Dori Hillestad Butler and Sunshine Bacon — 'Rabbit Rabbit'

Third Place Books is delighted to welcome Dori Hillstead Butler and Sunshine Bacon to our Lake Forest Park store for the release of their new middle grade book, , in which tween cousins Alice and Bee make space for their friendship and shifting identities while standing up to their far-from-perfect family, with all the love and grace they can muster. This event is free and open to the public.

For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!

Twelve-year-olds Alice and Bee are practically strangers when their grandparents’ anniversary party reunites their estranged families and ignites their own fast friendship.
But their reunion doesn’t last long—Bee’s mother and grandfather are dead set on keeping the liberal Seattle faction of the family away from the conservative Minnesota crew. “It’s complicated,” the grown ups tell them over and over (and over!) again.
Bee and Alice grow closer despite their geographical distance, determined to keep their friendship going—and to uncover the big family secret. What happened all those years ago, and why did it tear their family apart?
Just when they've started to make progress, the COVID pandemic strikes. Bee and Alice watch as the world shuts down and their loved ones grow further divided along their fractured lines. Somehow, it’s up to the twelve-year-olds to clean up the mess that the grown ups have made.
This powerful, timely story cuts deep, touching on recent historic events and intimate family details alike. With an age-appropriate approach, Rabbit Rabbit tackles religion, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and other juicy stuff you're not supposed to talk about at Thanksgiving.
Readers will fall headfirst for Alice and Bee as the unforgettable tweens make space for their friendship and shifting identities while standing up to their far-from-perfect family, with all the love and grace they can muster.

Dori Hillestad Butler is the author of more than 60 books for young readers including the two-time Geisel Honor award winning King & Kayla series and the Edgar award winning Buddy Files series. Her books have been named to ALSC Notable, CCBC Choice, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, Junior Library Guild, Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Younger Readers and many state award lists. She grew up in southern Minnesota, spent 19 years in Iowa, and now lives in Kirkland.

Sunshine Bacon is the author of two YA novels. She is a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She loves prime numbers, tabletop games, roller derby, and any kind of conundrum. As a child, she was drawn to people’s stories, and she remains eager to learn how you met your best friend or got that scar. In her relentless pursuit of stories, Sunshine asks lots of questions and travels widely. She lives in Seattle with her partner and three children.

Founded in 1998 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, Third Place Books is dedicated to the creation of a community around books and the ideas inside them. With locations in Lake Forest Park and Seattle's Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, Third Place Books is proud to serve the entire Seattle metro area. Learn more about their event series at thirdplacebooks.com/events.

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