Bella Rose was never meant to be ordinary. By the age of three, her brilliance is undeniable-numbers, patterns, puzzles falling into place with an ease that leaves adults stunned. Like a young prodigy in the vein of Bobby Fischer, Bella rises quickly, her talent pulling her into the spotlight of puzzle competitions.
But genius has a cost.
At home, life is anything but stable. Her mother, Roxanne, loves her in her own fractured way-but love doesn't keep the lights on, remember birthdays, or protect a child from danger. Left alone in a sweltering trailer for hours on end, Bella learns early that survival is its own kind of puzzle.
When Carl enters their lives, he seems like a solution-a steady presence, a chance at something better. But appearances can deceive. As Bella's winnings grow, so does Carl's interest, and his plans for her future begin to look less like support...and more like control.
Older and wiser, Bella starts to see the truth. She wants out of competitions, out of the life being built around her, and into the safety she's only ever glimpsed with Alice, the one adult who truly sees her.
But escape isn't simple.
A devastating turn of events, tangled with legal consequences, traps Bella in a life she never chose. And this time, there's no easy answer waiting to be solved.
So, she creates one.
With the guidance of her therapist-and a mind wired to find patterns where others see chaos-Bella sets out to solve the most dangerous puzzle she's ever faced:
her own life. Step into Bella Rose's world of high-stakes puzzle competitions, where brilliance shines-but resilience defines the true victory. Read Karen Stegman-Bourgeois's other books:
Elephants Sneak Out (Babies)
Trollerella (2-5)
The Trouble with Rover (2-5)
Whoosh (4-7)
Santa's Christmas Caper (1-6)
The Sunspot (2-5)
Rapping Rapunzel (7-10)
The Seven Gifts (7-10)
Beyond Locker 101 (8-12)
Blurry Around the Edges (8-12)
Unfinished Business: A Haunting Adventure (Adult)
Requiem: When the World Broke (Adult)
Fridays: Be Careful What You Wish For (Adult)
