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Nothing Else But Miracles
From the author of A Place to Hang the Moon comes a hopeful World War II story about three scrappy siblings on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
When 12-year-old Dory Byrne’s pop left New York City’s Lower East Side to fight Hitler, he promised her and her brothers that they’d be safe. Like he always said, “the neighborhood will give you what you need.”
There’s the lady from the bakery, who saves them leftover crullers. The kind landlord who checks in on them. And every Thursday night, the Byrnes enjoy a free bowl of seafood stew at Mr. Caputo’s restaurant. . . which is where Dory learns about the abandoned hand-pulled elevator that is the only way to get to Caputo’s upper floors.
But when a new landlord threatens their home in the community that’s raised them and kept them safe, the secret elevator—and the abandoned hotel it leads to—provides just the solution they need.
Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of World War II, Nothing Else but Miracles is a warm and inviting story of resilience, the tight-knit community of the Lower East Side, and the miracles that await in unexpected places.
Kate Albus is the award-winning author of A Place to Hang the Moon, a JLG Gold Standard Selection, An Indie Pick, An ALSC Notable Children’s Book, A CCBC Choice book, and an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner. Nothing Else But Miracles is rich with details from her grandparents’ stories of Coney Island and the Fulton Fish Market.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
When 12-year-old Dory Byrne’s pop left New York City’s Lower East Side to fight Hitler, he promised her and her brothers that they’d be safe. Like he always said, “the neighborhood will give you what you need.”
There’s the lady from the bakery, who saves them leftover crullers. The kind landlord who checks in on them. And every Thursday night, the Byrnes enjoy a free bowl of seafood stew at Mr. Caputo’s restaurant. . . which is where Dory learns about the abandoned hand-pulled elevator that is the only way to get to Caputo’s upper floors.
But when a new landlord threatens their home in the community that’s raised them and kept them safe, the secret elevator—and the abandoned hotel it leads to—provides just the solution they need.
Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of World War II, Nothing Else but Miracles is a warm and inviting story of resilience, the tight-knit community of the Lower East Side, and the miracles that await in unexpected places.
Kate Albus is the award-winning author of A Place to Hang the Moon, a JLG Gold Standard Selection, An Indie Pick, An ALSC Notable Children’s Book, A CCBC Choice book, and an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Winner. Nothing Else But Miracles is rich with details from her grandparents’ stories of Coney Island and the Fulton Fish Market.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
About the author
Kate Albus
4 books695 followersKate Albus grew up in New York but now lives in rural Maryland with her husband and children. She loves reading, baking, knitting, hiking, and other activities that are inherently quiet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 690 reviews
August 2, 2023
4.5 stars
This book was such a wonderful read! I’ve had a “crush” on the Lower East Side of Manhattan since the first grade, when my teacher read “All of a Kind Family” to my class. I’ve had the opportunity to visit that great city many times as an adult, touring Ellis Island, climbing inside the Statue of Liberty, visiting the Tenement Museum, walking on Rivington Street (Sydney Taylor connection!), and so many other adventures. I’ve never had the chance to go to Coney Island, but many books that I’ve read detailing it, including this one, make me determined to see it someday!
Thank you, Kate Albus, for painting such a vivid picture of New York City life during WW2. The characters of Dory, Fish, and Pike, and their determination to stick together no matter what, will stay with me long after I’ve finished this story. And I’m really hoping for a sequel!
One more shout-out, this time for the very detailed author’s notes at the end! On my next trip to NYC, I’m looking for that motel!
This book was such a wonderful read! I’ve had a “crush” on the Lower East Side of Manhattan since the first grade, when my teacher read “All of a Kind Family” to my class. I’ve had the opportunity to visit that great city many times as an adult, touring Ellis Island, climbing inside the Statue of Liberty, visiting the Tenement Museum, walking on Rivington Street (Sydney Taylor connection!), and so many other adventures. I’ve never had the chance to go to Coney Island, but many books that I’ve read detailing it, including this one, make me determined to see it someday!
Thank you, Kate Albus, for painting such a vivid picture of New York City life during WW2. The characters of Dory, Fish, and Pike, and their determination to stick together no matter what, will stay with me long after I’ve finished this story. And I’m really hoping for a sequel!
One more shout-out, this time for the very detailed author’s notes at the end! On my next trip to NYC, I’m looking for that motel!
February 7, 2024
I loved this so much - maybe even more than A Place to Hang the Moon.
March 28, 2026
2.5 stars ⭐️ Secular/Mainstream Fiction - Middle Grade - Historical
I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, it was a fun story with a lot of elements about World War II that I didn’t know, but on the other hand, there were some elements that make me hesitate to recommend it to a middle-grade reader. Let’s break down those reasons:
1- Dory was not my favorite kind of main character. She’s a little too reckless and lies a lot; some of those lies you could argue that there’s a good reason for them, but otherwise she is lying just because she thinks her plan is best. She often blames her older brother for their problems which I don’t think he deserved at all. She didn’t have the responsibility on her shoulders like he did for the family and she was too rash with spending money. Because of all of this and the lying and the trespassing (with no consequences at all), she’s not the best role model for middle-grade readers in my eyes.
2- With Dory’s lies, there’s some trespassing (that is never found out) and adults lying to other adults and government officials to protect Dory and her brothers. Obviously, their hearts are in the right place and it’s during a literal war, so some give can be given about this, but it felt a bit like “the result outweighs the means” or “better to ask forgiveness than permission” if that makes sense. It was good to see the community aspect of their neighborhood and having the kids’ backs, but if it wasn’t a war setting, I would have been more concerned because this isn’t a great message for young readers.
3- Dory has a fascination with the Statue of Liberty and often calls her the “green goddess”. She talks to her many times and asks her for a solution (specifically saying not a miracle at first, but later asking for a miracle) and later thanks her when it seems like she received one. As a Christian, I find this questionable.
4- Dory also has a fascination for horror movies of that time with vampires and monsters, which felt a little strange and added a bit of gruesome comments.
There were a couple loose ends that I wish had been shared as the ending felt a little abrupt (like what happened with the couple from the hotel and more about Dory’s dad).
As a note for parents, there is some romance in this book with a classmate being sweet on Dory. They dance together at a school dance, they blush around each other, and he suddenly kisses her on the cheek towards the end of the book. It’s left where it could lead into more one day when they are older or they could just be friends, it’s very open ended in this fact (which makes somewhat sense because they are twelve). I didn’t personally love the bit of romance in this book because of their ages, but it was a different time back then (or so I’ve been told 😅).
The writing style is very much like a narrator talking to the reader, which I don’t recall the author’s prior book being like that. I didn’t love that personally, but that’s more of a me thing because I usually don’t like narrators talking to me anyway in a book.
