Printable version

Penguin to publish A Taste of Heaven by Meg Tilly

January 4, 2012 (Toronto) - Lynne Missen, Publishing Director for Penguin Young Readers in Canada, has acquired A Taste of Heaven, a middle-grade novel by Meg Tilly, who stars as Lorna in the new television series Bomb Girls, debuting on Global television tonight. The deal was brokered by New York literary agent Laura Langlie.

Almost 30 years ago, Tilly burst onto film screens with The Big Chill and then Agnes of God, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe. She returned to acting this summer, knocking out the critics with her on stage performance of Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Next April she will star in Tarragon Theatre’s production of The Real World? by Michel Tremblay.

In A Taste of Heaven, fourth-grader Madison Stokes hasn't found just that right friend yet. The one whose friendship makes you feel all's right with the world, the one who gives you that warm feeling inside. When a new girl named Alyssa Hawkins arrives in Rosedale, she and Madison immediately strike up a close friendship. Alyssa always seems perfectly happy to spend time with Madison and her family, including Madison’s rather annoying five-year-old sister Gina, but she never invites Madison over to her own house. Ever. Is Alyssa ashamed of Madison?

It turns out that Alyssa has a secret―one that she eventually convinces Madison to pinky-swear to keep to herself. This puts Madison in a quandary, as she doesn't like lying to her parents and grandparents. And, for that matter, in Madison's opinion, it's a good secret―one most people would be eager to share.

"I'm so excited to be publishing A Taste of Heaven," says Missen. "Meg Tilly has perfectly captured those tricky 'tween years between childhood and teenager with this lovely, nuanced story of friendship and family and the conflict of loyalties that young people have to navigate at times. I know readers will be rooting for Madison and Alyssa."

Meg Tilly is the author of Porcupine, which was published in September 2007 by Tundra/McClelland & Stewart and shortlisted for the 2008 Sheila Egoff Children's Literature Prize, the Canadian Library Association Best Children's Book 2008, and the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award 2008. It was also an Ontario Library Top Ten Best Bets for 2008. Meg's adult novel, Singing Songs, was released by Dutton in 1994 to great reviews. St. Martin's Press released Meg's adult novel, Gemma, in an original trade paperback in February 2010.

Penguin will publish A Taste of Heaven in early 2013.