Critics and readers everywhere stood up and took notice when Laura Moriarty's captivating debut novel hit the stores in June '03. Janet Maslin of theNew York TimespraisedThe Center of Everythingas "warm" and "beguiling."USA Todaycompared the scrappy yet tender-hearted Evelyn Bucknow to Scout Finch inTo Kill a Mockingbird. It garnered extensive national attention; fromEntertainment Weeklyto theBoston Globeand theSan Francisco Chronicle, the press raved about the wisdom and poignancy of Moriarty's writing. The Book-of-the-Month Club snatched it up as a Main Selection, as did the Literary Guild. It was aUSA TodaySummer Reading Pick, a BookSense Top 10 Pick, and a BN.com book club feature title. And still, months afterThe Center of Everything'soriginal publication date, reviews and features of the book continue to run nationwide.