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Where the Water Takes Us
Ava's mom is about to have twins, and the pregnancy isn't going well. All Ava wants to do is stay by her mother's side, but instead, she is sent away to stay with her grandparents. Normally, spending time at the lake with Nonna and Nonno is wonderful. But everything is different now. While her mom's hospital visits are getting serious back home, Ava grapples with anxiety. As summer storms rock the island, electricity goes out at the cabin, and an annoyingly cheerful boy named Cody seems determined to pop up everywhere she goes. Ava can't be distracted from the feeling that something terrible, something irrevocable, is going to happen to her mom while she is gone. When a bird dies in front of her, Ava is sure it is a sign that she is cursed, the last thing she, or her family, needs. But if a curse has been placed on her, there must a way to break it. So Ava makes a if she can take care of two orphaned bird eggs, she will have paid off her debt, and her family will be alright. With everyone she loves on the line, Ava will do everything in her power to make sure that her mom, her twin baby brothers, her birds, and even Cody all come through the summer safely.
Audio CD
Published July 4, 2023
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324 people want to read
About the author
Alan Barillaro
3 books18 followersAlan Barillaro is the Academy Award–winning writer and director of the animated short film Piper and has been supervising animator on many other popular theatrical releases, including The Incredibles, Incredibles 2, WALL-E, and Brave. He began his career in animation at the age of sixteen and spent more than twenty-five years at Pixar Animation Studios. Alan Barillaro lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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October 15, 2024
doğumu yaklaşan annesi,
beklediği ikiz kardeşleri,
büyükanne/baba evine yolculuk,
yoğun duygular.
Ava, ailesinin özlemi kalbinde, yoğun duygularının ağırlığıyla bir yaza giriş yapıyor. karamsar başlayan yazı, kurduğu arkadaşlığı, doğada şahit olduğu yaşam ve ilhamla aşılabilir ve umut dolu oluyor. neşeli bir arkadaş onun kabuğunu kırıyor, kuşlara yoldaşlık yapıyor.
bu kitap; büyüme, yeniliklere alışma, her zaman geldiğin yazlığa bir yaş daha büyümüş olarak gelme, arkadaşlık ve cesaret hikayesi.
kitabın kocaman ama hiç rahatsız etmeyen bir sesi var. kitaptan yükselen sesleri; kuşlar, sular ve çocuk konuşmaları oluşturuyor. bayıldım.
beklediği ikiz kardeşleri,
büyükanne/baba evine yolculuk,
yoğun duygular.
Ava, ailesinin özlemi kalbinde, yoğun duygularının ağırlığıyla bir yaza giriş yapıyor. karamsar başlayan yazı, kurduğu arkadaşlığı, doğada şahit olduğu yaşam ve ilhamla aşılabilir ve umut dolu oluyor. neşeli bir arkadaş onun kabuğunu kırıyor, kuşlara yoldaşlık yapıyor.
bu kitap; büyüme, yeniliklere alışma, her zaman geldiğin yazlığa bir yaş daha büyümüş olarak gelme, arkadaşlık ve cesaret hikayesi.
kitabın kocaman ama hiç rahatsız etmeyen bir sesi var. kitaptan yükselen sesleri; kuşlar, sular ve çocuk konuşmaları oluşturuyor. bayıldım.
April 22, 2024
Wonderful story!
June 25, 2023
Alan Barillaro's debut middle-grade novel is one you, and your students or children, will not want to miss. It's about Ava, an eleven-year-old sent to her grandparents who live on a lake. They are wonderful to be with but this time, Ava's mother is about to have twins and it's a troubling pregnancy so Ava is sent away so she won't be a "burden"! She is hurt, anxious, and appears to be so worried that she's resisting nearly every good thing from the minute she arrives. During the story, a storm brings Ava in her canoe to Deer Island where she sees a bird die and convinces herself she must be cursed. On top of that, A boy named Cody visiting with his dad keeps popping up in annoying ways. He wants to do more with her; Ava thinks he's awful.
Working through anxieties for Ava is never easy, as Barillaro deftly shows in Ava's thoughts. Her grandparents are kind and try to find ways to comfort and distract her, but she's not having any of that either. She's a mess, needing to realize that some things may not be easy to change. Cody wanting to be a friend is one, then the events with helping a discovery of abandoned bird eggs hatch and a great storm brings Ava to knowing she does have strength in ways which surprised her. I am reminded of the quote "Be kind, you never know what someone is going through." as the story of Ava unfolds. Sometimes people dismiss young children's feelings who also often hide them. This time, Barillaro lets us know to look further, there is more to discover than we think! It's a book filled with feelings that will remind you to look again at people you think you know.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
Working through anxieties for Ava is never easy, as Barillaro deftly shows in Ava's thoughts. Her grandparents are kind and try to find ways to comfort and distract her, but she's not having any of that either. She's a mess, needing to realize that some things may not be easy to change. Cody wanting to be a friend is one, then the events with helping a discovery of abandoned bird eggs hatch and a great storm brings Ava to knowing she does have strength in ways which surprised her. I am reminded of the quote "Be kind, you never know what someone is going through." as the story of Ava unfolds. Sometimes people dismiss young children's feelings who also often hide them. This time, Barillaro lets us know to look further, there is more to discover than we think! It's a book filled with feelings that will remind you to look again at people you think you know.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
April 17, 2024
A beautiful middle grade book combining anxiety and nature. Lovely.
July 27, 2025
çocukluk anksiyetesi, içsel kıvranmalar ve büyürken lanetli olduğuna inanmak.
August 5, 2023
Another book where I feel like I was waiting for something to happen... I mean, yeah. I get that it's about a girl learning to believe in her own power over her life and her universe and all but like... Not much happened. Lots of WAITING for things to happen...
It's very well written and the illustrations on each page are beautiful and add to the kind of timelessness of a kid during the summer. But like... Meh.
It's very well written and the illustrations on each page are beautiful and add to the kind of timelessness of a kid during the summer. But like... Meh.
March 2, 2023
Ava's mother is pregnant with twins, but things aren't going well. After the doctor tells Ava and her family that she's a burden to the situation, she's sent to spend the summer with her grandparents on their island. There are many things to do and tons to explore, but the doctor's statement and her mother's health hang over Ava's head like a dark cloud. When a kayak mishap ends with Ava witnessing a small death, she's more than shaken, but a small wonder might just come out of it all.
First off, I absolutely adored the illustrations! While taking the usual format of a middle grade novel, beautiful illustrations done in watercolor are added as well. While full ones only happen every now and then, each page is underlined with a small scene fitting to the tale's plot at the time. This along deserves extra kudos and had me smiling!
This is a tale about learning to handle difficult situations, patience, reaching beyond comfort zones, and accepting the care others give around you. So, it's a book full of warming moments, hesitations, fears, and hope. The setting with Ava's grandparents on an island among in a fishing area with tourists gives the calm of water, nature, and freedom, which allow this tale to really unfold. Plus, the author centers the story around two baby birds, which mirrors Ava's own situations and acts as the driving factor which leads her through, but of course, not without hurdles.
The pacing flows along smoothly like paddling along on a lake. There are moments of tension to keep things interesting, but nothing which will be too much for more sensitive readers. The surrounding characters are caring, supportive, or...in the case of Cody...sandpaper which needs smoothing. I adored Nonna and Nonno as they usually offered words of wisdom and gently steered Ava in the right direction. I was disappointed that the doctor told Ava she was a 'burden' in front of her (as a parent, I would have not found that okay), and was surprised at Nonna's own slip when she said that a bird in the house summoned a death (not exact words). But adults do say things they shouldn't in real life, too.
Ava did take some time to warm up to, though. In the first chapters, she allows her worries to act like a concrete wall, and while understandable, this does make it hard to sympathize with her for awhile. At times, she seemed a little immature for her age, but in general, she comes across well. When she meets Cody, his personality is almost humorous, but she melts to him as time goes on. From here, it nods at romance and first crushes, which did bother me a bit considering not only her age but the situation. While I know it's not strange, in the least, for kids this age to crush (or even younger), for some reason it felt like an unnecessary distraction from the other, larger problems. But that really might just be me. In any case, their friendship is golden and has a nice arc.
This is a well-written story, which flows along with heart and learning to deal threatening health issues in a family. It also teaches a bit about nature and bonuses with information on birds. For those who enjoy emotional reads of growth, it's a nice story. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed visiting Ava's world.
First off, I absolutely adored the illustrations! While taking the usual format of a middle grade novel, beautiful illustrations done in watercolor are added as well. While full ones only happen every now and then, each page is underlined with a small scene fitting to the tale's plot at the time. This along deserves extra kudos and had me smiling!
This is a tale about learning to handle difficult situations, patience, reaching beyond comfort zones, and accepting the care others give around you. So, it's a book full of warming moments, hesitations, fears, and hope. The setting with Ava's grandparents on an island among in a fishing area with tourists gives the calm of water, nature, and freedom, which allow this tale to really unfold. Plus, the author centers the story around two baby birds, which mirrors Ava's own situations and acts as the driving factor which leads her through, but of course, not without hurdles.
The pacing flows along smoothly like paddling along on a lake. There are moments of tension to keep things interesting, but nothing which will be too much for more sensitive readers. The surrounding characters are caring, supportive, or...in the case of Cody...sandpaper which needs smoothing. I adored Nonna and Nonno as they usually offered words of wisdom and gently steered Ava in the right direction. I was disappointed that the doctor told Ava she was a 'burden' in front of her (as a parent, I would have not found that okay), and was surprised at Nonna's own slip when she said that a bird in the house summoned a death (not exact words). But adults do say things they shouldn't in real life, too.
Ava did take some time to warm up to, though. In the first chapters, she allows her worries to act like a concrete wall, and while understandable, this does make it hard to sympathize with her for awhile. At times, she seemed a little immature for her age, but in general, she comes across well. When she meets Cody, his personality is almost humorous, but she melts to him as time goes on. From here, it nods at romance and first crushes, which did bother me a bit considering not only her age but the situation. While I know it's not strange, in the least, for kids this age to crush (or even younger), for some reason it felt like an unnecessary distraction from the other, larger problems. But that really might just be me. In any case, their friendship is golden and has a nice arc.
This is a well-written story, which flows along with heart and learning to deal threatening health issues in a family. It also teaches a bit about nature and bonuses with information on birds. For those who enjoy emotional reads of growth, it's a nice story. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed visiting Ava's world.
April 14, 2023
What worked:
The book’s synopsis pretty much sums up the entire book. The focus is on Ava’s conflicted feelings about her mother’s pregnancy and the different ways they affect her character. She’s sad and angry when she’s forced to spend time at her grandparents’ house on a lake instead of staying home at her mother’s side. Ava’s moods waver between disappointment for being stuck there and her love for Nonna and Nonno. Her thoughts about the unborn, twin brothers are mixed since her mother’s serious health problems are caused by the pregnancy. Then, Ava’s imagination takes over as she thinks she’s cursed and must atone for a woodpecker’s death during a storm.
A boy named Cody offers a contrast to Ava’s character as he’s excited about everything related to the lake. His outgoing, positive personality really irks her since she’s trying to be upset with being separated from her mother. Ava finds him annoying and weird and she’s further bothered that he doesn’t consider the pain she’s experiencing. However, readers may realize that Ava’s not very understanding herself as she doesn’t know anything about Cody’s life either. His upbeat demeanor may not sit well with Ava but it also provides some optimism missing in her life.
Life around the lake is much different from the lives of most young readers. They’ve probably never heard of party lines which is the connection Ava must use to call home. Nanno has a canoe for Ava to use that allows her to explore Deer Island and other parts of the lake. She’s surprised to hear Nanno say deer, bears, raccoons, and other animals can swim anywhere and there’s nothing stopping them from visiting his home. Adventurous readers may relate to fishing on a lake, digging through dirt with their bare hands to find huge earthworms, and discovering bird eggs in the wild. How many people have collected fresh water from a natural spring. While it’s not a fantasy world, living among nature’s wonders provides an equally magical setting for a story.
What didn’t work as well:
The drama and conflict are mostly in Ava’s mind which may not appeal to everyone. Her concerns are realistic and relatable although the suspense doesn’t reach high levels found in other books. Of course, that’s not true for the climax when Ava and Cody find themselves in a life-threatening situation.
The Final Verdict:
The plot shares Ava’s internal struggles with adapting to her growing family. Cody offers a playful contrast to balance Ava’s character. Overall, this is an entertaining story and I recommend you give it a shot.
