Books

"Stacey Goldblatt's engaging debut novel captures your heart from page one. Stray is a playful yet compelling look at family, first love, friendship, and true canine compatability."

-Emily Franklin, author of the Principles of Love series

"I loved this charming, quirky, honest novel about breaking free and becoming your true self! Stacey Goldblatt is a tremendous new talent."

-Melissa Senate, author of See Jane Date            and Theadora Twist

Molly O’Keefe’s boyfriend, Trevor, is moving too fast, but when she catches him kissing his ex, Molly thinks it might be her own fault. After all, it was her idea to take things slow—even though she’s usually a pushover. In fact, her best friend, Vanessa, recently talked her into buying a neon spandex Halloween costume, and her nine-year-old neighbor, Claire, somehow got her to participate in a sixteen-mile walkathon. Really, it’s a wonder Molly was able to resist Trevor’s advances at all.

    Despite Trevor’s apologies and Vanessa’s attempts to hook her up with rebound guys, Molly is utterly heartbroken. Age-old wisdom from her quirky male-dominated Irish family doesn’t console her either. Then she finds comfort in a most unusual place: Girl Corps, a club Claire belongs to. As a fifteen-year-old, Molly hardly fits the Girl Corps profile. Still, she can’t deny that being with the little girls in the group gives her a sense of confidence and identity (and that the sing-alongs and jam making are actually kind of fun too).

    But now Molly’s newly enlightened self is at odds with almost everyone in her life, including Vanessa and Rhondi, the militant Girl Corps leader. As for Trevor, he won’t leave Molly alone, and that means trouble, because whether she likes it or not, Molly still has feelings for him.

    Will Molly turn her back on what she has learned, or will she stand her ground and embrace the strong girl at her core?

“One smart teen’s compelling journey from self-doubt to self-worth, Girl to the Core is the ultimate girl power tale!”

–Daria Snadowsky, author of Anatomy of a Boyfriend

"Thanks to Goldblatt's honest, swift storytelling, readers will root for heartbroken Molly O’Keefe as she learns to stand up for herself and reconnect with the things that matter to her. The story unfolds with humor, warmth, and sympathy, celebrating the difficult but rewarding path that girls have toward discovering who they are at the core. Molly is a welcome, refreshing heroine for today's teen reader."

–Micol Ostow, author of Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa

“Beyond the girl-power message, Goldblatt's (Stray) intimate novel effectively conveys Molly's uncertainties and internal growth as she becomes more inclined to do what she believes is right.”            

-Publisher’s Weekly

"Stray is a winning novel that provides us with an important reminder: it's okay to make mistakes and break the rules, especially when it comes to love."

-Maureen Johnson, author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes