Breathing Room [Paperback]

Evvy Hoffmeister is thirteen years old when her family brings her to Loon Lake Sanatorium to get cured of tuberculosis (TB). Evvy is frightened by her new surroundings; the rules to abide are harsh and the nurses equally rigid. But Evvy soon falls into step with the other girls in her ward. There's Sarah, quiet but thoughtful; Pearl, who adores Hollywood glamour; and Dina, whose harshness conceals a deep strength. Together, the girls brave the difficult daily routines. Set in 1940 at a time of political unrest throughout the U.S. and Europe, this thought-provoking novel sheds light on a much-feared worldwide illness. Hundreds of thousands of people died each year of TB, and many ill children were sent away to sanatoriums to hopefully recover.

Marsha Hayles'Breathing Roomis a masterful novelboth eloquent and movingthat gives voice to those who fought hard to overcome the illness.

A moving and well-wrought story. School Library Journal

A quiet, sober story of a genuine heroine who survives a devastating disease with grace. Kirkus

&a perfect read& Horn Book

Hayles's sympathetic characters and detailed account is complemented by historical documents and photos throughout. Publishers Weekly

Hayles's evocative, airy imagery gives wing to her rhyming verse. Publishers Weekly on The Feathered Crown

Unadorned, gracefully rhyming text is partnered with delicate watercolor illustrations, resulting in a gentle perspective . . . that will strike a chord with nature lovers and young children settling down to sleep. School Library Journal on The Feathered Crown

The snappy text uses natural, unforced rhymes and repetition to great effect. . . . This book demands to be read aloud. The energy contained within coulƒ˝