Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Image: Penguin Random House

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead. Unabridged -audiobook. ~ 297 minutes. Read by Rachel L. Jacobs. Listening Library, April, 2020. 9780593155370. (Review of e-audiobook downloaded from public library.)

Middle Grade Monday features The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead. This sweet, character-driven novel is told in the first person by twelve-year-old Bea. When her parents divorced, they presented her with a notebook filled with a list of things that will not change in Bea's life, then committed to remaining amicable as they co-parented Bea. Now Bea's dad is remarrying and she's thrilled because, not only does she love Jesse, she will finally have a sister! Jesse has a daughter who lives in California. 

Not all is smooth sailing though. Bea struggles with anxiety and has a bit of a temper. She's working through these issues with a supportive therapist. When she finally meets Jesse's daughter, she finds that Sonia is less-than-thrilled to share her father with Bea, especially since Bea gets to live with him. 

Conversational and engaging, this novel quietly entrances. Ms. Stead excels at creating thoughtful tween characters. New-to-me narrator Rachel L. Jacobs' performance was well-paced. She has a youthful voice and embodied Bea's quixotic personality beautifully. 

The List of Things That Will Not Change belongs in all library collections. Stead's many fans will clamor for it.

Middle Grade Monday and Arc Review: Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger

Image: Scholastic

Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger. 250 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., April 7, 2020. 9781338306118. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Middle Grade Monday features Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger. Let me just start by saying that I love this book with all my heart. Our narrator, Hadley, is a prickly girl. She has a lot to be angry about though. She has an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa that is slowly stealing her eyesight. Her single-mom had been pushing Hadley to enroll in mobility classes for that day when her eyesight disappears. Hadley wants no part of it. Now, her mother is being sent to prison and Hadley is being sent to live with her sister, who abruptly left the family five years earlier and whom Hadley barely knows. Now, she's living an entire state away and has to start school after the summer break as "the blind girl."

Hadley's sister, Beth, is a dog trainer. She works with dog rescues to help their dogs become more adoptable. Hadley accompanies her one day even though she "ain't a dog person." She's annoyed by the eager, barking dogs scrambling for attention as she walks by their cages. Then she spies Lila, who lies in the corner of her cage, not paying attention to anyone. To the astonishment of Hadley's sister and the rescue director, Lila shows interest in Hadley. The two sisters take her home to foster even though Hadley "ain't a dog person."

I was instantly captivated by Hadley's voice and my heart ached for her even as I cringed at her rudeness. Beth is a rock. She's patient and accommodating. Her mom is flawed, but trying to do right. The story will cultivate empathy. Readers will learn about the challenges a blind person faces in an organic way.

I love everything about this book from it's striking and perfect cover through to the tearjerker ending. I can't wait to get this book into my students' hands when we get back to school! Lila and Hadley is a first purchase! I cannot recommend this enough. 

Fact Friday: Free Lunch by Rex Ogle

Image: Norton Young Readers

Free Lunch by Rex Ogle. 208 p. Norton Young Readers/ W.W. Norton & Company, September 10, 2019. 9781324003601. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Happy book birthday next week to Free Lunch!

Fact Friday features Free Lunch by Rex Ogle. This debut is Ogle's memoir of his sixth grade year. Eleven-year-old Rex likes school. It gets him away from his mom and her boyfriend who have explosive fights and tend to discipline Rex with their fists. He is especially looking forward to starting sixth grade. All that changes when his mother announces that Rex is now on the "free lunch" program. He can take the stares his Good Will clothing elicits, but the daily humiliation of announcing to the cafeteria cashier, who is hard of hearing, that he's getting a free lunch infuriates him. Then, his friends drift away because Rex's mom won't sign the permission slip allowing him to try out for football. They all make the team, leaving him the odd guy out. On top of all that, his language arts teacher seems to hate him. He doesn't want to act out but he's sick of being poor and he's afraid of the instability at home. 

Back matter consists of an author's note, an author Q & A, a discussion guide as well as a writing guide(!) and resources for families in crisis. 

Rex's voice is instantly relatable. His home life is horrific and yet, there are flashes of normalcy and even love. How Rex can even learn while dealing with the chaos is testament to his strength.  Moments of humor and Rex's obvious love for his baby brother ease the tension. This powerful memoir depicts a family in crisis, one resilient child and is unforgetable. Free Lunch belongs in every school, classroom and public library.