Candace, the Universe, and Everything

A captivating speculative middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls whose lives become intertwined through a mysterious wormhole hidden inside a school locker.

What if your locker was a portal through time?

On the first day of eighth grade, Candace Wells opens her locker and is startled when a strange bird flies out. Moments later, she discovers a notebook labeled Tracey Auburn, 1988. As Candace begins reading its pages, mysterious new messages begin appearing, suggesting the notebook is somehow connected to the past.

Professor Tracey Auburn barely remembers the odd bird that flew into her locker back in 1988—or the notebook she was certain had vanished. That is, until Candace unexpectedly arrives at her office decades later carrying the missing notebook.

Quantum physicist Loretta Spencer remembers everything. Ever since a bird flew out of her locker in 1948, she has devoted her life to studying the mysterious portal and others like it. Now she needs Candace and Tracey to help unlock its greatest secrets.

Together, the three embark on an unforgettable adventure across Chicago, unraveling the mysteries of time, friendship, and the universe itself. Blending science fiction with heart and humor, this imaginative novel proves that eighth grade—and history—will never be the same.