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Keep It Like a Secret
A heartfelt and unexpected novel about an inseparable brother and sister, from the beloved author of Posted.
From the first moment Morgan can remember, Claire has always been there. Big sister and little brother. Cat and Mouse. They’ve always understood each other, saved each other, seen each other. And they stuck to their own personal code, unwritten but understood, that siblings were inseparable, that they had each other’s backs, no matter what.
At least, they used to.
Somewhere along the line, things between them shifted. Claire started fighting more with Mom, storming out of the house, spending more and more time away, and Morgan felt his sister and best friend slipping away. Now he spends nearly every night sitting awake in his room, waiting for the sound of her key in the lock.
It’s a sound he hasn't heard in nearly a week, ever since her and Mom's worst fight ever. So when Claire finally calls and tells Morgan she wants to spend the day together, just the two of them, he knows this might be his only chance—not just to convince her to come home but to remind her how good things used to be, and could be again.
But Claire has her own plan for the day. One that will mean that, no matter what happens, things between them are going to change forever.
From the first moment Morgan can remember, Claire has always been there. Big sister and little brother. Cat and Mouse. They’ve always understood each other, saved each other, seen each other. And they stuck to their own personal code, unwritten but understood, that siblings were inseparable, that they had each other’s backs, no matter what.
At least, they used to.
Somewhere along the line, things between them shifted. Claire started fighting more with Mom, storming out of the house, spending more and more time away, and Morgan felt his sister and best friend slipping away. Now he spends nearly every night sitting awake in his room, waiting for the sound of her key in the lock.
It’s a sound he hasn't heard in nearly a week, ever since her and Mom's worst fight ever. So when Claire finally calls and tells Morgan she wants to spend the day together, just the two of them, he knows this might be his only chance—not just to convince her to come home but to remind her how good things used to be, and could be again.
But Claire has her own plan for the day. One that will mean that, no matter what happens, things between them are going to change forever.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
18 people are currently reading
2584 people want to read
About the author
John David Anderson
21 books626 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
John David Anderson once hit himself so hard on a dare by his sister that he literally knocked himself out of a chair and nearly blacked out. He has since translated this passion and singularity of purpose to the related arts of novel writing and pizza eating. The author of STANDARD HERO BEHAVIOR, SIDEKICKED, MINION, THE DUNGEONEERS and the soon-to-land MS. BIXBY's LAST DAY, Anderson is a firm believer in wearing the same pair of jeans for three days in a row (four in the winter) and the power of writing to solve 73% of the world's problems. He lives with his beautiful wife and twins in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 23, 2024
I do not recommend. The premise of this book was awesome - a preteen boy struggling with the conflict in this family goes on a special adventure with his beloved sister. I tired of the navel gazing of the narrator - it was way overwrought and not believable. It was so much of his internal monologue complaining about how his sister should just comply with their mom’s wishes to “behave” so that the home could be “peaceful” again. With lots of codependency, his perspective and voice jumped between realistic preteen to a voice that read more like a very moody older teenager/young adult, to a very anxious middle aged woman (it takes one to know one). I think this book would have benefitted from picking between the first two, and also giving Morgan more character of his own,(who was he aside from being mopey about his family?).
I’m writing this review because this is a kids’ book and I believe more responsibility should be taken here to reflect real, age-appropriate and socially appropriate responses to real life situations. If a kid is struggling emotionally with family dynamics, I want them to talk to a trusted adult, not spend every day in their sister’s room just waiting for her to come back and feeling bad.
I’m writing this review because this is a kids’ book and I believe more responsibility should be taken here to reflect real, age-appropriate and socially appropriate responses to real life situations. If a kid is struggling emotionally with family dynamics, I want them to talk to a trusted adult, not spend every day in their sister’s room just waiting for her to come back and feeling bad.
August 28, 2024
"Hey, Cat?"
"Yeah, Mouse?"
"I think the trampoline is breaking."
She took a breath, then reached over and grabbed my hand.
"It'll hold," she said.
💗💗💗
"Yeah, Mouse?"
"I think the trampoline is breaking."
She took a breath, then reached over and grabbed my hand.
"It'll hold," she said.
💗💗💗
July 15, 2024
12-year-old Morgan has always had a best friend in his 18-year-old sister. Despite their age gap, Morgan was Claire's confidant and favorite person. They would read stories and tell secrets and write comics together. But they haven't done that in a while. Claire has become increasingly rebellious and her fights with their well-intentioned but flawed mother are starting to affect the whole family, especially Morgan. Sometimes Claire will disappear for days at a time and Mom has basically given up on her. After one super big fight, Claire leaves to stay at her girlfriend's house for several days -- the longest she's ever left. Then, Claire shows up at Morgan's window wanting him to join her for a day out together. Morgan is excited to go and even more excited to convince Claire to come home and apologize. Only, Claire seems to have other plans for the day and only slowly does Morgan realize what's really going on.
This emotional book about growing up and growing apart really blew me away. Claire, Morgan, and the cast of side characters felt so realistic and so realistically motivated. But this book isn't all just feelings, it's humorous and adventurous and really feels like a wild, fun day between two best friend siblings. The powerful truth at the center of this novel is that sometimes parents aren't bad parents, they just struggle to connect with their children. It's a grown up lesson, but one that is told in a way that middle grade readers on the crux of adolescence will really understand.
I think this book is insightful and thoughtful and cinematic. It feels like one of those books on the cusp of something big -- just like how Morgan is feeling. An unflinching look at the realties of being a kid and growing up. Sometimes parents aren't terrible or amazing, they're just people who are making mistakes raising their children.
This emotional book about growing up and growing apart really blew me away. Claire, Morgan, and the cast of side characters felt so realistic and so realistically motivated. But this book isn't all just feelings, it's humorous and adventurous and really feels like a wild, fun day between two best friend siblings. The powerful truth at the center of this novel is that sometimes parents aren't bad parents, they just struggle to connect with their children. It's a grown up lesson, but one that is told in a way that middle grade readers on the crux of adolescence will really understand.
I think this book is insightful and thoughtful and cinematic. It feels like one of those books on the cusp of something big -- just like how Morgan is feeling. An unflinching look at the realties of being a kid and growing up. Sometimes parents aren't terrible or amazing, they're just people who are making mistakes raising their children.
June 14, 2024
Juvenile fiction and borderline YA. Character telling the story is 12 but other main character is VERY dominating and is 18. LOTS of "keep it a secret form parents" kind of mentality, running away, LGBTQ relationship of the 18yr old. This book was VERY heavy, the 18yr old dumps a LOT on the 12 year old because of their selfishness.
August 4, 2024
Very disappointing read. I really thought in the end, there was going to be a reason for the sisters combative relationship with her mom. Some sort of trauma revealed. Nope. Nothing. For a very slow moving book, to have no big reveal or "life lesson" at the end, this was a big let down. I slogged through to finish it but found nothing but relief at the end, to be finished.
July 8, 2024
4.5 stars. I disagree with a lot of the reviews I'm seeing here and feel that this beautiful, heartbreaking story needed to be told in just the way it was told. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it real? Also yes. There are passages so beautiful, I took pictures of the pages.
March 4, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Morgan, who is twelve, has watched his sister Claire (18), fight with his parents again and again. In the last battle, Claire smashed several of his mother's antique dolls, including one given to her by hr father, who has since passed away. Claire storms out of the house, and doesn't come back for several days. Morgan is worried, but the mother seems somewhat relieved. Claire is safe, staying at the home of her girlfriend, Sasha. Morgan understands that Claire is dealing with a lot of change. She's dropped off the cross country team, broken up with long time boyfriend Connor, and is watching all of her friends make plans to go away to college, while she doesn't have any of her own plans. Morgan misses his sister, and all of the time that they spent together. When Claire has Morgan sneak a box out of her room and asks him to run off with her on a little adventure, Morgan is suprised. He's glad to spend time with his sister, and their adventure is similar to one they took years ago, when Morgan was much younger, and Claire set off with him in the early morning hours without their parents knowing. Driving around in Claire's beat up car, Sonic, the two do some mundane tasks, like buying new shoes at Kohls, but also see a local waterfall, learn to drive the car (with less than optimal results), visit the diner where Claire works, and climb to the top of a water tower. They are in limited contact with their mother by phone, so Morgan isn't concerned that his mother is worried, but during the course of their adventure, he realizes that this is Claire's way of saying goodbye to him.
Strengths: Middle school children spend a lot of time with siblings, and we tend to forget, as adults, how important this time is. Having a much older sibling is something I haven't experienced, but I know that it's easy for children to idolize teens, especially if the older sibling is nice and spends time with them. It's also traumatic when the older sibling leaves home. Claire's actions; fighting with the mother, quitting cross country, starting a different romantic relationship; are all typical of the types of things high schoolers do during their liminal senior year. The fighting can be a way of making the transition away from the home easier. It's sweet that she wants to spend a day with Morgan, and she shares a lot of herself and her activities with her younger brother. This had a little bit of the feel of Ms. Bixby's Last Day to it because of the looming end of their time together, but without the violence to cheesecake. (Although there is a really good chocolate dessert.)
Weaknesses: Some people are toxic and best not to have in one's life, and I think Claire would fit into that category, at least from the perspective of the mother. I had no sympathy for her. Her mother was reasonable, and even supportive, and yet Claire was just evil towards her. Perhaps if there were more information about WHY Claire was so combative, it would have changed my feelings.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed more introspective books about family relationships like Schmidt's The Labors of Hercules Beal, Sherwood's The Ice House, or Creech's Saving Winslow.
Morgan, who is twelve, has watched his sister Claire (18), fight with his parents again and again. In the last battle, Claire smashed several of his mother's antique dolls, including one given to her by hr father, who has since passed away. Claire storms out of the house, and doesn't come back for several days. Morgan is worried, but the mother seems somewhat relieved. Claire is safe, staying at the home of her girlfriend, Sasha. Morgan understands that Claire is dealing with a lot of change. She's dropped off the cross country team, broken up with long time boyfriend Connor, and is watching all of her friends make plans to go away to college, while she doesn't have any of her own plans. Morgan misses his sister, and all of the time that they spent together. When Claire has Morgan sneak a box out of her room and asks him to run off with her on a little adventure, Morgan is suprised. He's glad to spend time with his sister, and their adventure is similar to one they took years ago, when Morgan was much younger, and Claire set off with him in the early morning hours without their parents knowing. Driving around in Claire's beat up car, Sonic, the two do some mundane tasks, like buying new shoes at Kohls, but also see a local waterfall, learn to drive the car (with less than optimal results), visit the diner where Claire works, and climb to the top of a water tower. They are in limited contact with their mother by phone, so Morgan isn't concerned that his mother is worried, but during the course of their adventure, he realizes that this is Claire's way of saying goodbye to him.
Strengths: Middle school children spend a lot of time with siblings, and we tend to forget, as adults, how important this time is. Having a much older sibling is something I haven't experienced, but I know that it's easy for children to idolize teens, especially if the older sibling is nice and spends time with them. It's also traumatic when the older sibling leaves home. Claire's actions; fighting with the mother, quitting cross country, starting a different romantic relationship; are all typical of the types of things high schoolers do during their liminal senior year. The fighting can be a way of making the transition away from the home easier. It's sweet that she wants to spend a day with Morgan, and she shares a lot of herself and her activities with her younger brother. This had a little bit of the feel of Ms. Bixby's Last Day to it because of the looming end of their time together, but without the violence to cheesecake. (Although there is a really good chocolate dessert.)
Weaknesses: Some people are toxic and best not to have in one's life, and I think Claire would fit into that category, at least from the perspective of the mother. I had no sympathy for her. Her mother was reasonable, and even supportive, and yet Claire was just evil towards her. Perhaps if there were more information about WHY Claire was so combative, it would have changed my feelings.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed more introspective books about family relationships like Schmidt's The Labors of Hercules Beal, Sherwood's The Ice House, or Creech's Saving Winslow.
Read
July 16, 2024Claire is the older sister about to graduate from high school. Morgan is the little brother starting junior high in the fall. Together they have been inseparable, that is until recently.
Claire is constantly fighting with their mother. There's yelling and doors slamming as Claire leaves and sometimes doesn't come back for days. This time it started with yelling and ended with porcelain dolls being thrown to the floor. It's been five days this time. Morgan feels left behind, and memories of the good times just aren't enough to make him feel better.
Morgan is thrilled when Claire picks him up in her not so gently used car and promises this day will be for just the two of them. They stop for snacks and drinks before heading off on what she promises will be an adventure.
There are times when it feels like it used to between them, but it is all a bit to uncertain for Morgan. He gets to meet Sasha, Claire's girlfriend, although he's afraid of her giant dog. Claire shows Morgan her secret places including a small park and an awesome waterfall. There's art under a bridge reminding Morgan of the comic they once created together. All the while Morgan knows there's something Claire is trying to tell him, and he's pretty sure it isn't going to be good news.
Author John David Anderson weaves a detailed tale of brother and sister love, well-kept secrets, and inevitable change. Full of emotional ups and downs, KEEP IT LIKE A SECRET is the perfect addition for middle grade and high school collections.
Claire is constantly fighting with their mother. There's yelling and doors slamming as Claire leaves and sometimes doesn't come back for days. This time it started with yelling and ended with porcelain dolls being thrown to the floor. It's been five days this time. Morgan feels left behind, and memories of the good times just aren't enough to make him feel better.
Morgan is thrilled when Claire picks him up in her not so gently used car and promises this day will be for just the two of them. They stop for snacks and drinks before heading off on what she promises will be an adventure.
There are times when it feels like it used to between them, but it is all a bit to uncertain for Morgan. He gets to meet Sasha, Claire's girlfriend, although he's afraid of her giant dog. Claire shows Morgan her secret places including a small park and an awesome waterfall. There's art under a bridge reminding Morgan of the comic they once created together. All the while Morgan knows there's something Claire is trying to tell him, and he's pretty sure it isn't going to be good news.
Author John David Anderson weaves a detailed tale of brother and sister love, well-kept secrets, and inevitable change. Full of emotional ups and downs, KEEP IT LIKE A SECRET is the perfect addition for middle grade and high school collections.
February 23, 2026
predictable
I couldn’t really get into this book. You knew from the beginning that Claire would be leaving and it was inevitable. Mostly, I don’t think this is really a book for kid’s. The role model in this was not a good one at all and there were not clear consequences other than hearing about how their mom yelled at their daughter when she broke the rules.
I was glad when Morgan finally told her how he felt, that he felt like she was leaving him every time she left after an argument with her mom. He was codependent and should have talked about his feelings more instead of keeping them all inside… either parent, his sister, a school counselor.
Her mom was quite overbearing and it was sad no one asked her how she felt when she quit running, but it also seems like Morgan was right - she just quit when anything got difficult and ran away. Life isn’t perfect, families are perfect. I get it’s important to not stay in a verbally abusive relationship (both daughter and mother yelled), but her attitude was not great either. Some rules are important. Things don’t always come easy to everyone, even relationships.
Overall, this felt like the story of an entitled girl not always getting her way and disregarding everyone in her family and leaving them.
I couldn’t really get into this book. You knew from the beginning that Claire would be leaving and it was inevitable. Mostly, I don’t think this is really a book for kid’s. The role model in this was not a good one at all and there were not clear consequences other than hearing about how their mom yelled at their daughter when she broke the rules.
I was glad when Morgan finally told her how he felt, that he felt like she was leaving him every time she left after an argument with her mom. He was codependent and should have talked about his feelings more instead of keeping them all inside… either parent, his sister, a school counselor.
Her mom was quite overbearing and it was sad no one asked her how she felt when she quit running, but it also seems like Morgan was right - she just quit when anything got difficult and ran away. Life isn’t perfect, families are perfect. I get it’s important to not stay in a verbally abusive relationship (both daughter and mother yelled), but her attitude was not great either. Some rules are important. Things don’t always come easy to everyone, even relationships.
Overall, this felt like the story of an entitled girl not always getting her way and disregarding everyone in her family and leaving them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2025
Morgan and his sister, Claire, have a code — have each other's backs, always. But lately Morgan hasn't felt much like Claire has his back, because Claire keeps fighting with their mom and running away from home, leaving Morgan on his own. This realistic fiction novel takes place over the course of one epic day, when Claire knocks on Morgan's window early in the morning and invites him to join her for an adventure. Throughout the course of the day Anderson reveals the bond between Claire and Morgan and helps readers understand how the tension in their family evolved over the years.
Keep It Like a Secret is a moving exploration of sibling relationships, the conflict adolescents can have with their parents, and the sorrow younger siblings feel when their older brothers or sisters grow up and leave home. The characters are well-developed and Anderson, as usual, has infused a serious situation with plenty of humorous moments to keep the novel from growing too heavy. Hand to fans of Anderson's earlier novels and other character-driven stories.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
K.M.
School Librarian
Keep It Like a Secret is a moving exploration of sibling relationships, the conflict adolescents can have with their parents, and the sorrow younger siblings feel when their older brothers or sisters grow up and leave home. The characters are well-developed and Anderson, as usual, has infused a serious situation with plenty of humorous moments to keep the novel from growing too heavy. Hand to fans of Anderson's earlier novels and other character-driven stories.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
K.M.
School Librarian
May 16, 2024
As someone who did NOT grow up with siblings, but has two kiddos, this was very eye opening in how important those relationships truly are. I have always assumed just because my husband has a sister and I see how strong their bond is. With kids though, giving them that time to build that relationship is so important, and we saw that with Morgan and Claire.
This story is definite Ms. Bixby's Last Day vibes if you know what I'm saying.. the emotion was heavy and relatable. The hardest part would be justifying Claire's behavior, but those of us who have been teenagers, most of us know what it is to rebel. Claire's character arc is a great study in the classroom to truly analyze the depth of her emotions, but also how Morgan, being 12, reacts.
Overall, it would be a great addition to any middle grade classroom, even a book study to dive in to Morgan and Claire and even their mother's behavior, how the setting affects their behaviors, and the overall plot development.
Bring some tissues. Anderson always knows how to get in your feelings and write for kids.
This story is definite Ms. Bixby's Last Day vibes if you know what I'm saying.. the emotion was heavy and relatable. The hardest part would be justifying Claire's behavior, but those of us who have been teenagers, most of us know what it is to rebel. Claire's character arc is a great study in the classroom to truly analyze the depth of her emotions, but also how Morgan, being 12, reacts.
Overall, it would be a great addition to any middle grade classroom, even a book study to dive in to Morgan and Claire and even their mother's behavior, how the setting affects their behaviors, and the overall plot development.
Bring some tissues. Anderson always knows how to get in your feelings and write for kids.
August 6, 2024
A poignant MG book about a loving relationship between siblings.
🤫
For all of Morgan’s life his big sister by six years, Claire, has been by his side. She’s been his champion, his confidant and best friend. But lately they’ve begun to have distance between them due to the tense relationship Claire has with their mom. The two are constantly fighting and it ends with Claire leaving the house. Only this time it’s been too long for her to come back. When she decides to take Morgan on an adventure for the day he jumps at the opportunity to see the Cat to his Mouse. However, while Morgan spends the day trying to convince his sister to come home, she has other plans.
🤐
This was such a sweet novel. I think the age difference between the siblings is what made them so close, as most of my friends and I struggled with our siblings growing up and we were close in age. I’d love to see more books with this sibling dynamic in the future.
CW: alcohol, medical content
Relationship was a bit codependent, but I really enjoyed it. 4.5 ⭐️
🤫
For all of Morgan’s life his big sister by six years, Claire, has been by his side. She’s been his champion, his confidant and best friend. But lately they’ve begun to have distance between them due to the tense relationship Claire has with their mom. The two are constantly fighting and it ends with Claire leaving the house. Only this time it’s been too long for her to come back. When she decides to take Morgan on an adventure for the day he jumps at the opportunity to see the Cat to his Mouse. However, while Morgan spends the day trying to convince his sister to come home, she has other plans.
🤐
This was such a sweet novel. I think the age difference between the siblings is what made them so close, as most of my friends and I struggled with our siblings growing up and we were close in age. I’d love to see more books with this sibling dynamic in the future.
CW: alcohol, medical content
Relationship was a bit codependent, but I really enjoyed it. 4.5 ⭐️
August 30, 2024
Morgan and his sister, Claire, have a code — have each other's backs, always. But lately Morgan hasn't felt much like Claire has his back, because Claire keeps fighting with their mom and running away from home, leaving Morgan on his own. This realistic fiction novel takes place over the course of one epic day, when Claire knocks on Morgan's window early in the morning and invites him to join her for an adventure. Throughout the course of the day Anderson reveals the bond between Claire and Morgan and helps readers understand how the tension in their family evolved over the years. Keep It Like a Secret is a moving exploration of sibling relationships, the conflict adolescents can have with their parents, and the sorrow younger siblings feel when their older brothers or sisters grow up and leave home. The characters are well-developed and Anderson, as usual, has infused a serious situation with plenty of humorous moments to keep the novel from growing too heavy. Hand to fans of Anderson's earlier novels and other character-driven stories.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
August 14, 2025
A subtly gripping narrative of the human experience.
John David Anderson possesses the rare ability to tell not just stories but profound truths. Keep It Like a Secret is one of those in middle grade novels which is sneakily profound. It seems as though a brother and sister are spending a single day together, but in truth, love, loyalty, and the bittersweet intricacies of growing up are unfolding and being tested.
It is as though Morgan and Claire's sibling's parts make a round off to the reader as text messages. The sibling banter and the small but telling ache of things unsaid captures the reader's interest. It is not just children's literature, this book engages with anyone who has ever unconditionally loved a person to the extent of fighting for them, albeit in a confusing way.
Tender, with a tinge of humor, and quietly tragic, sensitive Anderson has gifted this stunning piece of literature with to me rather a long time.
John David Anderson possesses the rare ability to tell not just stories but profound truths. Keep It Like a Secret is one of those in middle grade novels which is sneakily profound. It seems as though a brother and sister are spending a single day together, but in truth, love, loyalty, and the bittersweet intricacies of growing up are unfolding and being tested.
It is as though Morgan and Claire's sibling's parts make a round off to the reader as text messages. The sibling banter and the small but telling ache of things unsaid captures the reader's interest. It is not just children's literature, this book engages with anyone who has ever unconditionally loved a person to the extent of fighting for them, albeit in a confusing way.
Tender, with a tinge of humor, and quietly tragic, sensitive Anderson has gifted this stunning piece of literature with to me rather a long time.
October 6, 2024
Despite a Neil Gaiman joke that I could have done without at this point (ugh), this is one of the best middle-grade novels I read this year. It gets sibling relationships so right. As the sibling of a much older sibling who I always felt like I was observing at a distance, I felt a kinship with Morgan. His sister is funny, inventive, independent, and complicated - he is trying to figure her out and he wants to repair her relationship with their mother. But more than that, he wants to bridge the distance that has grown between him and his sister, Claire - all for the least complicated of reasons: he misses her.
Poignant, candid, relatable.
Poignant, candid, relatable.
June 14, 2024
After Morgan's 18yo sister has a terrible fight with their mom and runs away for a week, she returns to sneak Morgan out of the house and takes him on a day-long "adventure," where he learns more about her future plans. The way sibling and parent-child relationships can change with age is depicted in a very accurate, relatable way. The reader feels frustrated on behalf of all the characters for not fully understanding or being patient with each other, especially for Morgan, who wishes for harmony. A good, story that offers no solutions, but encourages the acceptance of change.
July 8, 2024
Loved this book about the closeness that Morgan and his older sister, Claire, share. Claire and mom have issues and when Claire leaves for a few days she comes to pick up Morgan, and they have a fun day together. Claire shows him places special to her. They talk about how they have each other ‘s back and how they take care of each other. At the end of their special day, Claire shares news that will change things between the two of them.