All that said, I did really find different historical facts of the book interesting, though. I’ve read many World War II fiction books over the years (preferring stateside settings than those actually overseas with the fighting), but there were many elements shared that I hadn’t known about and enjoyed researching.
While I wouldn’t recommend this book broadly to middle-grade readers (especially not to those that often copy what a main character does in a book), I do think this book was interesting and added in unique historical elements—and what kid wouldn’t want a secret hideout or to read about one? Like “A Place to Hang a Moon”, “Nothing Else But Miracles” also had a strong sibling group facing the Second World War. Some parts I didn’t care for, but it was overall an interesting story.
Main Content-
Spiritual-
While the title has the word “miracles” in it, it’s said that Dory “didn’t make much of miracles” and later asks the Statue of Liberty for a solution (specifically noting not a miracle, but later asks for a miracle).
Dory goes to talk to her brothers, but the president is praying on the radio and her older brother shushes her (Dory goes to talk again anyway, but the brother shushes her again and tells her to have respect).
A few mentions of prayers; A few mentions of a Catholic church and nuns; A couple mentions of synagogues and churches having special services for Invasion Day; A couple mentions of God.
Dory often refers to the Statue of Liberty as “Libby” and “The Green Goddess”, who is often talks to and asks for different things from the statue (like looking out for her and her father), for a solution to her family’s problems and then a miracle, and later thanks her for everything at the end of the book.
At the abandoned hotel, Dory and her little brother find evidence of a museum that offered séances and a madam who lived in the hotel that “Knows all. Sees all. Tells all.”; Dory’s little brother asks the woman a question out loud, but does not receive an answer.
Mentions of ghosts; A couple mentions of magic; A mention of something being like a talisman; A mention of a crazy man who shouts about the devil.
Language/Attitudes-
A man exclaims “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph” and later also exclaims “Dio mio!” (My God!); Someone says to “give [Hitler] hell!”.
Words like ‘what the heck’ and duh’ are used; A few illusions to curses (not written out); Phrases like “Jeez Louise”, “jeez”, “jeepers”, “holy mackerel”, “holy moly”, “for heaven’s sake”, and “for Pete’s sake”, are often said; For slang of the time period, Dory calls a boy a “drip” multiple times and also calls others “chucklehead” and “crumb”; As a note, the word “fanny” is used in reference to someone’s bottom.
Dory lies multiple times (including to her brothers and adults, sometimes she finds it easy to come up with the lies); It’s noted that Dory doesn’t like lying to anyone “except when it was necessary. Which, it turned out, had been true of an awful lot of things since Pop left [for the war]”; Dory also keeps things from her older brother that she deems he doesn’t need to know or says what he didn’t know won’t hurt him (such as priorly skipping school until her brother found out; In the book she also lies to her brothers and an adult about sleepovers so she can explore an abandoned building); Dory’s older brother tells her not to climb out a window and she hears him say it but doesn’t listen as that’s two “very different” things (and she does climb out the window with a makeshift ladder); Later, Dory’s older brother lies to an adult and when Dory compliments him on his quick thinking, he says he “learned from the master”; Adults lie to authority figures to cover for Dory and her brothers to protect them.
Dory’s older brother says that their dad isn’t lying in his letters, but is probably protecting them from what he is really doing overseas.
Quite a bit of sibling arguments and bickering due to stress and heightened emotions (which causes Dory to stomp her foot during arguments as well); Dory hits her little brother which makes him cry; Dory is also a mean/rude to her little brother a few times (including snatching something away from him and telling him it’s none of his business); Dory blames her older brother for their dad leaving to fight in the war and often reminds him that he is to blame for their difficulties (towards the end, he tells her to quit saying it’s his fault because he didn’t want their dad to leave either); At the end, Dory compliments her older brother for doing a good job for their family and apologizes for blaming him.
Dory says a place being secret is what makes it swell; Dory feels jealousy over her friends’ fathers coming home or not having to go to war.
Negative/Dangerous situations-
Dory has a plan to get to the top of Empire State Building which involves conning some old ladies, crying for sympathy, and lying that she and her brothers got separated from their parents; Dory feels a bit of guilt when after the woman helps them, she also gives them money.
Dory later plans for her and her little brother to sneak into another movie (without paying) and says their older brother would be proud because they are saving money (the younger brother thinks it’s stealing).
Later, Dory makes use of others being distracted and grabs their ticket to an amusement park off of the floor (Dory’s older brother protests and tries to look around for the owner, but when he can’t find them, Dory has him use it).
Dory takes from the money jar multiple times without asking her older brother and money gets tight partially because of it; Dory’s older brother has to get a job to have money for food and rent, but that will mean he won’t finish high school (which is implied to be a great sacrifice on his part).
When annoyed, Dory tells a woman to go jump in a lake (which gets her a good talking-to).
Dory suggests to the Statue of Liberty for her mean landlord to get hit by a bus or have amnesia so he will leave her family alone (noting that she doesn’t wish for it to happen, but has thought about it).
At one point, Dory thinks that her dad will never come home which will lead to her older brother “turn[ing] to the bottle” and sleeping under the bridge and her younger brother train jumping and being crushed to a pulp under the train’s wheels.
Dory is specially told not to go into an abandoned part of a building, but does so anyway (with lying to others about it), sneaks into the building in a potentially dangerous way, and it ends up helping their family when in need (*Spoilers* ).
When a man talks bad about her dad, Dory wishes to kick him and claw his eyes out.
Dory and her brothers face the possibility of the city putting them in a foundling home.
Dory’s mother passed away when she was young because of tuberculosis.
A classmate and friend suggests for Dory to ‘accidentally’ splash a teacher at the pool because the teacher can’t punish her for it there (the first time she does not, but does a cannonball near the teacher a second time); Dory plays a prank on the mean landlord (the effects of her prank is not shared on-page).
When in the abandoned building which also has a restaurant, Dory and her brothers allow a cat in the kitchen and probably commit some “serious health code violations”.
Dory enjoys watching monster movies with vampires and werewolves; Dory also calls creepy things “delicious” and “marvelous and terrifying”; Mentions of vampires, ghosts, monsters, actors who played vampires or monsters in this time period, drinking blood and victims, and a movie with brain juice splattering everywhere.
Set during World War II, there’s obviously many mentions of the fighting overseas, battles, bombings, & soldiers being injured, killed, or captured; Dory and her brothers plus others with family members overseas fighting feel anxiety and grief during the entire book; Dory has classmates that have injured or dead fathers which adds seriousness to her worries and we see some grief on-page; At times, Dory thinks about wishing her father having something that would have kept him from being called into the war and/or being sent home early because of being injured (which she feels guilt over the latter); At an amusement park, there is a game to throw baseballs at Hitler’s face on the rump of a horse; *Major Spoilers* .
Mentions of seeing potential dead-bodies (in a river or in an abandoned building); Mentions of non-war related deaths (including hangings of pirates); Mentions of lies, lying, & lies; Mentions of adults smoking cigars and pipes; A few mentions of bullies & being bullied; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a cat that was run over; A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of of the phrase about there being more than one way to skin a cat; A mention of a museum having “visions of murder, execution, and electrocution”; A mention of gambling.
Other-
Dory is told at least a handful of times by a neighbor lady to wear a dress (but Dory likes her trousers and thinks a few times about trousers being better than a dress/skirt).
Sexual/Romance-
Towards the end, a boy kisses Dory on the cheek (it’s described as “It was soft and dry and kind and lovely and altogether surprising in every way” and tells him not to do it again right then, but maybe later); When seeing the boy again, Dory pictures a “giant, electrical, kissing fence” between them.
Dory has a boy classmate that seems to be sweet on her, but the attention from him makes her “neck itch”; Dory goes to a school dance and dances with that friend (who is very kind and has sweaty hands placed on her “scrawny hips” while they dance); Dory and Vincent (the friend and classmate) blush a few times when around each other.
Dory’s older brother is sweet on a girl and they are seen holding hands and kissing on the cheek.
Dory’s two classmates wear two piece bikinis to the pool and one is uncomfortable with her belly button showing.
Dory sees a teacher reading a “particularly steamy-looking issue of Love Story Magazine” at the pool.
Mentions of kisses, kissing, & Dory’s younger brother giggling when kissing comes up in a conversation; Mentions of crushes and being sweet on someone.
I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, it was a fun story with a lot of elements about World War II that I didn’t know, but on the other hand, there were some elements that make me hesitate to recommend it to a middle-grade reader. Let’s break down those reasons:
1- Dory was not my favorite kind of main character. She’s a little too reckless and lies a lot; some of those lies you could argue that there’s a good reason for them, but otherwise she is lying just because she thinks her plan is best. She often blames her older brother for their problems which I don’t think he deserved at all. She didn’t have the responsibility on her shoulders like he did for the family and she was too rash with spending money. Because of all of this and the lying and the trespassing (with no consequences at all), she’s not the best role model for middle-grade readers in my eyes.
2- With Dory’s lies, there’s some trespassing (that is never found out) and adults lying to other adults and government officials to protect Dory and her brothers. Obviously, their hearts are in the right place and it’s during a literal war, so some give can be given about this, but it felt a bit like “the result outweighs the means” or “better to ask forgiveness than permission” if that makes sense. It was good to see the community aspect of their neighborhood and having the kids’ backs, but if it wasn’t a war setting, I would have been more concerned because this isn’t a great message for young readers.
3- Dory has a fascination with the Statue of Liberty and often calls her the “green goddess”. She talks to her many times and asks her for a solution (specifically saying not a miracle at first, but later asking for a miracle) and later thanks her when it seems like she received one. As a Christian, I find this questionable.
4- Dory also has a fascination for horror movies of that time with vampires and monsters, which felt a little strange and added a bit of gruesome comments.
There were a couple loose ends that I wish had been shared as the ending felt a little abrupt (like what happened with the couple from the hotel and more about Dory’s dad).
As a note for parents, there is some romance in this book with a classmate being sweet on Dory. They dance together at a school dance, they blush around each other, and he suddenly kisses her on the cheek towards the end of the book. It’s left where it could lead into more one day when they are older or they could just be friends, it’s very open ended in this fact (which makes somewhat sense because they are twelve). I didn’t personally love the bit of romance in this book because of their ages, but it was a different time back then (or so I’ve been told 😅).
The writing style is very much like a narrator talking to the reader, which I don’t recall the author’s prior book being like that. I didn’t love that personally, but that’s more of a me thing because I usually don’t like narrators talking to me anyway in a book.
All that said, I did really find different historical facts of the book interesting, though. I’ve read many World War II fiction books over the years (preferring stateside settings than those actually overseas with the fighting), but there were many elements shared that I hadn’t known about and enjoyed researching.
While I wouldn’t recommend this book broadly to middle-grade readers (especially not to those that often copy what a main character does in a book), I do think this book was interesting and added in unique historical elements—and what kid wouldn’t want a secret hideout or to read about one? Like “A Place to Hang a Moon”, “Nothing Else But Miracles” also had a strong sibling group facing the Second World War. Some parts I didn’t care for, but it was overall an interesting story.
Main Content-
Spiritual-
While the title has the word “miracles” in it, it’s said that Dory “didn’t make much of miracles” and later asks the Statue of Liberty for a solution (specifically noting not a miracle, but later asks for a miracle).
Dory goes to talk to her brothers, but the president is praying on the radio and her older brother shushes her (Dory goes to talk again anyway, but the brother shushes her again and tells her to have respect).
A few mentions of prayers; A few mentions of a Catholic church and nuns; A couple mentions of synagogues and churches having special services for Invasion Day; A couple mentions of God.
Dory often refers to the Statue of Liberty as “Libby” and “The Green Goddess”, who is often talks to and asks for different things from the statue (like looking out for her and her father), for a solution to her family’s problems and then a miracle, and later thanks her for everything at the end of the book.
At the abandoned hotel, Dory and her little brother find evidence of a museum that offered séances and a madam who lived in the hotel that “Knows all. Sees all. Tells all.”; Dory’s little brother asks the woman a question out loud, but does not receive an answer.
Mentions of ghosts; A couple mentions of magic; A mention of something being like a talisman; A mention of a crazy man who shouts about the devil.
Language/Attitudes-
A man exclaims “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph” and later also exclaims “Dio mio!” (My God!); Someone says to “give [Hitler] hell!”.
Words like ‘what the heck’ and duh’ are used; A few illusions to curses (not written out); Phrases like “Jeez Louise”, “jeez”, “jeepers”, “holy mackerel”, “holy moly”, “for heaven’s sake”, and “for Pete’s sake”, are often said; For slang of the time period, Dory calls a boy a “drip” multiple times and also calls others “chucklehead” and “crumb”; As a note, the word “fanny” is used in reference to someone’s bottom.
Dory lies multiple times (including to her brothers and adults, sometimes she finds it easy to come up with the lies); It’s noted that Dory doesn’t like lying to anyone “except when it was necessary. Which, it turned out, had been true of an awful lot of things since Pop left [for the war]”; Dory also keeps things from her older brother that she deems he doesn’t need to know or says what he didn’t know won’t hurt him (such as priorly skipping school until her brother found out; In the book she also lies to her brothers and an adult about sleepovers so she can explore an abandoned building); Dory’s older brother tells her not to climb out a window and she hears him say it but doesn’t listen as that’s two “very different” things (and she does climb out the window with a makeshift ladder); Later, Dory’s older brother lies to an adult and when Dory compliments him on his quick thinking, he says he “learned from the master”; Adults lie to authority figures to cover for Dory and her brothers to protect them.