The book’s synopsis pretty much sums up the entire book. The focus is on Ava’s conflicted feelings about her mother’s pregnancy and the different ways they affect her character. She’s sad and angry when she’s forced to spend time at her grandparents’ house on a lake instead of staying home at her mother’s side. Ava’s moods waver between disappointment for being stuck there and her love for Nonna and Nonno. Her thoughts about the unborn, twin brothers are mixed since her mother’s serious health problems are caused by the pregnancy. Then, Ava’s imagination takes over as she thinks she’s cursed and must atone for a woodpecker’s death during a storm.
A boy named Cody offers a contrast to Ava’s character as he’s excited about everything related to the lake. His outgoing, positive personality really irks her since she’s trying to be upset with being separated from her mother. Ava finds him annoying and weird and she’s further bothered that he doesn’t consider the pain she’s experiencing. However, readers may realize that Ava’s not very understanding herself as she doesn’t know anything about Cody’s life either. His upbeat demeanor may not sit well with Ava but it also provides some optimism missing in her life.
Life around the lake is much different from the lives of most young readers. They’ve probably never heard of party lines which is the connection Ava must use to call home. Nanno has a canoe for Ava to use that allows her to explore Deer Island and other parts of the lake. She’s surprised to hear Nanno say deer, bears, raccoons, and other animals can swim anywhere and there’s nothing stopping them from visiting his home. Adventurous readers may relate to fishing on a lake, digging through dirt with their bare hands to find huge earthworms, and discovering bird eggs in the wild. How many people have collected fresh water from a natural spring. While it’s not a fantasy world, living among nature’s wonders provides an equally magical setting for a story.
What didn’t work as well:
The drama and conflict are mostly in Ava’s mind which may not appeal to everyone. Her concerns are realistic and relatable although the suspense doesn’t reach high levels found in other books. Of course, that’s not true for the climax when Ava and Cody find themselves in a life-threatening situation.
The Final Verdict:
The plot shares Ava’s internal struggles with adapting to her growing family. Cody offers a playful contrast to balance Ava’s character. Overall, this is an entertaining story and I recommend you give it a shot.
June 29, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Candlewick Press, Alan Barillaro, and Eunice Wong (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Where the Water Takes Us in exchange for an honest review.
Coming from a film-maker, Barillardo's debut middle grade novel is flush with imagery that paints a vivid picture, like watching a movie. Through the eyes of 11-year-old Ava, the reader is encompassed in the beauty of nature on an island in a lake.
Ava finds herself torn away from her mother's side as she grapples with a difficult and precarious pregnancy (with twins!), forcing Ava to stay with her grandparents. However, the idyllic summer haven she once cherished feels different now, overshadowed by her mother's worsening condition and Ava's growing anxiety. What if something terrible happens to her mother or the babies? There must be something she can do.
As the island is battered by tumultuous summer storms, the cabin loses electricity often, causing Ava to look elsewhere for means to kill time. To make matters worse, an exasperatingly cheerful boy named Cody appears at every turn, further complicating Ava's turbulent emotions. She wants to be friends, but sometimes Cody's presence is just too intense. In the midst of it all, Ava becomes convinced that a sinister omen looms over her, convinced that her mother's well-being is in jeopardy during her absence.
When Ava witnesses the death of a bird before her eyes, she interprets it as a sign of a curse befalling her—a burden that her already burdened family can ill afford. Driven by a desperate need to protect her mother and the babies, Ava strikes a deal: she will care for two orphaned bird eggs, believing that by doing so, she can break the curse and secure her family's safety. With her mother, her twin baby brothers, her avian companions, and even Cody's well-being at stake, Ava embarks on an extraordinary journey, employing every ounce of her determination to ensure their collective survival throughout the summer.
Ava demonstrates the strength that can come from within and the power of belief. This novel is good for readers 4-8th grade, but absolutely perfect for a 6th grade audience. Children of this age group may be experiencing something similar. If they have no other siblings and their mom is pregnant, that can be both exciting and scary in its newness. An absolutely brilliant novel.
Coming from a film-maker, Barillardo's debut middle grade novel is flush with imagery that paints a vivid picture, like watching a movie. Through the eyes of 11-year-old Ava, the reader is encompassed in the beauty of nature on an island in a lake.
Ava finds herself torn away from her mother's side as she grapples with a difficult and precarious pregnancy (with twins!), forcing Ava to stay with her grandparents. However, the idyllic summer haven she once cherished feels different now, overshadowed by her mother's worsening condition and Ava's growing anxiety. What if something terrible happens to her mother or the babies? There must be something she can do.
