Wish I Were Here

This charming and nuanced tale of opposites attracting from Wiesner (It All Comes Back to You) follows Pittsburgh math professor Catherine Lipton, who likes her life to be precise and ordered—something she never experienced while growing up with a free-spirited father who largely makes his living through juggling. Now Catherine’s up for a tenure track job at the local university—only for it to be discovered, much to Catherine’s shock, that there are no government records of her existence. Her Social Security number doesn’t exist. Her birth certificate is a fake. Catherine enlists help from her building’s carefree and charismatic doorman, Luca Morelli, who seems to have a family connection in every local government agency, as well as some in the mob. Luca’s seeming carelessness drives Catherine crazy—until he demonstrates that he has hidden depths, true empathy, and a talent for getting to the truth. As they look into Catherine’s mysterious origins, Luca also shows Catherine the benefits of enjoying the little things in life. The characters feel fully three dimensional, their connection rings true, and their investigation keeps the pages flying. Wiesner will have readers hooked. (Oct.)