The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair

Guinevere St. Clair, known as Gwyn, moves from New York City to the small town of Crow, Iowa, with her family in hopes of aiding her mother Vienna's recovery from a traumatic brain injury that has left her unable to remember anything beyond her teenage years. As Gwyn and her sister Bitty adjust to their new environment, they befriend neighbors Micah and Jimmy. When a local farmer, Wilbur Truesdale, goes missing, Gwyn becomes determined to solve the mystery, leading her to uncover unexpected truths about her family and community.​

Recommendation: This heartfelt and engaging novel is recommended for readers aged 8–12 who enjoy character-driven stories that blend mystery with themes of family, resilience, and self-discovery. Amy Makechnie crafts a compelling narrative that resonates with both young readers and adults. The book was a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award for Middle Grade & Children's in 2018.​

Ideal for:

• Middle-grade readers interested in contemporary mysteries​
• Fans of stories exploring family dynamics and personal growth​
• Readers who appreciate narratives set in small-town environments​

Similar Reads:

• The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin​
• Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage​
• Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan​

Stylistic Features:

• First-person narrative providing an intimate look into Gwyn's thoughts and experiences​
• Rich character development and descriptive prose that brings the setting to life​
• A blend of humor and poignancy that captures the complexities of growing up​

Content Warnings: The novel addresses themes of memory loss and family illness, which are handled sensitively but may require discussion for younger readers.