As the island is battered by tumultuous summer storms, the cabin loses electricity often, causing Ava to look elsewhere for means to kill time. To make matters worse, an exasperatingly cheerful boy named Cody appears at every turn, further complicating Ava's turbulent emotions. She wants to be friends, but sometimes Cody's presence is just too intense. In the midst of it all, Ava becomes convinced that a sinister omen looms over her, convinced that her mother's well-being is in jeopardy during her absence.
When Ava witnesses the death of a bird before her eyes, she interprets it as a sign of a curse befalling her—a burden that her already burdened family can ill afford. Driven by a desperate need to protect her mother and the babies, Ava strikes a deal: she will care for two orphaned bird eggs, believing that by doing so, she can break the curse and secure her family's safety. With her mother, her twin baby brothers, her avian companions, and even Cody's well-being at stake, Ava embarks on an extraordinary journey, employing every ounce of her determination to ensure their collective survival throughout the summer.
Ava demonstrates the strength that can come from within and the power of belief. This novel is good for readers 4-8th grade, but absolutely perfect for a 6th grade audience. Children of this age group may be experiencing something similar. If they have no other siblings and their mom is pregnant, that can be both exciting and scary in its newness. An absolutely brilliant novel.
August 20, 2023
Where the Water Takes Us is a sweet story and though I listened to the audiobook I have seen snippets of the illustrations that author Alan Barillaro included and they are beautiful and seem to match the mood and landscapes of the story perfectly. Anxiety as a theme is central to the story and it is clear that Ava's worry over her mother's difficult pregnancy with twins is constantly on her mind. The crushing confusion of feelings Ava experiences as a result of being sent off to spend time with her grandparents at a Canadian lake cottage while her parents are back and forth to the hospital during her mother's last weeks of pregnancy is well told. I loved the interactions between Ava and Cody, who is also staying at a nearby cottage on the lake, as their friendship develops along with a certain awkwardness that one day in similar circumstances will be easily identified by each as a crush. But somehow I also felt like the anxiety Ava experiences was more than just the normal worries a child would have in this situation. It felt like anxiety might be an actual mental health issue for Ava and that her grandmother, especially, was blind to the possibility that her grand-daughter might have a mental health disorder that would or should require more than vague reassurance. At one point she says exasperatedly or perhaps with a scolding tone "Ava... for the last time... " in response to some worry that Ava has brought to her attention. But I may have read that situation wrong and my wish that the topic of anxiety as a disorder needing a different response was off base. Overall, I really enjoyed the story.
September 16, 2023
Where the Water Takes Us is a quiet little study in adolescent psychology, a coming-of-age story, an adventure story, and a study in relationships, and it is successful in all of these ways. Ava is an insecure 11-year-old whose mother is expecting twins and is having a difficult pregnancy. Because of her mother's situation, Ava comes to stay with her grandparents at their remote lake home for the summer. She is taking her mother's situation very hard. She continues to look for ways to blame herself, and when her grandmother mentions luck, Ava becomes very superstitious, thinking she can somehow control her mother's outcome.
Enter Cody, another pre-teen who is going through a crisis of his own, and is staying at a vacation cottage near Ava's grandparents. The evolution of Ava's and Cody's friendship, and the way that each of them deals with events beyond their control, are beautifully rendered. The contrast between their styles is also very interesting to see.
I hope that many teens and pre-teens of both sexes will read this novel, as is it sensitively and beautifully written. The author is a film director and animator, and I hope to be seeing more of his writing in future.
Enter Cody, another pre-teen who is going through a crisis of his own, and is staying at a vacation cottage near Ava's grandparents. The evolution of Ava's and Cody's friendship, and the way that each of them deals with events beyond their control, are beautifully rendered. The contrast between their styles is also very interesting to see.
I hope that many teens and pre-teens of both sexes will read this novel, as is it sensitively and beautifully written. The author is a film director and animator, and I hope to be seeing more of his writing in future.
July 4, 2023
Thank you @candlewickpress for this fascinating book to read and review. My kids love the amazing story. My son’s👦🏻review.
