Pasta Girls
Out September 9, 2025
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins
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Watch my NYC launch event at Bureau of General Services, Queer Division
In conversation with fellow queer New Jersey middle grade author Nicole Melleby. I read a few poems from my debut Murray Out of Water and then we talked about character building, magic and more.
Thanks to everyone who attended, to BGSQD for hosting and to Nicole Melleby for being a great launch partner!
Praise for Murray Out of Water
“This lovely, moving novel in verse combines beautiful language with emotional honesty to create a resonant story of identity and growing up. A heartfelt examination of queer identity through the lens of one lovable kid.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“A lyrical journey through the surf and swell of becoming who you truly are, Murray Out of Water pulled my heart into its magical current from the very first poem and stayed with me long after the last.”
— Kate Fussner, author of The Song of Us
“I was immediately immersed in the beautiful, brilliant depths of Murray Out of Water. It is a tender exploration of queer identity and friendship with hope and heart that will not only captivate young readers but show them that they are powerful, loveable—and above all—magic.”
— Justine Pucella Winans, author of The Otherwoods
“This magical yet achingly realistic story is a love poem to finding surprising new faces and places to call home. Murray’s growing determination to be true to herself in the face of overwhelming change—climate, familial, geographic—will inspire hope in young readers struggling to find their place in a world that constantly shifts beneath their feet.’
— Jules Machias, author of Both Can Be True
“Heartfelt and magical, Tracy’s debut will make you forget where the ocean ends and you begin. I cannot recommend this one enough.”
— Andrea Beatriz Arango
Newbery Honor Award-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All
“Murray Out of Water is a stunning, lyrical story that showcases the grief of losing one home, and the magic in discovering ourselves in a new one. From one Jersey kid to another, Murray is a character I could have spent hours with at the shore.”
— Nicole Melleby, author of Hurricane Season
“Joyful and deeply moving, Tracy couples lyrical writing with beautifully realized characters to paint a vivid picture of Murray’s changing world. Filled with magic of all kinds, Murray Out of Water offers a lifeboat for queer youth who need to weather choppy waters.”
— Caroline Huntoon, author of Skating on Mars
and Linus and Etta Could Use a Win
“Tracy’s sea swept, magical novel-in-verse beautifully swirls up a tender tale of a middle schooler learning who they are, longing for family acceptance and support, and discovering rock solid friendship on the tumultuous backdrop of climate change. A truly important book that will find its way to the hearts of those who need it most.”
— Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, author of Hummingbird Season
Let’s get in touch.
Feel free to reach out to me directly with any school visit inquiries, event invites, and blurb requests. I look forward to hearing from you.