Dory’s older brother says that their dad isn’t lying in his letters, but is probably protecting them from what he is really doing overseas.
Quite a bit of sibling arguments and bickering due to stress and heightened emotions (which causes Dory to stomp her foot during arguments as well); Dory hits her little brother which makes him cry; Dory is also a mean/rude to her little brother a few times (including snatching something away from him and telling him it’s none of his business); Dory blames her older brother for their dad leaving to fight in the war and often reminds him that he is to blame for their difficulties (towards the end, he tells her to quit saying it’s his fault because he didn’t want their dad to leave either); At the end, Dory compliments her older brother for doing a good job for their family and apologizes for blaming him.
Dory says a place being secret is what makes it swell; Dory feels jealousy over her friends’ fathers coming home or not having to go to war.
Negative/Dangerous situations-
Dory has a plan to get to the top of Empire State Building which involves conning some old ladies, crying for sympathy, and lying that she and her brothers got separated from their parents; Dory feels a bit of guilt when after the woman helps them, she also gives them money.
Dory later plans for her and her little brother to sneak into another movie (without paying) and says their older brother would be proud because they are saving money (the younger brother thinks it’s stealing).
Later, Dory makes use of others being distracted and grabs their ticket to an amusement park off of the floor (Dory’s older brother protests and tries to look around for the owner, but when he can’t find them, Dory has him use it).
Dory takes from the money jar multiple times without asking her older brother and money gets tight partially because of it; Dory’s older brother has to get a job to have money for food and rent, but that will mean he won’t finish high school (which is implied to be a great sacrifice on his part).
When annoyed, Dory tells a woman to go jump in a lake (which gets her a good talking-to).
Dory suggests to the Statue of Liberty for her mean landlord to get hit by a bus or have amnesia so he will leave her family alone (noting that she doesn’t wish for it to happen, but has thought about it).
At one point, Dory thinks that her dad will never come home which will lead to her older brother “turn[ing] to the bottle” and sleeping under the bridge and her younger brother train jumping and being crushed to a pulp under the train’s wheels.
Dory is specially told not to go into an abandoned part of a building, but does so anyway (with lying to others about it), sneaks into the building in a potentially dangerous way, and it ends up helping their family when in need (*Spoilers* ).
When a man talks bad about her dad, Dory wishes to kick him and claw his eyes out.
Dory and her brothers face the possibility of the city putting them in a foundling home.
Dory’s mother passed away when she was young because of tuberculosis.
A classmate and friend suggests for Dory to ‘accidentally’ splash a teacher at the pool because the teacher can’t punish her for it there (the first time she does not, but does a cannonball near the teacher a second time); Dory plays a prank on the mean landlord (the effects of her prank is not shared on-page).
When in the abandoned building which also has a restaurant, Dory and her brothers allow a cat in the kitchen and probably commit some “serious health code violations”.
Dory enjoys watching monster movies with vampires and werewolves; Dory also calls creepy things “delicious” and “marvelous and terrifying”; Mentions of vampires, ghosts, monsters, actors who played vampires or monsters in this time period, drinking blood and victims, and a movie with brain juice splattering everywhere.
Set during World War II, there’s obviously many mentions of the fighting overseas, battles, bombings, & soldiers being injured, killed, or captured; Dory and her brothers plus others with family members overseas fighting feel anxiety and grief during the entire book; Dory has classmates that have injured or dead fathers which adds seriousness to her worries and we see some grief on-page; At times, Dory thinks about wishing her father having something that would have kept him from being called into the war and/or being sent home early because of being injured (which she feels guilt over the latter); At an amusement park, there is a game to throw baseballs at Hitler’s face on the rump of a horse; *Major Spoilers* .
Mentions of seeing potential dead-bodies (in a river or in an abandoned building); Mentions of non-war related deaths (including hangings of pirates); Mentions of lies, lying, & lies; Mentions of adults smoking cigars and pipes; A few mentions of bullies & being bullied; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a cat that was run over; A couple mentions of alcohol; A couple mentions of of the phrase about there being more than one way to skin a cat; A mention of a museum having “visions of murder, execution, and electrocution”; A mention of gambling.
Other-
Dory is told at least a handful of times by a neighbor lady to wear a dress (but Dory likes her trousers and thinks a few times about trousers being better than a dress/skirt).
Sexual/Romance-
Towards the end, a boy kisses Dory on the cheek (it’s described as “It was soft and dry and kind and lovely and altogether surprising in every way” and tells him not to do it again right then, but maybe later); When seeing the boy again, Dory pictures a “giant, electrical, kissing fence” between them.
Dory has a boy classmate that seems to be sweet on her, but the attention from him makes her “neck itch”; Dory goes to a school dance and dances with that friend (who is very kind and has sweaty hands placed on her “scrawny hips” while they dance); Dory and Vincent (the friend and classmate) blush a few times when around each other.
Dory’s older brother is sweet on a girl and they are seen holding hands and kissing on the cheek.
Dory’s two classmates wear two piece bikinis to the pool and one is uncomfortable with her belly button showing.
Dory sees a teacher reading a “particularly steamy-looking issue of Love Story Magazine” at the pool.
Mentions of kisses, kissing, & Dory’s younger brother giggling when kissing comes up in a conversation; Mentions of crushes and being sweet on someone.
February 15, 2023
Kate Albus has done is again with this second wonderful book. Where her first book, A Place to Hang the Moon, took readers into British children's lives in WWII, this second darling story explores the lives of children on the other side of the Atlantic in New York City during the same war. With her signature compassion and humor, Albus draws readers into the lives of three siblings navigating the challenges of adolescence and wartime without parents to guide them. What results is a beautifully written tear-jerker guaranteed to melt the heart of any reader.
October 14, 2023
I absolutely loved A Place To Hang the Moon, so much that I read it in one day on my own, then reread it aloud to my kids just a few weeks later. All that to say, I had high hope for this book and was left underwhelmed.
First off, there were many moments that I really did enjoy! I thought the way the siblings grow together over the course of the story was very sweet. Their friendship with some other kids also grows in a special way. I also appreciated how this was a different kind of WWII story, set on the home front instead of overseas. There were tons of true to life references throughout, from movies and songs on the radio to food and books and even Coney Island games.
