In "Heartbeat" by Mandy Siegfried, the story follows the poignant journey of a young girl grappling with the complexities of love, loss, and the pulse of life. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the protagonist navigates her turbulent emotions while trying to cope with the sudden loss of her mother and the challenges of adolescence. Through her relationships with friends and family, she learns to embrace the heartache and joy that come with growing up. The novel explores themes of resilience, the importance of connections, and finding one’s identity amid life's unpredictability. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book has been graded for interest at 9-12 years.

This book was published in 2004 by HarperFestival .

Sharon Creech is an internationally acclaimed author who lives in upstate New York with her husband.