published Oct. 1, 2016)

Mary Margaret Miller is going to be a junior bridesmaid — that is, if she isn’t grounded for the rest of her life for punching school bully Brent Helsinki. Her cousin Eden is getting married, and all Eden wants is a small family ceremony, but their grandma has other plans. Eden deserves a big, spectacular wedding, and that’s exactly what she’s going to get! Mary knows it’s her job as a junior bridesmaid to save the day, but she sure could us a little help from above.

Praise for A Patron Saint for Junior Bridesmaids:

“Mary Margaret Miller is hands-down the bravest, most compassionate junior bridesmaid of all time. She touched my heart with nerve, humor and quest for understanding. I love her, and I LOVE THIS BOOK!”
– Sheila Turnage, author of the Newbery Honor Book Three Times Lucky

“Is there a Patron Saint for reading? I hope so because this book is sweet, funny, and chock full of goodness!”
– Lisa Greenwald, author of My Life in Pink and Green

Finders Keepers (Macmillan’s Roaring Brook, Sept. 2015)

From the author of The Graham Cracker Plot, a story about two friends playing finders keepers for the missing loot of Al Capone.

Christa spends every summer at the most awesome place in the whole world: her family’s cabin on Whitefish Lake in Wisconsin. Only her dad recently lost his job and her parents have decided to sell the cabin. But not if Christa can help it. Everyone knows there is Al Capone blood money hidden somewhere in Whitefish Lake, and her friend Alex’s cranky grandpa might have the key to finding it. Grumpa says the loot is gone, or worse – cursed!- but Christa knows better. If she finds it, she can keep it and save her family and their beloved cabin.

The Graham Cracker Plot (Macmillan’s Roaring Brook. Now in paperback!)

Meet Daisy Bauer and her sometimes best friend, Graham, who are determined to break Daisy’s dad out of prison in this hilarious middle-grade debut.

No one believes her, but Daisy Bauer knows her dad has been wrongfully imprisoned and that it’s up to her to break him out of jail (aka Club Fed). She has a plan that she’s calling the Graham Cracker Plot because it was all Graham’s idea. She just needs a miniature horse, a getaway truck, and a penny from 1919–the idea coin.

This funny, nail-biter of a novel is about friendship and admitting you’re wrong. Debut novelist Shelley Tougas balances humor and warmth against themes of family, broken trust, and unconditional love against all odds.