Dream on, Amber

My name is Amber Alessandra Leola Kimiko Miyamoto.
I have no idea why my parents gave me all those hideous names but they must have wanted to ruin my life, and you know what? They did an amazing job.

As a half-Japanese, half-Italian girl with a ridiculous name, Amber's not feeling molto bene (very good) about making friends at her new school.

But the hardest thing about being Amber is that a part of her is missing. Her dad. He left when she was little and he isn't coming back. Not for her first day of middle school and not for her little sister's birthday. So Amber will have to dream up a way for the Miyamoto sisters to make it on their own...

Praise for Dream on, Amber:
"Funny, poignant...[a] wise and accessible read for 9- to 12-year-olds."―The Wall Street Journal
"[This] novel is a charmer...While its humor and illustrations lend it Wimpy Kid appeal, its emotional depth makes it stand out from the pack. Molto bene!"―Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
"A gutsy girl in a laugh-out-loud book that navigates tough issues with finesse."―Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW
"Amber's effervescent and opinionated narration captivates from the start, making it easy to root for her as she strives to conquer the 'beast' of her worries and thrive at home and at school."―Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
"By turns playful and poignant, in both style and substance, this coming-of-age novel will hook readers from the first page to the last."―School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW