Quintessence

by Jess Redman, Caitlin Davies (Narrator)

Quintessence is an extraordinary story from Jess Redman about friendship, self-discovery, interconnectedness, and the inexplicable elements that make you you.



Find the Elements. Grow the Light. Save the Starling.

Three months ago, twelve-year-old Alma moved to the town of Four Points. Her panic attacks started a week later, and they haven't stopped--even though she's told her parents that they have. She's homesick and friendless and every day she feels less and less like herself.

But one day she finds a telescope in the town's junk shop, and through its lens, she watches a star--a star that looks like a child--fall from the sky and into her backyard. Alma knows what it's like to be lost and afraid, to long for home, and she knows that it's up to her to save the star. And so, with the help of some unlikely new friends from Astronomy Club, she sets out on a quest that will take a little bit of science, a little bit of magic, and her whole self.

This title has Common Core connections.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mental Health, Fiction, Magical Realism, Adventure, Childrens

Audio CD

First published July 28, 2020

About the author

At age six, Jess Redman published a poem entitled “I Read and Read and Read All Day” in a local anthology. She knew then, reading her printed words in a real book, that she wanted to be an author when she grew up.

She spent the next couple of decades doing things like surviving middle school, traveling around the world, becoming a therapist, and having two kids. She wrote the whole time.

Then one day, she realized that she was probably an official grown up and it was time to try to get some more of her words printed in real books.

Her middle-grade debut, THE MIRACULOUS, was published by FSG/Macmillan in 2019. Her second middle-grade, QUINTESSENCE was published in 2020, and her third, THE ADVENTURE IS NOW will be out on May 4, 2021!

She still reads and reads and reads all day.

Visit her at www.jessredman.com, on
Twitter and Instagram at @Jess_Red, or on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/pg/Jess.Redman.Books.

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly delightful and heartwarming tale about finding the strength and light inside you.

Alma moved with her parents to the town of Four Points, a town Alma is unfamiliar with and causes her panic attacks to worsen. Her parents try their best to help and understand, but even Alma can't understand her own anxiety. One day, she sees something fall from the sky - is it a girl? - and pretty soon she ends up having to band with three other kids from school to find the four elements and save the starling.

Starting with the characters, it was really nice to see anxiety and panic attacks dealt in such a great way in Alma. A lot of her internal struggles and need to keep her pain from her family is definitely relatable, and being in a new setting doesn't help. It was nice to see her (eventually) bond with the other three characters she would end up befriending - Hugo, Shirin and Dustin. Their dynamic was very vivid and different to a lot of middle grade books I've read. It was nice to see it unfold.

The chapters were very short and made this feel rather fast. Once the plot of saving the starling kicked in, it definitely went into high gear. I did enjoy watching the characters search for the elements and find ways to make sense of what has happened. There was so much to enjoy with the setting too, I loved the town and the map at the start of the book. It really added to the atmosphere with different locations, such as a mountain and caves and other little haunts you'd find in a small town.

Really enjoyed the messages conveyed in this in parallel with the search for elements, discovering the strength and light from within.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessence
By Jess Redman
Wow! I am not one to be without words but I couldn’t actually speak for a while after I finished this book. It could be because I stayed up until three in the morning to finish it but it is more because I was blown away by how wonderful this story was. I can’t help but think I am so very fortunate to be among the first to experience this delightful gift. Jess Redman has crafted a fantasy tale for the ages and I don’t think it’s too much to say that children will be reading this for many years to come.
Alma has moved from her beloved home, a place that was familiar and cozy to a new town, Four Points, which is hard and cold and NOT home. She begins experiencing panic attacks and anxiety related to the move and she retreats into herself and away from her family. The way she writes this element of Alma’s life is brilliant. As a parent of a child with anxiety and someone who deals with it to a certain extent I can say she TOTALLY nailed it…right down to the fumbling response of her worried parents. Anyone who has ever dealt with anxiety will see in Alma a kindred spirit.
Through a series of mysterious encounters and coincendences, Alma finds herself in the school’s Astronomy club with Hugo the quiet gifted student, Shirin the popular girl, and Dustin the loudmouth bully. It soon becomes clear that the mission of this club is more than studying the stars…they have to save one, and fast.
I think this book is right up there with The Wizard of Oz and The Chronicles Of Narnia for spinning a tale of another world beyond our own and showing readers that the true magic is within us all.
This is a long book but readers will not be able to put it down. I highly (and I mean HIGHLY) recommend this book for readers from 4th grade on up, lovers of fantasy, readers with anxiety, and anyone who enjoys a fantastical tale of the quintessence in us all!

