Meet Me Halfway

by Anika Fajardo

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

 

A startling resemblance isn’t the only thing they have in common

When new classmates Mattie and Mercedes meet and realize they have the same Colombian dad, the two team up in a Parent Trap–inspired misadventure to meet him for the first time in this sharp and poignant middle grade novel about the bonds that make a family.

 

Finalist for the 2023
Minnesota Book Award
in Middle Grade Literature

Outstanding Achievement
in Children's Literature 2023
Wisconsin Library Association

Finalist for the
South Carolina Book Award
Junior Book Award, 2024-2025

Cover image by EJ Chong

And now available from Magellan Verlag in German!

Cover image by Simona Ceccarelli

Mattie & Mercedes
Magellan Verlag, 2024
Translated by Maria Schmidt

“Mattie’s and Mercedes’s alternating narration follows their individual internality, skillfully exploring variations on family complexity to culminate in a satisfying novel of sisterhood.”

— Publishers Weekly

 

“Told in alternating chapters, this charming middle grade novel balances moments of levity with moments of aching sadness in a way that will resonate with readers. A heartbreaking and heartfelt selection for middle grade collections.”

— School Library Journal

“The voices are perfect for seventh graders. They discover a lot about themselves and about friendship, the true meaning of family, and more. The writing is excellent, the dialogue is snappy, and the characters and story are complex. A winner!”

— San Francisco Book Review

 

“This story follows two sisters who reconnect with each other and their estranged father, while discovering more about themselves and their families. It features a ton of Colombian pride and culture and gives a look into the logistics of blending a family. If you love fun stories with plenty of heart, this is a perfect choice.”

— Reading Middle Grade

For Educators

Download Educator's Guide

Download the Educator’s Guide and blackline master of Discussion Questions.

“With its grit, humor, voice, and heart, this novel will reach readers who struggle to find peace in their families—biological or chosen.”

— Booklist

Discussion Questions

  • Why isn’t Mattie very happy that she and her mom had to move to California?

  • Have you ever had to change schools or been the “new kid”? What was it like and how did you handle it? Have you ever helped someone who was new?

  • Why doesn’t Mercedes want her friends to know that Mattie is her half-sister?

    • Have you ever had to struggle with being excluded from a group? Have you ever worked to be or become popular? Were your experiences similar or different from Mattie’s and Mercedes’s?

  • How does Mattie manage her worries?

    • Do you ever have worries? How do you handle them?

  • What is an example of Mercedes's temper ?

    • How do you act when something makes you angry? Do you think anger is good or bad?

  • What does the story of Tima and Yuí explain for the Arhuaco people?

    • What is your favorite myth or story?

  • Why do you think Mrs. Ellingham only wants the students to study Greek and Roman mythology—and not the myths of the Arhuaco?

  • What are three places that Mattie and Mercedes visit at Northern Madrone College?

    • Have you ever visited a college or university? Have you thought about whether you want to go to college? What would you like to study?

  • How do Mattie and Mercedes get punished for running away?

    • Have you ever wanted to run away? If you tried, what made you do it? If you decided not to, why did you change your mind?

“Mapcap and heartwarming.”

— Star Tribune

“Thanks to Fajardo’s keen writing, Mattie’s and Mercedes’ journeys as they bond and grow familial ties earns its sweet ending… the author bolsters strong alternating chapters from each girl’s perspective with a satisfying portrayal of a family finally brought together. Sweetly woven.”

— Kirkus Reviews

 A little more about the author

Anika is an only child but found out that she has a brother when she was an adult. She has kept a journal since she was in fourth grade, and that news definitely went in her diary!

She started writing stories and poems after reading Little Women and Anne of Green Gables, two books that have main characters who like to write. One of her favorite books was From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which inspired Mattie and Mercedes’ story.

Her love of books brought her a career in words. She has taught elementary and middle school kids, college students, and adults. Anika likes reading so much, she eventually became a librarian for both adults and children. Some of her favorite books for children now are Raymie Nightingale, See You in the Cosmos, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire, and Moving Target.

When she’s not writing, she teaches writing at Augsburg University and the Loft Literary Center.

She has never run away from home.

“A romp of a read! With memorable characters, flashes of humor, and the tension of a high-speed car chase, this book entertains on every page! Fajardo expertly weaves together two perspectives and layers in the power of myth, the legacy of separation, and the uncuttable threads of love. For kids who want to know the truth and are willing to take risks to find it. For all readers who want to see friction – between people who seem opposite, between two ways of living – make light.”

— Rebecca Balcárcel, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book The Other Half of Happy