That Smudge of Smoke

After her mother dies suddenly, twelve-and-a-half year old
Penelope Grace Sinclair (Piper) must go live aboard a
steamboat captained by her father. Before she saw her
father only twice a month when he was off-duty. Now, she
must see him every day.
As Piper learns how to adjust to her father and grieve for her mother,
she also learns about life and work on a steamboat just before the
Great Depression.
To keep her company, Piper keeps a diary which she names
Dorie. Magically, Dorie comes alive and tells her side of the
story too. Until a mysterious accident happens that separates
Dorie and Piper, and all seems lost!
Then, in 2015, a boy named Garrett, who is struggling to
cope with his father's traumatic injury, finds Dorie. Garrett
reads Piper's story, bringing the past to life again. Because
of words and music, families discover that the power of
friendship can carry them through hard times.
For fans of Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea) and
Natalie Babbit (Tuck Everlasting), That Smudge of Smoke
weaves together fantasy and history to create a
heartwarming read for middle-school audiences.