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! This book was so great! A magical mystery adventure, with important issues like anxiety too. Alma was such an amazingly written MC. I think the author did a great job showing what living w/anxiety is like for many people-including kids. I think many kids(& adults)will be able to relate to Alma & feel SEEN. Alma is so fearful of everything, b/c she is fearful of having another “episode”-panic attack. I just wanted to hug her & tell her I understand & she isn’t alone.

Things start to take a turn for her when she sees a flyer that seems meant for her, she’s goes to a certain shop in town & receives something else that seems meant for her, & then joins astronomy club. She makes 2 friends at the club(Shirin & Hugo), & everything is connected. There is also a bully named Dustin who is just horrible when we first meet him. So along with anxiety, bullying is in here & it shows the impact bullying can have on kids. The main friend group w/Alma, Shirin, & Hugo was superb. I loved watching that friendship develop & grow. They are each so completely different from each other, but they just all fit together perfectly. They are helping each other in different ways as well-Alma is being helped most of all.

Alma has my heart, so does the Shopkeeper, & of course Hugo with those glasses & “robotic voice”! Lol He’s the best! Everything is so creative & fascinating from the story itself, to the stars & their backstory(as well as the shopkeepers), to the elements & “capturing them”, quintessence, & Alma & her story-including the light she feels getting brighter inside(her Alma-ness), that had been dark for the last 3 months.

This is an amazing magical quest, full of friendship, hope, determination, & light. The story is just so good, & you add in the shorter chapters, & you have a very fast read. This quest to save the starling is so much more that that too. Everybody has a struggle, even if they always seem happy on the outside you don’t really know what their life is like. NOBODY is happy all of the time. “How can you have the light without the darkness?” “The deeper you go, the truer it becomes.” Highly recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by the AMAZING Matt Rockefeller too!💜

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful middle grade novel about being true to the light within you. I loved Alma and the adventure she and her group of friends took in this story. I love that Alma recognized from the beginning that she had something special within her, but struggled with letting it grow. I loved the way mental health and anxiety were handled. Loved the adventure. I thought it was different from so many other books I've read. It was sweet and magical and filled with so much heart. This was my first Jess Redman book and I am eager to read more from her now.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan's Children's Publishing Group for the chance to read this book.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

5 big stars for my newest heart print read. I sat down to read it at just the right time, and it deeply touched me with how sensitively the author handled Alma's anxiety. As someone who also deal with mental health issues, I loved watching Alma's growth and the wonderfully supportive friends and adults who appeared throughout the story (many with sage advice that I took to heart). The story is filled with magic, and yet I was so pleased that it didn't "cure" or "fix" Alma, but brought together a cast of unlikely characters that had to learn to work together to return a star to its rightful home. This book has friendship, hope, light, and wonderful storytelling.

I highly recommend this story for readers who struggle with anxiety. Like The Spinner of Dreams by K.A. Reynolds, and How To Make Friends With The Sea by Tanya Guerrero, Quintessence is an important book to add to the conversation about mental health.

[BookishStitcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is everything I want in a middle grade. It was whimsical and magical. It made me feel like maybe I could go rescue stars, and have a magical element glowing inside of me. I could tell this book was written by a therapist because it was just so self-affirming. Wonderful!!!