This story of this book is so touching. Even though I don’t know what it feels like to be the older sibling, I was supporting Ava through out the book. Ava is so brave even though she was forced to be go and live with her Nonna and Nonno, but she made sure that her silent prayers were answered in exchange of doing something good for the family. Be friending Cody was her highlight despite him being annoying at times. Their friendship is the best! They both grew up together and matured in such a short period of time. It is a feel good book! I really like this book!
This story of this book is so touching. Even though I don’t know what it feels like to be the older sibling, I was supporting Ava through out the book. Ava is so brave even though she was forced to be go and live with her Nonna and Nonno, but she made sure that her silent prayers were answered in exchange of doing something good for the family. Be friending Cody was her highlight despite him being annoying at times. Their friendship is the best! They both grew up together and matured in such a short period of time. It is a feel good book! I really like this book!
July 7, 2023
Ava is sent to stay with her grandparents while her parents deal with a difficult pregnancy. Through a series of events, Ava decides she is cursed and is afraid she will lose her family. As she tries to fix the curse, events darken. Ava also meets a boy her age named Cody. She finds him annoying but they become friends. With bad news from her parents and Cody missing, Ava’s fear that her family is doomed by the curse may come true.
This book is aimed at children ages 8-12. The storyline, chapter length, and word choice are all appropriate for this age group. Young readers will find adventure, life lessons, and a beautifully written story.
#WhereTheWaterTakesUs #NetGalley @netgalley
This book is aimed at children ages 8-12. The storyline, chapter length, and word choice are all appropriate for this age group. Young readers will find adventure, life lessons, and a beautifully written story.
#WhereTheWaterTakesUs #NetGalley @netgalley
July 12, 2025
Kendi çocukluğumdan parçalar buldum içinde..
Bir çocuğun kulak misafiri olduğu şeylerin onda nasıl kaygılara yol açabileceğini, onda nasıl bir hüzün yaratabileceğini çok etkili bir şekilde anlatmış yazar.
İkiz bebek bekleyen annesinin sağlığından endişe eden Ava, anneannesi ve dedesi ile yazı geçirmek için geldiği adada lanetlendiğine inanmaya başlıyor.
Sevdiklerini kaybetme korkusu bir çocuğun zihninde nasıl tezahür eder, bence yazar bunu çok güzel hissettirmiş.
Yetişkinlerin de severek okuyacağı etkileyici bir anlatı
Bir çocuğun kulak misafiri olduğu şeylerin onda nasıl kaygılara yol açabileceğini, onda nasıl bir hüzün yaratabileceğini çok etkili bir şekilde anlatmış yazar.
İkiz bebek bekleyen annesinin sağlığından endişe eden Ava, anneannesi ve dedesi ile yazı geçirmek için geldiği adada lanetlendiğine inanmaya başlıyor.
Sevdiklerini kaybetme korkusu bir çocuğun zihninde nasıl tezahür eder, bence yazar bunu çok güzel hissettirmiş.
Yetişkinlerin de severek okuyacağı etkileyici bir anlatı
January 10, 2024
Ava has been sent to her grandparents' island as her mother and father deal with a difficult twin pregnancy. The 11-year-old is filled with anxiety and when a trip on the lake goes wrong she is even racked with more anxiety. Then she meets annoying fishing loving Cody. He gets under her skin but they spend the summer together as a storm blows into the island.
This was a sweet middle-grade story where we dealt with anxieties and changing times. The flow and pacing of this book are well done and is overall a pleasant read.
This was a sweet middle-grade story where we dealt with anxieties and changing times. The flow and pacing of this book are well done and is overall a pleasant read.
June 18, 2023
I absolutely loved this sweet story about Ava. She went to stay with her Nona over a summer break while her parents were having some struggles with having twins and hospital stays. Ava endured some struggles (just like a 11 year old does) and grows and overcomes her challenges. I liked the narrator and how the chapters were short and relatable to what 11 year olds go through. 4/5 ⭐️. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
July 26, 2023
A beautiful story about a girl name Eva a 11
years old that experience anxiety, friendship and learning about her self and life,
At the same time that Eva has to get away from her mother for a period of time since her mother is pregnant with twins and the pregnancy is high risk.
This story teaches us that even as children they have concerns and the way they see life is as important for them as is experienced by an adult and sometimes we don't realize it!
years old that experience anxiety, friendship and learning about her self and life,
At the same time that Eva has to get away from her mother for a period of time since her mother is pregnant with twins and the pregnancy is high risk.
