The Middle Grade at Heart book club’s pick for May is . . .
EVERY SHINY THING, by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison
In this beautifully constructed middle-grade novel, told half in prose and half in verse, Lauren prides herself on being a good sister, and Sierra is used to taking care of her mom. When Lauren’s parents send her brother to a therapeutic boarding school for teens on the autism spectrum and Sierra moves to a foster home in Lauren’s wealthy neighborhood, both girls are lost until they find a deep bond with each other. But when Lauren recruits Sierra to help with a Robin Hood scheme to raise money for autistic kids who don’t have her family’s resources, Sierra has a lot to lose if the plan goes wrong. Lauren must learn that having good intentions isn’t all that matters when you battle injustice, and Sierra needs to realize that sometimes, the person you need to take care of is yourself.
“Thoughtful readers will find a lot to like here—sadness, suspense, even humor. They may even pause to consider their own privilege.” (School Library Journal)
“Sierra’s narrative, in poetry, captures her spare, cautious, and constrained life. Lauren’s prose is rich and descriptive, much like her own experiences. Together, the contrasting narratives tell a touching story about friendship, loyalty, and resilience that will have lots of appeal.” (Booklist)
“An inventive and emotional story about family and friendship.” (Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Honor winner for Hello, Universe)
Don’t forgot to sign up for our newsletter — it goes out 5/28, and our Twitter chat about EVERY SHINY THING will be on Tuesday, June 5 at 8 pm EST. Use the hashtag #MGBookClub to participate!
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