June 23, 2024
This was a middle grade novel that hits home to the reality of sibling relationships, but maybe even more so how hard the parent-child relationship can be during certain extremely hormonal years. Unfortunately, I just had a really, really really hard time finding anything redeeming about one of the characters, but it was still well written and honest.
June 25, 2024
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
A brother and his older sister are incredibly close, but as they grow, change takes place over time that pushes them apart. This story focuses on their two similar events that take place years apart, and it will leads to good discussions about relationships and how change impacts them.
A brother and his older sister are incredibly close, but as they grow, change takes place over time that pushes them apart. This story focuses on their two similar events that take place years apart, and it will leads to good discussions about relationships and how change impacts them.
June 30, 2024
Sensitive and sweet. Never read anything by this author before and I'm gonna have to check out more. Did a great job capturing coming of age and realizing your parents are far from perfect and you won't always love in the same spot as your siblings. Yoshimi battles the pink robots is part of my coming of age story and it was cool to see theae characters listen to it too.
July 4, 2024
My heart hurts for the main character for many reasons. This was a heavy book. Sibling relationship and a lot of dysfunction in their family. I would not recommend this for my 6th graders.
Lines I liked:
“Put enough pressure on anything over time and it will crack.”
“Home is a place you should want to come back to, I think. Not just a place that you have to.”
Lines I liked:
“Put enough pressure on anything over time and it will crack.”
“Home is a place you should want to come back to, I think. Not just a place that you have to.”
July 7, 2024
“Anderson offers nuanced explorations of a family with wide but perhaps in time healable cracks and of two young people whose distinct differences of outlook and personality are bridged by a powerful, loving bond. An intensely felt tale of adolescents desperate for both stability and change.” [Kirkus Reviews]
October 23, 2024
This is not a middle-grade book, or it should not be.
The narration is of codependent disfunctional relationships and offers no good solutions of values on how to handle difficult situations. The main character sometimes behaves like his age but more often seems to be present as a much older and expresses thoughts and opinions virtually no child has. Did not like this one at all.
The narration is of codependent disfunctional relationships and offers no good solutions of values on how to handle difficult situations. The main character sometimes behaves like his age but more often seems to be present as a much older and expresses thoughts and opinions virtually no child has. Did not like this one at all.
November 10, 2024
After hundreds of middle grade books this is a new story premise- sharing the perspective of the younger sibling who is stuck listening to his older sister and mother fight. When Claire doesn’t return home for five days, Morgan is worried that this is the longest he hasn’t heard from Claire and part of the story is a look back at their close relationship and the way it changes as they grow up.
November 19, 2024
Marcus spends the day with his sister not realizing that she is trying to tell him something. As Claire approaches high school graduation, she is barely at home anymore, spending her time at school, work, and at her girlfriend’s. When Claire is home, all she does is fight with their mom. A look back on the strong relationship between two siblings.
January 14, 2025
Character development seems heavily inspired by siblings Casey and Sam from the television show, Atypical.
My fourth read from this author. Excellent at engaging readers. Constructs moments that spark reflection and empathy across all ages.
If this one was not agreeable, be encouraged to give Orion or Bixby a go.
My fourth read from this author. Excellent at engaging readers. Constructs moments that spark reflection and empathy across all ages.
If this one was not agreeable, be encouraged to give Orion or Bixby a go.
June 23, 2025
DNF. Got to page 131. Telling the story about the older sister from the younger brother's POV was interesting in the beginning - it's a well-written story -- I just lost interest in the LGBTQ aspect and was more interested in reading a female protagonist from the female POV, and decided to return it to the library.
May 28, 2024
3.5/3.6 stars
This is certainly well written, and I liked the manner in which things are woven together for the conclusion. That said, it was also kind of a slow and meandering story with perhaps not enough going on to satisfy readers.
This is certainly well written, and I liked the manner in which things are woven together for the conclusion. That said, it was also kind of a slow and meandering story with perhaps not enough going on to satisfy readers.
June 20, 2024
I just found this stress-inducing. If I want to see terrible child-parent relationships . . . never mind. I never want to turn to them for entertainment. If a book is going to use it as a device let it be about more interesting matter as well.
June 16, 2024
3.5 stars
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