Libby lost and found

More than a feel-good, hopeful tribute to the power of imagination, Libby Lost and Found also explores what happens when creative strings fall apart, shattering the fictional worlds that keep us comfortable. Booth's debut novel follows its titular character, the anonymous author of a well-known fictional series, on a journey following her dementia diagnosis to elicit the help of a young fan, Peanut Bixton, in finishing her story. Libby's and Peanut's shared experiences of loneliness, anxiety, parental loss, and escapism through fiction evokes a touching portrayal of the expansive ways through which adults can connect to children, their own childhoods, and even the childlike aspects of their grown-up worldviews. Narratively upbeat, with excerpts from Libby's fictional series, media cut-outs reporting on her work, and other innovative forms, Booth also creates a compelling archive of celebrity authorship and its significance in modern society. Even in dark, solemn parts where familial secrets result in serious consequences, this quirky novel illuminates the worthwhile leaps of faith taken to imagine how to better care for one another.

In Booth's whimsical if half-baked debut, a beloved children's author enlists a fan to help her finish a book. Libby Weeks, 40, is writing the highly anticipated conclusion to her popular fantasy series, published under the pseudonym F.T. Goldhero, when she's diagnosed with early dementia. Flailing, Libby turns to Peanut Bixton, a devoted and prolific fan she meets on the internet, who turns out to be an 11-year-old girl. Like the protagonist of Libby's series, Peanut is adopted and searching for her real parents. Peanut points out that there are plenty of other eerie similarities between her town in Colorado and the world in Libby's books, such as a mysterious stranger who gives her a ride home one day, and who resembles Libby's villain. As Libby's dementia worsens and she misses deadlines, her publisher turns up the pressure, while Peanut learns about her origins. Booth leaves a few plot threads unresolved, such as a campaign to uncover Goldhero's identity, and hints of fantastical ties between Peanut's life and Libby's work fail to bear fruit. Still, Booth ably evokes the logic of a child's imagination in her portrayal of Peanut. Here's hoping the author's next effort will realize her potential. Agent: Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management. (Oct.)