Nine-year old Bubby has just found out his mother's cancer has returned with a vengeance. His best friend, Brandi, is moving to California. On top of all of this, Bubby's father decides to quit his job and build a boat in the basement. Everyone, except Bubby, sees this as a sure sign of insanity. A story for middle grade readers (ages 8-12) and adults alike, Sailboat in a Cellar is a coming-of-age tale told through the eyes of Bubby who, during a summer of great uncertainty, learns more about himself, reconciles with issues of life and death, and discovers the answer to the great mystery of how his dad will get the sailboat out of the cellar.