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved. Must read!!! Wow! What a story!!!

[Alicia Bayer]

This is perhaps more proof that you can't judge a book by its cover, as I'm absolutely in love with this cover. My youngest daughter and I have been reading this as a bedtime book for what seems like forever but we've finally just put it aside and started another book. While the main character is likeable and the premise is exactly our sort of bedtime material (a sad, lonely girl sees a "star child" fall from the sky and must team up with some other misfit children to help the star child), it is so slow moving. From the description, I now know that she suffers from panic attacks, but it's written so that we had no idea what her "episodes" were. It was so vague that I wondered if they were anything from seizures to dissociative episodes. They were always referred to in a secretive, vague sort of way as things that had happened that she was embarrassed about and hiding from her family.

The book is just very long and very, very slow moving. We're at about 1/3 and very little has happened yet. This could be a great fit for a kids to read on their own, especially if they are fast readers. It's not working as a read-aloud though and we've shelved it, at least for now.

Digital ARC provided by Net Galley.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Redman has come up with an empowering book for middle grade readers! Alma, who leads the way in this tale, has issues. Some from within, and some have been foisted upon her by a move out of the home she loved and where she was comfortable. The new place is ok, but it's new, and that's not comfortable.

This is a tale that describes other problems cropping up in Alma's world - panic attacks, for one. A difficult time making and keeping friends, for another. In the meantime she's made one of the biggest discoveries of her life and she needs to talk to someone. Like magic, someone pops up. . .and then there is the friend thing. . .

Quintessence had me from the first page. Very enjoyable, and satisfying solutions all around without sacrificing family, friends or truth about irregularities in the human condition. Alma (and the reader) are assured those irregularities and Quintessences are not mutually exclusive. Everyone has something with which they must deal or manage or maneuver. And, BONUS!, everyone has their own version of Quintessence.

4.5 stars, rounded up with hope for that which is being sought. . .

A sincere thanks to Jess Redman, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

[Malayna Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Redman has done it again. Quintessence is beautifully written, loaded with magic, and bursting with personality. I cheered Alma through every page. She deepened my understanding of anxiety while keeping me cheering her determination and kindness. Terrific read!

[JustCharli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally found the book a bit confusing and slow but overall it was a great read and I would recommend!

[Pastels Passions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I felt seen by the anxiety representation in this work.  Additionally, I need more elemental magic in my life with realistic story as the base.

Spoiler-Free Review: amberinoface.wordpress.com/2020/07/14...

I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC with our #bookexpedition group.

Twelve year old Alma has recently moved to the town of Four Points. Since then, she’s been having panic attacks, though she hides it well from her family. She’s homesick and friendless, and each passing day has her feeling less and less like her old self.

One day she visits the town’s old junk shop and finds a special telescope, called a quintescope. Through its lens, she watches a star (that looks childlike) fall from the sky and into her backyard. Alma wants to help the star, and with some kids from Astronomy club, she sets out on a quest to do so.

With themes of friendship and self-confidence and topics like alchemy and astronomy, this middle grade novel will be a hit with readers when it publishes May 19, 2020.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As bright and magical as a falling star, Quintessence is a beautifully told story that collided with my heart and set it aglow.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This STEM-infused fantasy adventure is quirky and will fill you with quintessence.

[Anaum Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't realize i was pronouncing their names wrong until the last chapter 💀

[ThatBookGal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, unique and whimsical book.

Full review on the blog.

[Marie-Therese Precourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Miraculous, and was excited to read Jess Redman’s Quintessence, a book I’ve heard so much about. Alma is new to Four Points and is struggling to fit in. She’s been having panic attacks and can’t seem to “acclimate” the way her parents keep hoping she will. When she happens upon an open door at the Fifth Point, she heads in and finds a strange looking telescope. That telescope turns out to be a Quintescope and sets Alma on the adventure of a lifetime.

