Language: PG (9 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; Dealing with divorce and homelessness Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
13yo Katie's parents have been divorced since she was 5. As the oldest of three children living with their mother and visiting their dad every other weekend, Katie is the peacemaker who does all she can to keep her mother happy. However, her mother is a dreamer and a bit of a free spirit, which often means she has a difficult time keeping a job and a roof over their heads. Katie and her siblings have moved dozens of times, but this new move is about to prove one of the most difficult. The four of them have no other option than to live in a crowded hotel room for weeks on end, with no privacy, not enough beds, and often not enough food. It's especially difficult for Katie as she realizes her father and his new wife have two unused, unfurnished bedrooms in their new home, as well as cupboards and closets literally overflowing with food and necessities. How can this be fair? How will her family survive this season of being forced into the "in-between"?
The absolutely authentic voice of Katie as a 13 yo trying to navigate school and friend drama on top of her extreme family situation is so compelling. Readers can really feel the heartache and relate to her wishes for a "normal" family and a "normal" life. Yet, Katie and her mother are survivors even when they find themselves at odds with each other. The takeaway of the memoir written in verse is one of resiliency and hope. Katie describes herself as one of only a few Black students at her school. Her mother is Black and her father is White.
Tammie H, Librarian
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