Rachel Toalson

Award-winning MG, PB & YA author, poet, essayist

Something Maybe Magnificent

Releasing May 28, 2024

There’s a new man in her mom’s life, and Victoria is determined to get rid of him—no matter what. Both a standalone novel and a follow up to The First Magnificent Summer, this pitch-perfect middle grade story is destined to become a classic.

“Toalson’s healing love song to those who are growing up (or grew up) with imperfect parents, reminding us that their imperfection isn’t your imperfection; that you’re perfect just the way you are.”

—Kathleen March, Anderson’s Bookshop (Downer’s Grove, IL)

“Toalson handles difficult, complex subjects with nuance and care, never losing sight of who her readers are, and striking the delicate balance between honesty and hope.”

—Jordan Leigh Zwick, The Book Seller (Grass Valley, CA)

“A supernatural wonder of a book. This Grimm-like fantasy is vividly detailed and will appeal to young and old readers alike.”

—School Library Journal, Starred review

“Toalson intersperses Lenora’s story with Richard’s journal excerpts and an enigmatic, menacing character’s first-person narrative, all of which lends context and dimension. The seamless blend of fantastical and realistic elements is particularly effective at exploring the multifaceted impact of tragedy and loss.”

—Booklist

“An ambitious…exploration of the power of family, transformative relationships, and adapting to changing circumstances…”

—Kirkus Reviews

“A strong addition to any middle grade collection in need of nuanced realistic fiction.”

—School Library Journal

“Both sorrowful and poignant, [The Colors of the Rain] finds Paulie dealing with huge issues at a young age. Important lessons in hope, love, and acceptance emerge from his tragedies and trials.”

—Catherine Thureson, Foreword Reviews

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Rachel’s Blog

The power of reflection for focusing our goals

The power of reflection for focusing our goals

Every new year comes with a bit of reflection. We may do it consciously or unconsciously, but there’s something about a new year that encourages reflection. All those things that have passed and happened in the year before. Or all the years before. Everything we hope...

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Cultivating generosity can make us live longer

Cultivating generosity can make us live longer

I write all kinds of books, but my favorites include books for children and teens. I spend the bulk of my time writing those. And some people like to know why. There are several reasons. But one of the biggest is to “lift as I climb,” as poet Angela Davis says. (The...

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Practicing gratitude can transform our attitudes and lives

Practicing gratitude can transform our attitudes and lives

Nearly every weekday morning, I log onto zoom, where I meet with a group of authors to first write and then discuss our writing time or whatever’s going on in our lives.  Recently, we’ve begun adding a time of naming our gratitude, before diving into talks about...

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We can’t fix a problem we don’t first acknowledge

We can’t fix a problem we don’t first acknowledge

“Do you think it’s becoming a problem again?” he said.  No. But yes. Maybe. Probably. No.  Thus began my husband’s gentle reminder not to fall into my self-destructive patterns. We celebrate twenty years of marriage this month. He’s known me more than half...

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Knowing nothing for certain is a…gift?

Knowing nothing for certain is a…gift?

I have always loved learning. When I was four, my family lived right across the street from the red-roofed elementary school where I watched my brother get swallowed by the white doors every morning. I couldn’t understand why he got to go to kindergarten and I didn’t....

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The most difficult struggle is the one inside us

The most difficult struggle is the one inside us

We’ve reached that time of the summer where my kids are at each other’s throats, everyone is growing tired of the family togetherness, and the oppressive heat of Texas is wearing our patience thin. And my emotional wellbeing begins to slip. I call this time the...

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Meet Rachel

I write books. A lot of them. For everyone—kids, teens, adults, fiction lovers, poetry lovers, essay lovers. People who adore realistic stories, or magical realism, or fantasy, or tales that keep them up at night or make them laugh out loud. There’s a little something for everyone here, because all the world interests me, and all the things make it into my writing, at some point or another. I write the books I most want to read, which is the best way to entertain myself and my kids and get a little peace and quiet in my excessively loud home. I love peace and quiet. I also love stories. I get to live the best of all the worlds, and I am grateful for every day I get to write and read and spend time with my magnificent people.