However, I felt like the writing was hard to connect with, between the sentence fragments and narrator breaking the 4th wall, to even the historical facts. It felt like things could really have used another round of editing to smooth things out. A lot of the plot revolves around the MC lying to various people without consequence, either natural or from an authority figure. She lied about where she was, how she got a cat, how she was spending their money, and it always worked out. The money aspect was really hard for me to swallow in the historic context. Somehow this family is completely strapped for cash and yet they are going to the movies, buying lunch at the delicatessen, riding the subway, buying treats at Coney Island (but don’t have enough money for a ticket, they have to dishonestly obtain one). One child gets a job so they can pay for rent, yet these “little purchases” are written off without issue. And there are a number of times when the MC talks to the Statue of Liberty that always felt odd instead of sweet. Plus there are a handful of other things that felt out of place to me (climbing up and down a “rope” of sheets dangling outside a building! Putting a kerosene lamp in the middle of a Billards table and playing around it!). There was just too much going on in this story.
The ending was supposed to be really moving and heartwarming and I just found it too syrupy sweet. Everything worked out in a very Hallmark movie ending way. (Prior to the ending I loved how a neighbor stepped in to help them, but the very ending I found to be too much.) and then in the author’s note we find out that the facts of the ending were fudged, which makes me feel even more like it didn’t work. If wounded soldiers ACTUALLY came home as described, I would have been more ok with it.
Anyhow, I know this will still be a hit with kids who love historical fiction, and I think as a read aloud it es a lot of space to talk about both history and how we make choices. But it’s not one I’m going to be rereading so I can experience it with my kids.
First off, there were many moments that I really did enjoy! I thought the way the siblings grow together over the course of the story was very sweet. Their friendship with some other kids also grows in a special way. I also appreciated how this was a different kind of WWII story, set on the home front instead of overseas. There were tons of true to life references throughout, from movies and songs on the radio to food and books and even Coney Island games.
However, I felt like the writing was hard to connect with, between the sentence fragments and narrator breaking the 4th wall, to even the historical facts. It felt like things could really have used another round of editing to smooth things out. A lot of the plot revolves around the MC lying to various people without consequence, either natural or from an authority figure. She lied about where she was, how she got a cat, how she was spending their money, and it always worked out. The money aspect was really hard for me to swallow in the historic context. Somehow this family is completely strapped for cash and yet they are going to the movies, buying lunch at the delicatessen, riding the subway, buying treats at Coney Island (but don’t have enough money for a ticket, they have to dishonestly obtain one). One child gets a job so they can pay for rent, yet these “little purchases” are written off without issue. And there are a number of times when the MC talks to the Statue of Liberty that always felt odd instead of sweet. Plus there are a handful of other things that felt out of place to me (climbing up and down a “rope” of sheets dangling outside a building! Putting a kerosene lamp in the middle of a Billards table and playing around it!). There was just too much going on in this story.
The ending was supposed to be really moving and heartwarming and I just found it too syrupy sweet. Everything worked out in a very Hallmark movie ending way. (Prior to the ending I loved how a neighbor stepped in to help them, but the very ending I found to be too much.) and then in the author’s note we find out that the facts of the ending were fudged, which makes me feel even more like it didn’t work. If wounded soldiers ACTUALLY came home as described, I would have been more ok with it.
Anyhow, I know this will still be a hit with kids who love historical fiction, and I think as a read aloud it es a lot of space to talk about both history and how we make choices. But it’s not one I’m going to be rereading so I can experience it with my kids.
January 13, 2024
3.5
Not A Place to Hang the Moon but still a cute heartwarming story about 3 kids left by themselves while their Dad is away at war. Not sure what consequences there was for all the lying that went on but that's my "Mom side" kicking in. lol
Some events didn't really seem like it would acutally be able to happen but that is where your imagination comes into place. The language was more a "modern type" feel was well for me vs the time period it was set in. Still a cute little read aloud story.
Not A Place to Hang the Moon but still a cute heartwarming story about 3 kids left by themselves while their Dad is away at war. Not sure what consequences there was for all the lying that went on but that's my "Mom side" kicking in. lol
Some events didn't really seem like it would acutally be able to happen but that is where your imagination comes into place. The language was more a "modern type" feel was well for me vs the time period it was set in. Still a cute little read aloud story.
September 2, 2025
What a beautiful story. I love a middle grade that focuses on a sibling group and Nothing Else But Miracles did not disappoint. We read from the perspective of Dory, the middle child who loves the Statue of Liberty. They live in Manhattan on the Lower East Side and have a wonderful community who come together to help these kids when the dad is called to go fight in WWII. Things get a bit harder when their current landlord dies and a mean new landlord arrives and threatens to call social services on them. I loved seeing these siblings figure out ways to take care of themselves and each other and how they grow because of it. Throw in a recluse neighbor, a stray cat and an abandoned hotel to the mix for a really fun story. The ending scenes brought me to tears and I just found this book so huggable. Would highly recommend.
November 14, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
Nothing Else but Miracles is an excellent middle grade historical novel set in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during World War II. It follows a 12 year old girl surviving at home with her older and younger brothers while their dad is off fighting Nazis, trying to stay under the radar since the oldest sibling is only 17 and it's technically illegal. This has interesting historical detail, great family dynamics, and a sort of adventure element that reminded me of The Boxcar Children, though I won't spoil it. Definitely would recommend this one, and I think it could be a good option for the younger end of middle grade readers. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Nothing Else but Miracles is an excellent middle grade historical novel set in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during World War II. It follows a 12 year old girl surviving at home with her older and younger brothers while their dad is off fighting Nazis, trying to stay under the radar since the oldest sibling is only 17 and it's technically illegal. This has interesting historical detail, great family dynamics, and a sort of adventure element that reminded me of The Boxcar Children, though I won't spoil it. Definitely would recommend this one, and I think it could be a good option for the younger end of middle grade readers. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 5, 2024
A beautiful novel :)
I understood Dory's circumstances but sometimes I just wanted to smack her the way she acted. Pike was adorable, and Fisher reminded me of myself some.
They all had to grow up fast during wartime.
A family doing the best they could to keep everything together in a unique and uncertain time.
I understood Dory's circumstances but sometimes I just wanted to smack her the way she acted. Pike was adorable, and Fisher reminded me of myself some.
They all had to grow up fast during wartime.
A family doing the best they could to keep everything together in a unique and uncertain time.
