Sherri L. Smith’s middle-grade novel CANDACE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING is receiving advance praise. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “[a] heartwarming adventure that explores courage, self-belief, and dreams.” Shelf Awareness reviewer Natasha Harris says of the “whimsical” book: “Smith's novel is filled with cosmic metaphors, intergenerational connections, science, and self-discovery…With its contemporary WHEN YOU REACH ME tone, CANDACE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING reminds readers that although the universe is boundless, our connections to each other are limited and thus extremely meaningful.” CANDACE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING will be published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on September 9, 2025.