There was a lot in this book that readers will like. Alma’s adventure, the unexpected trio of friends who join her, and the mix of science and fantasy that weave this tale will be exciting for many middle grade readers. For me, unfortunately, it just moved too slowly. I wasn’t as engaged as I wished I was, and found myself pushing through some pages.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessence is a magical, wondrous book! I adored Alma, the main character, who has recently moved to a new town and is actively hiding her distress about it. The story is beautifully written and gave me chills almost constantly--with that magic-just-around-the-corner feeling. I don't want to give away too much, but know that the story had enough twists and turns that I could not put it down ... I read it in one sitting! Thrilled to have read another gem by Jess Redman!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a smile on my face for this sweet story every second I listened to it!! Because of that, this book deserves 5 stars! Yes, it's not perfect and if I wanted to be critical I could find problems, but I just loved the story of acceptance of yourself and others, being yourself always, and forgiveness!!

Trigger warning: panic attacks, but really the author did such a good job talking about them and explaining them that it was not triggering for me at all. However, just because it did not trigger me does not mean it won't trigger someone else, so I wanted to include this warning. Also bullying

[Kristina Tjaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me right in the feels. The mental health awareness made this one of the best middle grades I've read in a long time. I got The Fifth Element vibes from it, so that was an automatic win as well.

[Katie Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this "Quintessence" (and much of the follow-through), but once I realized it was written by a therapist, I couldn't "unsee it." Alma's story will speak to middle schoolers, and I enjoyed the magical realism/science elements in the book.

[K.J. Haakenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for #spacegirlsummer! This middle grade is full of heart, adventure, fallen stars, and is the type of book I wished I had in middle school. Quintessence tackles panic attacks and anxiety with understanding while also dealing with bullying, moving to a new town, and having older siblings move off to college. I've had experience with the latter two as well as anxiety so I felt very seen in Alma. Quintessence is one of the best representations of anxiety I've seen in a while. The author does a great job incorporating mental health for kids with a marvelous quest story.

[Sierra Dertinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of those heart-warming books that I'll never forget! The main character, Alma, is twelve-years-old and suffers from panic attacks and you just want to hug her and tell her you are there for her. She is so inquisitive, yet shy, brilliant, yet anxious. I know students AND adults will be able to connect with Alma because of the struggles she endures in this story. She just moved to a new town called Four Points and misses everything about Old Haven. Not only does the move make her have panic attacks, but so does this so-called bully of a kid at her new school, Dustin. Her parents are always asking her if she is "acclimating" to her new school and new town, but she doesn't know how too. Even with therapy, she just can't seem to "fit in". Until one day she discovers a flyer that seemed like it was meant for her. It featured a new Astronomy Club and she recently has become quite curious about the starry sky. The story takes a major turn for Alma as she soon meets two other kids who join the club, but are confused when no teacher comes to facilitate it. Eventually, the three find out they are destined to be together because of some strange coincidences at The Fifth Point (a shop in the center of town that seems like it is no longer a thing). Through the story the reader and Alma find out what quintessence is, what a quintescope is, and learns about the scientific happenings in the bright and beautiful sky. A magical quest begins once Alma sees a falling star which contains something that resembles a human, and she knows she must save her. This quest also allows Alma to learn more about her "Alma-ness" soon known as her quintessence. She also learns to be a listener and learn more about Dustin and how he isn't exactly who she thought he would be.

Jess Redman has crafted a book full of hope, light, unlikely friendships, and a touch of magic. I love that even though this is a lengthier book, each chapter was short and it flowed so effortlessly. Definitely one of my top favorite 2020 books!

[Laurie Hnatiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss plus, Jess Redman and publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read an ARC digital copy.

Jess Redman has come into her own as an author with her second book Quintessence. This magical realism book has a perfect blend of science and magic sparkle that will enchant readers who love science and who are trying to figure out their own identity in the world.

