Half a Chance (2014) by Cynthia Lord is a young adult novel set in North Conway, New Hampshire, that follows twelve-year-old Lucy, an aspiring photographer. After moving to a lakeside cottage, Lucy forms a bond with her neighbor Nate, whose family is dedicated to loon preservation. Together, they spend the summer exploring the surrounding woodlands and caring for the endangered loons on a nearby island. Lucy's father, a professional photographer, will judge a local photo scavenger hunt, and Lucy secretly enters, hoping to prove her photography skills. During their adventures, Lucy captures a poignant photo of Nate’s Grandma Lilah, who has Alzheimer’s, prompting a moral dilemma about entering the photo in the contest. Despite initial tension, the photograph helps Grandma Lilah share her experience with dementia openly. The novel explores themes of family, friendship, environmental conservation, and the challenges of living with Alzheimer’s. It has received several accolades, including the 2014 Lupine Honor Award and the American Library Association Notable Book Award.
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