This story teaches us that even as children they have concerns and the way they see life is as important for them as is experienced by an adult and sometimes we don't realize it!
July 26, 2023
A beautiful story about a girl name Eva a 11 years old that experience anxiety, friendship and learning about her self and life,
At the same time that Eva has to get away from her mother for a period of time since her mother is pregnant with twins and the pregnancy is high risk.
This story teaches us that even as children they have concerns and the way they see life is as important for them as is experienced by an adult and sometimes we don't realize it!
At the same time that Eva has to get away from her mother for a period of time since her mother is pregnant with twins and the pregnancy is high risk.
This story teaches us that even as children they have concerns and the way they see life is as important for them as is experienced by an adult and sometimes we don't realize it!
August 2, 2023
This is a strong 4.5. The character of Cody was unequally developed. I had a hard time distinguishing his characteristics so I couldn’t tell if I was supposed to empathize with him, or like him or even trust him. So I didn’t fully invest in him until near the end. I think lots of kids think that if they make those “deals” with some part of the universe that they can bring good luck or hold off bad luck, so that was very relatable. I loved Nonna!
February 5, 2024
A beautiful young story of family connections, friendships & sacrifices.
An 11yr old girl trying to understand her family situation especially her mother who is under going a health crisis giving birth to her twin brothers. Living with her grandparents taught her a lot things, finding ways to cope and enjoy the summer while her mother is recovering.
A great heartwarming story that you can read anytime.
3.6/5⭐️
An 11yr old girl trying to understand her family situation especially her mother who is under going a health crisis giving birth to her twin brothers. Living with her grandparents taught her a lot things, finding ways to cope and enjoy the summer while her mother is recovering.
A great heartwarming story that you can read anytime.
3.6/5⭐️
November 20, 2024
Middle grades story dealing with Ava's anxiety surrounding the pending arrival of baby twins. The setting provides a delightful and gentle backdrop to Ava's internal stormy feelings. The boy across the lake, Cody, balances Ava's character. Most of the drama happens right at the end. Otherwise, it's a fairly gentle and meandering read.
June 12, 2025
Between the delicate watercolors on each page, the wide margins and ample white space (take note publishers!), and the map at the beginning (be still my heart) I felt like I was 10 again, reading under a tree in the heat of summer. I don’t always love Ava, but Cody managed to call her out for all the things I was thinking. Such a slow-in-all-the-right-ways-read to start my summer.
July 25, 2023
This is a quiet, thought provoking book that I think would work best as a read aloud in a 5th grade and up classroom. I think kids would relate to the characters but it isn't very fast moving story line so it might lose their interest if read alone. Depends on the reader. Still highly recommended.
August 21, 2024
An enjoyable read, probably aimed at KS2? I managed to read it in an evening. The illustrations are lovely. If I picked at the plot, it would be to do with the father of the lad & would have to contain a spoiler-alert - so I won’t!
June 17, 2025
Sıcacık,bir o kadar da akıcı çok güzeldi. Hiç zorlanmadan hayalinizde beliriveriyor tüm sahneler... Oscarlı yönetmen, çok iyi bir anlatıcı aynı zamanda.
Bir çocuğun kıskançlık, kabulleniş, sevgi, endişe ve yalnızlık hisleriyle başa çıkış şeklini görüyorsunuz.
Tam bir mevsim kitabı.. Tavsiyedir. 🥰
Bir çocuğun kıskançlık, kabulleniş, sevgi, endişe ve yalnızlık hisleriyle başa çıkış şeklini görüyorsunuz.
Tam bir mevsim kitabı.. Tavsiyedir. 🥰
September 24, 2023
This is a good coming of age story for middle grade. I think 3rd, 4th and 5th grade would enjoy.
Checked it out from Library.
Checked it out from Library.
October 22, 2023
Wonderful and sensitive read by Mr. Barillaro. Brought me back to my childhood spent on Ontario lakes.
January 7, 2024
Nice children’s book. Only rated if down cause it’s not really even YA as it is about 10 year olds.
January 22, 2024
A coming of age tale of a girl spending her summer at her grandparents’ cabin on an island in the Kawartha Lakes region. I was nostalgic for summer visits in Kenora!
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