Staff Book Pick of the Week: The Decoding of Lana Morris

This week's pick is The Decoding of Lana Morris by Laura & Tom McNeal (YA MCNEAL).

16-year old Lana Morris has not had an easy life by any stretch of the imagination. Shuttled around various foster homes since her mom took off, Lana is currently living in a house with a foster dad whose caring concern goes a little too far, a foster mom who only cares about herself, and four foster siblings who all have special needs. At the same time she's trying to break into the crowd that her next door neighbor Chet hangs with, only they want nothing to do with her. One day on a drive with Chet and his friends (Lana has to ride in the trunk), she buys a drawing set at an antique store. Before she realizes what's happening, everything she draws on the paper from the set seems to come true. Determined to create a few happy outcomes in a household of mostly sad ones, Lana starts drawing with a purpose, only to discover that some wishes don't come out like you've planned. Will Lana be able to create a drawing that will makes things turn out okay? Will she come to understand who her real friends are? Find out in The Decoding of Lana Morris.