Shelter by Christie Matheson - ADVISABLE

 Shelter by Christie Matheson, 178 pages. Random House, 2021. $17 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

11yo Maya, white, lives in San Francisco with her mom, dad and baby sister. Her dad has been in a bad accident and is in the hospital. Maya, her mom and sister have to move out of their cute, little house and into the homeless shelter. There they get their own room. Maya is embarrassed and feels really bad about the whole situation they are in. The story follows Maya through one whole day. She is hungry, she gets wet, she is worried, and she does not dare share her secret with anybody, not even her very best friend. Once in a while Maya thinks back to how things were before. She has a hard time concentrating, her backpack is stolen by a really mean girl. All the things Maya owns are in that backpack. 

The author did a great job handling such a sensitive subject. She gives great understanding and insight through the way Maya struggles through the day. She is doing her best to be a great student, a great daughter and a good friend. She carries the big secret and it weighs so heavy on her. Maya is strong and tough, yet tender hearted and kind. She tries to help her mom with her sister Gabby, who suffers from a multitude of severe food allergies and cerebral palsy. She tries so hard to be cheerful and kind, yet she has a hard time dealing with all the changes in her life. I admire May and I could not put the book down. 

Ellen-Anita, LMS