November 15, 2023
I wanted to like this book. I appreciated the descriptions of WW2 era Manhatten, and the underlying plot of three siblings taking care of one another on the home front while their father serves in the European theater. But, to be honest, Dory was not a very likable main character. She had very little personal growth in the entire book (basically, only coming to grips with her resentment of her older brother/guardian at the end of the book, as the plot was rapidly being wrapped up with a tidy bow). In fact, her negative traits of lying, repeatedly breaking into a building belonging to a benefactor, mooching, cheating, and finagling to get her way only seem more celebrated and rewarded as the book goes on. She also is unrepentantly a deliberately careless student, a sloppy child with poor hygiene (far too many mentions of burbling snot!), critical of many neighbors who are unfailingly kind to her, and pretty careless with some important responsibilities. This all sounds harsh, but it could possibly have been overlooked if the overarching plot line had been more riveting. It felt choppy, unrealistic, and, at times, saccharine. I can’t really recommend this book, especially for its intended audience.
November 7, 2023
Really wanted to love this book after how wonderful Albus’s first book was. But I just could not get into this one. Plot was shallow and didn’t really go anywhere. There were some aspects to love about the characters, but on the whole the writing felt repetitive and stagnant. Ending wrapped up quickly without much explanation of some details throughout the story.
August 29, 2023
Kate Albus knows how to write wholesome sibling dynamics. I couldn’t help but love and care for these young characters. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for what historical middle grade she comes out with next.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy for review.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy for review.
September 14, 2023
As I was reading this, echoes of other stories would flit into my head. I thought of Scout and Boo Radley. I thought of Barbary from Rose Macaulay's "The World My Wilderness" and her scrappy survival skills. I thought of Francie Nolan and her lively and complex New York world. I thought of Count Rostov from "A Gentleman in Moscow" and how a hotel can become an unexpected refuge. The protagonist of 'Nothing Else But Miracles', Dory Byrne, is her own unique, aggravating, and funny little self and yet richly echoes her literary forebears. She is learning to see the world around her like Scout. She is scrappy like Barbary and wholly at home in NYC like Francie. She is resourceful like Count Rostov. And there's a Boo Radley in this story.
Dory is 12 years old and lives with her father, 17 year old brother Fish, and 8 year old brother Pike in a New York City apartment, close enough to the tip of Manhattan that Dory has made a friend of the Statue of Liberty ('Libby'). Pop is off to fight in WWII in the lead-up to D-Day and Dory, Pike, and Fish have to survive without him. The neighborhood that Pop has lived in his whole life and the kids have lived in their whole lives is looking out for them. But survival is still tough for these kids. The burden of the family falls on Fish, and I love how the three siblings have to learn to trust each other to make it through. I absolutely adored the love between the siblings. They make sacrifices for each other and Dory especially comes to appreciate both her brothers as she learns to look beyond her own survival and emotions.
New York feels so alive and vibrant through Dory's eyes and there is a wonderful sense of history through Dory's discovery of an old hotel and through the kids' visits to Coney Island and other New York landmarks. The individuals that people the neighborhood are from all different nationalities and bring the kids all kinds of food, some of it they love (crullers) and some not so much (some Eastern European dish with beets!). I loved the Byrnes' relationship with their neighbors, the Morellos, who have kids Fish and Dory's ages.
Through the whole story, there's the poignancy of absence with Pop gone and the heartbeat of the children's love for him. They keep Pop alive in their own unique ways and, sure enough, the neighborhood is looking out for them. I loved the personification of 'Libby' in the story and how the theme of liberty takes on richness as the kids face their challenges and mature. The story is also funny and winsome and has a Beverly Cleary flavor in capturing the endearing (and sometimes mildly disgusting) idiosyncracies of kids. And I'd like to put in petitions for an older brother like Fish and a sequel for a story about Pike, the library lover and reader.
Dory is 12 years old and lives with her father, 17 year old brother Fish, and 8 year old brother Pike in a New York City apartment, close enough to the tip of Manhattan that Dory has made a friend of the Statue of Liberty ('Libby'). Pop is off to fight in WWII in the lead-up to D-Day and Dory, Pike, and Fish have to survive without him. The neighborhood that Pop has lived in his whole life and the kids have lived in their whole lives is looking out for them. But survival is still tough for these kids. The burden of the family falls on Fish, and I love how the three siblings have to learn to trust each other to make it through. I absolutely adored the love between the siblings. They make sacrifices for each other and Dory especially comes to appreciate both her brothers as she learns to look beyond her own survival and emotions.
New York feels so alive and vibrant through Dory's eyes and there is a wonderful sense of history through Dory's discovery of an old hotel and through the kids' visits to Coney Island and other New York landmarks. The individuals that people the neighborhood are from all different nationalities and bring the kids all kinds of food, some of it they love (crullers) and some not so much (some Eastern European dish with beets!). I loved the Byrnes' relationship with their neighbors, the Morellos, who have kids Fish and Dory's ages.
Through the whole story, there's the poignancy of absence with Pop gone and the heartbeat of the children's love for him. They keep Pop alive in their own unique ways and, sure enough, the neighborhood is looking out for them. I loved the personification of 'Libby' in the story and how the theme of liberty takes on richness as the kids face their challenges and mature. The story is also funny and winsome and has a Beverly Cleary flavor in capturing the endearing (and sometimes mildly disgusting) idiosyncracies of kids. And I'd like to put in petitions for an older brother like Fish and a sequel for a story about Pike, the library lover and reader.
September 9, 2023
With all the family love, heartache, and resilience (as well as the immersive community!) of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but for a younger audience.
I especially love that while there is a love for books in this story (as with A Place to Hang the Moon), Dory isn't the bookworm of the family and only learns to appreciate books when she's put in a position to give them a fair chance.
The true love and affection between siblings and the beauty of a close and involved community combine in a truly wonderful story. Add to that a nod to "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and you have a story you don't want to put down.
April 12, 2024
This book looked promising to me but it was underwhelming.
I looove anything set in NYC and I enjoy WWII reads. I also remember finishing Albus’ A Place to Hang the Moon and being so bummed it was done cuz it was that good!
But in this book there were a lot of things that went nowhere or could have become something cooler, if that makes sense. The story didn’t have the same charm or warmth to it. Dory’s personality (esp the lying) wasn’t my fave. Ending was rushed. Some forced time period hat tips like saying “shucks, mister.” I don’t understand how people are saying this book is as good as Albus’ first one 🤷🏼♀️
I looove anything set in NYC and I enjoy WWII reads. I also remember finishing Albus’ A Place to Hang the Moon and being so bummed it was done cuz it was that good!
But in this book there were a lot of things that went nowhere or could have become something cooler, if that makes sense. The story didn’t have the same charm or warmth to it. Dory’s personality (esp the lying) wasn’t my fave. Ending was rushed. Some forced time period hat tips like saying “shucks, mister.” I don’t understand how people are saying this book is as good as Albus’ first one 🤷🏼♀️
December 30, 2023
Beautiful story!