Alma recently moved to Four Points after her parents bought a law practice in the small town. Alma has started her new school but her anxiety is in full gear and her parents although concerned are not helpful. Nightly discussions to plan out and suggest ideas for Alma to try are compounding the problem rather than alleviating them. This all changes when she meets the Shopkeeper and is gifted a telescope and told to Find the Elements, Grow the Light and Save the Starling. Confused Alma watches the sky using the telescope that evening and sees a star falling but within the star she is sure there is a figure and instantly knows it is the Starling the Shopkeeper spoke of and must save. Now determined, she is mysteriously grouped with three other students and together they embark on a quest to save the Starling.

This story moved quickly for me and I was reminded of E.L. Konigsburg ’s The View from Saturday (which I love) and how four other students were oddly grouped together to become a formidable force. Thus is the case with Quintessence. Four completely different individuals all with different strengths, trying to figure out their place in their world come together to help a celestial being and in the process help one another. Avid readers will enjoy this story learning a little bit about astronomy, alchemy, what it means to be a family, how we are all unique and have a place in the world. A great addition for classrooms and libraries.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This is a book about finding your voice and the true essence of who you are. Alma has felt wrong ever since her family moved to a new town. She suffers panic attacks and finds her world getting smaller and smaller as the list of places she feels comfortable going shrinks. So, when she sees a falling star turn into a girl and learns that the mysterious star girl needs to be saved, she’s not so sure she’s up to the task. Luckily, she doesn’t have to go it alone, as there are four kids who each represent one of the four elements—they’re all needed to save the star. Of course, they have to figure that out together, and they have to discover where and how they can find the essence of each of their true elements as well. It all turns into a series of strange (and dangerous!) missions. The most compelling part of this story is Alma’s personal journey toward understanding her own abilities and limitations. Themes of friendship (including unlikely friendships) and family are explored. And many kids will be drawn in by the idea of a living, breathing star—they’ll find themselves wondering how far they would go to send a star back to its rightful place in the heavens.

**Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Rebecca Balcárcel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speculative fiction for middle-graders! Uprooted from her hometown and suffering from panic attacks, young Alma has lost her confidence, her sense of adventure, and her sense of self. Nothing her parents suggest is helping, and it's especially hard to adjust to a new school when a bully keeps shouting that you're a weirdo. Only a special quest and new friends can start Alma toward renewal. To shout down her inner critic and embrace her potential will take courage, collaboration, and a lot of biking around in the dark. A wise guide and an ancient book come in pretty handy, too!

This book stirs supernatural and fantastical elements into the heretofore normal life of a sixth grader. The dash of magic helps Alma find her true self and boldly shine. Her inner and outer journeys parallel each other, and the mission to help someone that is at the heart of the quest kept me turning the pages. Readers will enjoy the theme of friendship and the distinctness of each character. They'll also relate to Alma, a girl who goes from self-doubt to self-assurance. It was a joy to see Alma come into her own!

[Jeanne Ferruolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUINTESSENCE is another gorgeous read by Jess Redman. I have to say, that I think what I love best about Redman's stories is how they make me FEEL. I immediately fell in love with the setting, the mystery and the main character Alma, who suffers from panic attacks. Redman depicts this spot-on. Descriptions like, her family's recent move left her feeling "dark and Alma-less inside" and how when Alma tries to force a smile, "It made her face feel strange, like she'd put on a very tight mask," brought me right back to my own 12-year-old self and made me want to cheer on this brave but anxious girl. Soon she meets the ShopKeeper, finds a Quintescope, gathers an unlikely group of friends, and engages in a mission to find the elements and save the starling...and in the process finds her own light. I loved every bit of Alma's journey which reminds us how much real magic, and quintessence, there exists in the world--and in each one of us! This is a perfect story to be read aloud in a classroom...or (as I would have preferred when I was Alma's age) long after bedtime, with a flashlight under the covers.

[Naomi Milliner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Redman has done it again. Her follow-up to THE MIRACULOUS has the same lovely writing we've come to know, and features another tremendously sympathetic protagonist. Plus a completely original story that will keep you turning the pages.