Ready or Not!

Starred review from January 1, 2022

Gr 3-5-Nine-year-old Abby McAdams is facing a lot of change as she starts fourth grade: her cousin and best friend, Zoe, is moving away, her mother is going back to work, and her father has been laid off. To top everything off, she's stuck joining the after-school running club, and she's noticing that her body is starting to change. When she learns about the issue of homelessness and its presence in her community, Abby realizes there must be something she can do to help. As she finds her voice, Abby discovers that some change can be surprisingly good. Bryant handles challenging, uncomfortable subjects with a lighthearted tone, allowing these topics to resonate with the younger end of middle grade readers. Abby learns about tiny house communities and corporate layoffs, and her mom learns that girls are going through puberty younger nowadays. These elements, alongside the evergreen challenges of growing up, create a story that is timely and universal. The conclusion feels like a ray of sunshine, empowering and hopeful, and will have readers eagerly awaiting the next book. VERDICT Younger middle grade readers will identify with Abby's journey in this series debut that can help them navigate the changes, big and small, that life presents.-Kristin Brynsvold

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2022
Grades 3-6 In this first of a new early-middle-grade series, nine-year-old Abby is not ready for so many changes. Her cousin and BFF, Zoe, is moving away, her mom is going back to work after Abby's dad lost his job, her body is changing, and she's having to start an after--school running club, even though she can't stand running. For the first time, Abby also notices the number of people who don't have homes, and she becomes involved in helping create a small community for the homeless. Witty and clever, Abby works through her frustrations and worries, working hard to help others and make a difference, while finding that communicating with her parents brings relief as she realizes they love and support her. This fast-paced series starter does a wonderful job of exploring the wide variety of changes that young readers face, as well as the topics of the unhoused, job loss, and financial insecurity, leaving readers with a sense of possibility for the future and inspiration that they can change the world for the better.

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