Clouds over California

“Stevie's path to empowerment is both touching and inspiring. This captivating read is an honest reminder of where we've been and what we've overcome; it is an absolute gem!”

“Set against the dreamy backdrop of 1970s Santa Monica, Clouds over California is a touching story about the difficulties of accepting change and the importance of being true to yourself. I absolutely loved spending time in Stevie’s world.”

“My heart! Clouds over California is one of those stories that nourishes the spirit and fills the soul. Deeply moving and refreshing, Stevie’s story surprised me in every good and meaningful way. I tore through it in one sitting and then wanted to sit with it, like a new but already dear friend.”

“Clouds over California is a taste of history with the thrills of mystery and brims with family secrets. Karyn Parsons created a sweet, heartfelt story filled with curiosity and hope.”

"A relationship-driven novel that is strongest in its portrayal of one girl’s journey."

"It’s a compelling, complicated story that touches on huge topics—racist microaggressions, police profiling, feminism, divorce—but keeps it all focused through Stevie’s wonderfully compassionate and curious lens. A fascinating and intimate snapshot of familial and personal transformation and the power in finding your voice."

"Told through a spirited first-person perspective, this earnest novel by Parsons (How High the Moon) seamlessly connects key historical moments during the Black Power movement, social politics, and evergreen tween conflicts surrounding agency and independence."

"[The protagonist] narrates her own story with a healthy mix of believable naivete and enviable emotional maturity as she turns twelve and starts junior high with an outlook readers have reason to be optimistic about, despite so much to remain enraged by in this pointed period piece."

"Parsons’s keenly empathetic portrayal of Stevie and her tribulations is complemented by an equally compelling attention to detail in establishing the era.... Themes of ­empowerment, friendship, bullying, interracial marriage (Stevie’s father is white; her mother is Black), trust, divorce, and social justice are interwoven in perfect balance to create a satisfying ending in this honest coming-of-age story."