Remember Dippy

By Shirley Reva Vernick
Coming Soon

Paperback available April 7, 2026

Between helpings of mouthwatering shortcake, mysterious ferret disappearances, and a romance that misfires, thirteen-year-old Johnny and his fifteen year old cousin Remember forge a life long friendship in a summer they will never forget.

Description

Thirteen-year-old Johnny’s summer plans fly out the window when he finds out his mother is leaving town for an important job in upstate New York. His aunt Collette tells his mother that he can stay with her as long as he “helps out” with his autistic older cousin, Remember. Johnny thinks it will be the most boring summer ever since he and his cousin have nothing in common. For Johnny, Remember is just a gawky, awkward kid with strange habits like spending hours glued to the Weather Channel and repeating what people say. Boy is Johnny wrong! As the weeks unfold, the cousins master video games, salvage the pizza guy’s romance, and even save a bully from drowning. It just may turn out to be the best summer of their lives.

About the Creators

Shirley Reva Vernick

Shirley Reva Vernick is an award-winning author and journalist. Her works include The Sky We Shared, Remember Dippy, The Blood Lie, The Black Butterfly, and Ripped Away. Her interviews and feature articles have appeared in numerous magazines, national newspapers, and university publications. Shirley graduated from Cornell University and is an alumna of the Radcliffe Writing Seminars. She lives in western Massachusetts.

Awards

  • Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Winner

    Brigham Young University

  • Charlotte Awards Nominee

    New York State Reading Association

Reviews

  • "Remember Dippy is full of characters and a summer you won't soon forget."
    - Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series
  • "There are few surprises in this gentle, jokey read, and the series of dramas that conclude the book seem to pop up out of nowhere. Mem himself remains a mystery, but it’s clear why Johnny comes to appreciate him."

    - Booklist
  • "Vernick displays both tenderness and humor in her story about an unusual relationship. By throwing challenges in the way of authentic, fully-formed characters, she invites readers to question assumptions about what young people are capable of, and she shows how willing they often are to view the world from a new perspective. . . . Enjoyable and provocative."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "Vernick populates Johnny and Remember's town with quirky versions of classic characters, from bullies to curmudgeons with hearts of gold. . . . Captures an important part of growing up--that time when young people first start to see beyond their own perspectives and really understand the people around them."

    - School Library Journal

Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781935955481
  • Price $16.95
  • Publication Date Jul 23, 2013
  • Trim Size 9 × 6 in
  • Weight 0.68125 lbs
  • Page Count 176
  • Paperback

  • ISBN 9781643797946
  • Price $16.95
  • Publication Date Apr 07, 2026
  • Trim Size 7.5 × 5 in
  • Weight N/A
  • Page Count 192
  • Interests

  • Imprint Cinco Puntos Press
  • Audience Middle Grade
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Social Themes / Friendship
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Readers / Hi-Lo
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Neurodiversity
  • Themes Persistence / Grit / Overcoming Obstacles, Conflict resolution, Courage, Empathy / Compassion, Fiction, Friendship, Disabilities, Neighborhoods / Neighbors, Realistic Fiction, Respect, Responsibility, Sharing & Giving / Collaboration, Siblings & Cousins, Social & Emotional Learning / Wellness / Whole Child, Tolerance / Acceptance
  • Languages English
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 9 - 12
  • Grade Range Grades 4 - 7
  • Guided Reading Y
  • ATOS Book Level 4.2
  • DRA 60
  • Interest Level Grades 8 - 12
  • Lexile Level 700
  • Lexile Measurement 700L
  • Reading Level Grades 9 - 10
  • Bebop Reading Fluent