December 27, 2023
Charming middle-grade historical fiction. This novel echoes many of the vibes that I adore in Kate Albus’s debut novel, A Place to Hang the Moon: a trio of supportive siblings who were left to fend for themselves must present the appearance of having a legal guardian, so as to avoid being sent into foster care. It’s not as dire as it sounds, since the eldest is a very responsible boy, almost a man, who takes good care of his younger sister and brother. I absolutely love their camaraderie and supportiveness of each other. And the dialogue is wonderful.
Both novels share the same historical timeframe, World War II, but the setting couldn’t be more different. Now we’re living in New York City, which of course feels very different from the English countryside setting of A Place to Hang the Moon. Although not without its charm, especially in scenes inside the century-old abandoned hotel hideaway, the NYC atmosphere in this novel didn’t appeal to me that much. I loved everything else about it!
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy historical fiction, lovely prose, great characters, and middle grade fiction that’s perfect for pre-teens, teens, and grown-ups alike.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson Books for a digital advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Both novels share the same historical timeframe, World War II, but the setting couldn’t be more different. Now we’re living in New York City, which of course feels very different from the English countryside setting of A Place to Hang the Moon. Although not without its charm, especially in scenes inside the century-old abandoned hotel hideaway, the NYC atmosphere in this novel didn’t appeal to me that much. I loved everything else about it!
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy historical fiction, lovely prose, great characters, and middle grade fiction that’s perfect for pre-teens, teens, and grown-ups alike.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Margaret Ferguson Books for a digital advance review copy. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
October 24, 2023
In NYC during WWII three siblings try and survive.
I’m disappointed. I adored Kate Albus’ first book but this wasn’t nearly as good of a follow up. While it had the same charm Albus seems to carry, it didn’t have a fraction of the plot. This story went NOWHERE. Things would happen and I’d think, “who cares?” The plot didn’t really go anywhere and as a result I felt very detached from it. Also- the characters weren’t nearly as likable. The names drove me CRAZY and rubbed me wrong the entire story.
I’m disappointed. I adored Kate Albus’ first book but this wasn’t nearly as good of a follow up. While it had the same charm Albus seems to carry, it didn’t have a fraction of the plot. This story went NOWHERE. Things would happen and I’d think, “who cares?” The plot didn’t really go anywhere and as a result I felt very detached from it. Also- the characters weren’t nearly as likable. The names drove me CRAZY and rubbed me wrong the entire story.
June 24, 2023
While at times I found Dory’s character endearing and humorous, the entire plot of this story is built upon her lies, a premise I have a hard time getting behind for young readers.
July 15, 2024
Kate Albus has done it again!
I read A Place to Hang the Moon last year and absolutely fell in love with it. It was actually among my top five books of 2023. Somehow, I loved Nothing Else but Miracles even more.
We follow Dory and her two brothers as they are left alone in New York while their dad is called to fight in World War II. This story has so many elements that I label as 'wholesome': lovely sibling dynamics, descriptions of food, and an overall fine balance of dark and uplifting themes.
What I like best about Kate's books is that I can totally see kids loving these stories just as much as an adult (me, me) could. Despite the difficult topics explored, her stories capture so much coziness, hope, and love. Both stories are unbelievably underrated, and if you are reading this review, I urge you to do yourself a favor and pick up either one of them.
Kate Albus, you have won a very loyal reader. Thank you for writing!
I read A Place to Hang the Moon last year and absolutely fell in love with it. It was actually among my top five books of 2023. Somehow, I loved Nothing Else but Miracles even more.
We follow Dory and her two brothers as they are left alone in New York while their dad is called to fight in World War II. This story has so many elements that I label as 'wholesome': lovely sibling dynamics, descriptions of food, and an overall fine balance of dark and uplifting themes.
What I like best about Kate's books is that I can totally see kids loving these stories just as much as an adult (me, me) could. Despite the difficult topics explored, her stories capture so much coziness, hope, and love. Both stories are unbelievably underrated, and if you are reading this review, I urge you to do yourself a favor and pick up either one of them.
Kate Albus, you have won a very loyal reader. Thank you for writing!
December 5, 2025
This was so sweet. 🤍 The resilient, scrappy characters and their adventures reminded me of such classics as the first Boxcar Children book, the Gone-Away series, and A Little Princess. I loved the ordinary-ness and the strong sense of community so much.
December 23, 2023
In this book, Kate Albus’s newest novel, I could immediately tell that her style had shifted immensely. I adored A Place to Hang the Moon, but I found this narrative voice to be tangential, expositional, and overall a bit distracting. It actually bothered me, and I had a hard time enjoying the read. In my opinion, story wasn’t bad, but some parts rather annoyed me - like how Dory is ALWAYS lying. Sadly, did not live up to my expectations.
April 17, 2024
Interesting book that I couldn’t put down. 3 stars because the main character lies through most of the book and it isn’t addressed.
April 20, 2025
3.5-
Kate Albus does sibling stories well. Once again set in WWII, this story follow three siblings in New York trying trying to care for each other while their pop is over fighting. There is abandon hotels, treasure, rides and Coney Island and lots of miracles.
It moved a bit slow at first for me but I love the twists it takes and the sweet relationships they have.
Kate Albus does sibling stories well. Once again set in WWII, this story follow three siblings in New York trying trying to care for each other while their pop is over fighting. There is abandon hotels, treasure, rides and Coney Island and lots of miracles.
It moved a bit slow at first for me but I love the twists it takes and the sweet relationships they have.
October 10, 2023
I needed a sweet, cozy and heartwarming read- and Kate Albus did not disappoint. Like her first book, she has a way of sharing the realities of life (in America this time) during WWII without taking you into the pits of despair. Again, a story featuring siblings and their sweet relationship as they face wartime NYC.
Not a cliffhanger or thriller but I didn’t want it to end.
I read a library copy but will be adding a personal copy to my home library.
Not a cliffhanger or thriller but I didn’t want it to end.
I read a library copy but will be adding a personal copy to my home library.
February 26, 2025
*4.75⭐️
June 3, 2024
Cute and fun read! I will say however that I was bothered by the lies the girl told, it was like her first response to trouble and she didn’t seem to experience any repercussions from it. But other than that, I did enjoy the setting, the characters, the writing.
Listened to on Libby thanks to my local public library.
Listened to on Libby thanks to my local public library.
December 30, 2023
2.5 stars.
Meh.
That just about sums this book up. Meh. If I didn’t know this was written my the same author as A Place to Hang the Moon, I would never in a million years have guessed it. I enjoyed this book as in it was a quick and easy read with a trio of charming siblings. But I have a multitude of problems. Brace yourselves. A rant is coming.
