An enchanting and staggeringly original debut novel about one day in the lives of three unforgettable characters Madeleine Altimari is a smart-mouthed, rebellious nine-year-old who also happens to be an aspiring jazz singer. Still mourning the recent death of her mother, and caring for her grief-stricken father, she doesnt realize that on the eve of Christmas Eve she is about to have the most extraordinary day—and night—of her life. After bravely facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine doggedly searches for Philadelphias legendary jazz club The Cats Pajamas, where shes determined to make her on-stage debut. On the same day, her fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, whos just moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with an old high school crush, afraid to hope that sparks might fly again.
