Unsinkable Cayenne
Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis, published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2024, is a historical novel-in-verse that explores themes of belonging and family through the eyes of twelve-year-old Cayenne. As her unconventional parents decide to settle down after years of living in a van, Cayenne hopes to finally find a place where she fits in. However, the reality of making friends and navigating social dynamics proves to be more challenging than she anticipated.
In this poignant narrative, Cayenne’s journey unfolds as she enters seventh grade and grapples with her desire for acceptance amidst the complexities of social class. While studying the Titanic tragedy in school, she draws parallels between the ship’s social strata and her own experiences, questioning what it means to belong. Readers will find a thoughtful exploration of friendship, social skills, and the difficulties of growing up, all set against the backdrop of the mid-1980s. This edition spans 304 pages and is presented in English, offering a rich literary experience for young readers.
Official synopsis Publisher
2025 NCTE Notable Verse Novel
“Intensely readable.” –School Library Journal (starred review)
When her unconventional parents finally agree to settle down in one place, twelve-year-old Cayenne’s dreams come true–but the reality of fitting in is much harder than she imagined. Acclaimed author Jessica Vitalis crafts an unforgettable historical novel-in-verse about belonging, family, and social class, for fans of Lisa Fipps’s Starfish and Jasmine Warga’s Other Words for Home.
As Cayenne enters seventh grade, her parents decide it’s time to stop living in their van, roaming from place to place. Cayenne hopes that this means she will finally belong somewhere and make some friends. But it turns out that staying in one place isn’t easy at all.
When her social studies class studies the Titanic tragedy (the wreckage has just been discovered and her teacher is obsessed), Cayenne sees more and more parallels between the social strata of the infamous ship and her own life. Will she ever squeeze her way into the popular girls’ clique, even though they live in fancy houses on the hill and she lives in a tiny, rundown home with chickens in the front yard? Is it possible that the boy she likes actually likes her back? Can she find a way to make room for herself in this town? Does she really want to? Maybe being “normal” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Set in the mid-1980s, this literary novel is for readers of Megan E. Freeman’s Alone and Erin Entrada Kelly’s We Dream of Space.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Unsinkable Cayenne” about?
Who is the author of “Unsinkable Cayenne”?
When was “Unsinkable Cayenne” published?
What is the ISBN for “Unsinkable Cayenne”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