The writing, frankly, annoyed me. The constant breaking of the fourth wall, the lists, etc., all seemed like an attempt to be witty and funny, but mostly came off as grating, especially since they were sometimes very ill placed, at points that were not supposed to be remotely funny.And the DIAMOND. Don’t even get me started. Why mention the diamond at all? It was SO POINTLESS and had ZERO RELEVANCE to the plot. It was just a red herring, which to me (though I’m sure it wasn’t) felt like I was being laughed at. I guessed almost right away that the diamond was a red herring, but when it was revealed that it had nothing to do with the plot, it felt like, “lol I tricked you the diamond was pointless sorry not sorry lol.” It just annoyed me immensely.
The letters Dory found were similar. They had no relevance to the plot. It felt like someone had found them in real life; a cool thing to find but it doesn’t actually come to anything. That’s fine and all, but this is not supposed to be like in real life. This is supposed to be a story.
The plot was another problem. I was confused about what story the author was trying to tell here. The characters did not have to come over any huge struggles or character flaws. They learn practically nothing. They hardly develop. There was no real external conflict, either. The problems with their landlord and stuff was all solved for them by their neighbor.
One last thing (I promise this is the last thing 😂) ‘miracles’ was never really a theme in this book. The word was said, like maybe three times? But it wasn’t important to the characters, it wasn’t important to the plot, it just seemed rather arbitrary.
So, in short, (if you’re still even here, how many people are going to bother reading to the end of this high-schooler’s rant about a middle-grade piece of fiction??) I’m disappointed. I hope Kate Albus’ future works will be more like A Place to Hang the Moon, and less like this.
Meh.
That just about sums this book up. Meh. If I didn’t know this was written my the same author as A Place to Hang the Moon, I would never in a million years have guessed it. I enjoyed this book as in it was a quick and easy read with a trio of charming siblings. But I have a multitude of problems. Brace yourselves. A rant is coming.
The writing, frankly, annoyed me. The constant breaking of the fourth wall, the lists, etc., all seemed like an attempt to be witty and funny, but mostly came off as grating, especially since they were sometimes very ill placed, at points that were not supposed to be remotely funny.And the DIAMOND. Don’t even get me started. Why mention the diamond at all? It was SO POINTLESS and had ZERO RELEVANCE to the plot. It was just a red herring, which to me (though I’m sure it wasn’t) felt like I was being laughed at. I guessed almost right away that the diamond was a red herring, but when it was revealed that it had nothing to do with the plot, it felt like, “lol I tricked you the diamond was pointless sorry not sorry lol.” It just annoyed me immensely.
The letters Dory found were similar. They had no relevance to the plot. It felt like someone had found them in real life; a cool thing to find but it doesn’t actually come to anything. That’s fine and all, but this is not supposed to be like in real life. This is supposed to be a story.
The plot was another problem. I was confused about what story the author was trying to tell here. The characters did not have to come over any huge struggles or character flaws. They learn practically nothing. They hardly develop. There was no real external conflict, either. The problems with their landlord and stuff was all solved for them by their neighbor.
One last thing (I promise this is the last thing 😂) ‘miracles’ was never really a theme in this book. The word was said, like maybe three times? But it wasn’t important to the characters, it wasn’t important to the plot, it just seemed rather arbitrary.
So, in short, (if you’re still even here, how many people are going to bother reading to the end of this high-schooler’s rant about a middle-grade piece of fiction??) I’m disappointed. I hope Kate Albus’ future works will be more like A Place to Hang the Moon, and less like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2023
Will read anything Kate Albus writes. Truly.
Kate's A PLACE TO HANG THE MOON became one of my favorite books of all time, so I was *very* excited to read what she put out next. And let me say: Kate is one of the greats, because NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES was just as stunning.
Kate's second book -- another MG historical fiction story -- tells the story of three sibling on the Lower East Side of Manhattan during WWII. While waiting for their dad to come home from the fight, the Byrne siblings carry on with the help of their neighborhood. But with a grouchy landlord out to reveal their parent-less dwelling, they need a place to escape. Then twelve-year-old Dory discovers a hideout, an old hotel abandoned for decades that provides them the home -- and the miracles -- they need.
Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of the last year of World War II, NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES shows how, when things get tough, the neighborhood really will give you what you need… and may even offer up a miracle or two in the process.
Kate has a magical way of crafting stories that are so heartfelt and tender, funny and engaging, meaningful and thoughtful, so seamlessly weaved into one beautiful story. They're books you hold close to your chest. They're books you cherish.
It's one I'm going to be thinking about -- and recommending -- this book for a long time. Add Kate's books to your TBR immediately!
Thank you to Kate for the ARC (and Netgalley/Holiday House for the e-ARC) in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES is out 9/5/23!
Kate's A PLACE TO HANG THE MOON became one of my favorite books of all time, so I was *very* excited to read what she put out next. And let me say: Kate is one of the greats, because NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES was just as stunning.
Kate's second book -- another MG historical fiction story -- tells the story of three sibling on the Lower East Side of Manhattan during WWII. While waiting for their dad to come home from the fight, the Byrne siblings carry on with the help of their neighborhood. But with a grouchy landlord out to reveal their parent-less dwelling, they need a place to escape. Then twelve-year-old Dory discovers a hideout, an old hotel abandoned for decades that provides them the home -- and the miracles -- they need.
Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of the last year of World War II, NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES shows how, when things get tough, the neighborhood really will give you what you need… and may even offer up a miracle or two in the process.
Kate has a magical way of crafting stories that are so heartfelt and tender, funny and engaging, meaningful and thoughtful, so seamlessly weaved into one beautiful story. They're books you hold close to your chest. They're books you cherish.
It's one I'm going to be thinking about -- and recommending -- this book for a long time. Add Kate's books to your TBR immediately!
Thank you to Kate for the ARC (and Netgalley/Holiday House for the e-ARC) in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES is out 9/5/23!
October 20, 2023
This book was such a delight! It was fun to see how the author highlighted life in New York through her storytelling. After reading "A Place to Hang the Moon" (and really loving it) I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. There are similarities, both books are about 3 siblings during WW2 living without parents (although due to different circumstances). But "A Place to Hang the Moon" takes place in England, and this one takes place in New York. At first glance the similarities turned me off, but then I realized that even though this book is not a sequel, it is a story told during the same timeline just in a different location.
It was fun seeing how the author weaved together the neighborhood to become part of the setting itself. And towards the end the book even caused me to shed some tears. Its hard to compare the two books, but if I had to choose I might say I like this one better than the hang the moon. :)
It was fun seeing how the author weaved together the neighborhood to become part of the setting itself. And towards the end the book even caused me to shed some tears. Its hard to compare the two books, but if I had to choose I might say I like this one better than the hang the moon. :)
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