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In Your Shoes
The critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin delivers another heartfelt story that will remind readers you never know who needs a friend the most, about two imaginative tweens who help each other find new beginnings.
Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family's bowling center even if though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there.
Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn't have to live above her uncle's funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after.
Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that's when it all begins. . . .
Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family's bowling center even if though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there.
Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn't have to live above her uncle's funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after.
Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that's when it all begins. . . .
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2018
37 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
January 10, 2018
“We can enjoy our messy, imperfect lives so much more when we simply live in the moment, filled with gratitude for exactly what it is.” –Donna Gephart, from In Your Shoes
May 14, 2019
I loved this book so much! It was so sweet and the characters moved me so much! I was sad and happy!
October 22, 2018
I loved Lily and Dunkin and fully expected to love In Your Shoes -- I think grief is underrepresented in middle grade and children's fiction, and given Gephart's sensitive handling of bipolar disorder in Lily and Dunkin, I was looking forward to another nuanced character in Miles, with anxiety.
Miles and Amy were both sweet. Actually, Miles, Amy, Tate, and Randall were all wonderfully kind and good characters. There were no bad guys here. Unlike another reviewer, I don't think the book needed to include many more people outside their circle, and I do think it was realistic that both Amy and Miles would have been left largely to their own devices in coping with anxiety (Miles) and grief (Amy). After all, Miles' anxiety is not debilitating and does not interfere with his functioning. It is presented more as a personality quirk than an illness. And Amy does have support and love in abundance from her uncle and father, even if her father is not able to be present every day. These circumstances are not unrealistic and I think Gephart presents them well.
The central tragic arc of the story, with Miles and his grandfather, is presented in a beautifully, heartbreakingly, totally realistic manner. We all screw up similarly. Miles and his Pops were both trapped in their mistakes. I loved this story arc and how is played out, as sad as it was.
What didn't work for me at all was the relationship between Amy and Miles. They have almost no interactions, nothing that would justify the very dramatic gesture at the end of the book. The friendship between Amy and Tate makes sense, given their interactions in the library. But the Amy/Miles connection is flimsy at best, and when Miles makes that really dramatic, HUGE gesture, no one questions him that it's way over the top?? No one finds it actually quite wasteful, frivolous, and downright creepy? It really makes no sense. I found myself flipping back to see if I had somehow skipped 6 or 10 chapters that would have deepened either the friendship or romance between Miles and Amy that could explain away .
Given that that central relationship wasn't much developed, the book fell pretty far flat for me overall. That said, I appreciate the sweet, enjoyable characters, I appreciate the loving presentation of their families, I love the glimpse into the death care industry, and I appreciate any book for this audience that helps grieving kids feel less alone in their experience.
Miles and Amy were both sweet. Actually, Miles, Amy, Tate, and Randall were all wonderfully kind and good characters. There were no bad guys here. Unlike another reviewer, I don't think the book needed to include many more people outside their circle, and I do think it was realistic that both Amy and Miles would have been left largely to their own devices in coping with anxiety (Miles) and grief (Amy). After all, Miles' anxiety is not debilitating and does not interfere with his functioning. It is presented more as a personality quirk than an illness. And Amy does have support and love in abundance from her uncle and father, even if her father is not able to be present every day. These circumstances are not unrealistic and I think Gephart presents them well.
The central tragic arc of the story, with Miles and his grandfather, is presented in a beautifully, heartbreakingly, totally realistic manner. We all screw up similarly. Miles and his Pops were both trapped in their mistakes. I loved this story arc and how is played out, as sad as it was.
What didn't work for me at all was the relationship between Amy and Miles. They have almost no interactions, nothing that would justify the very dramatic gesture at the end of the book. The friendship between Amy and Tate makes sense, given their interactions in the library. But the Amy/Miles connection is flimsy at best, and when Miles makes that really dramatic, HUGE gesture, no one questions him that it's way over the top?? No one finds it actually quite wasteful, frivolous, and downright creepy? It really makes no sense. I found myself flipping back to see if I had somehow skipped 6 or 10 chapters that would have deepened either the friendship or romance between Miles and Amy that could explain away .
Given that that central relationship wasn't much developed, the book fell pretty far flat for me overall. That said, I appreciate the sweet, enjoyable characters, I appreciate the loving presentation of their families, I love the glimpse into the death care industry, and I appreciate any book for this audience that helps grieving kids feel less alone in their experience.
October 18, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
What happens when the anxious bowler's shoe hits the lonely new girl on the head? They strike up a great friendship, of course.
• Pro: This book delivered so many feels! It was touching and heartwarming and just so precious and sweet. I swear my heart exploded over and over again as I read this book.
• Pro: Family was a really important part of this story, and Gephart doesn't just show the bright and shiny side of family. She also showed the imperfect side, and I like that she included some family conflict, because it gave her a chance to explore things like resolution and forgiveness.
• Pro: What an interesting group of kids. Amy was a writer, Miles was a bowling hustler, Randall was a fashionista, and Tate was a knitting weight-lifter. I absolutely adored all four of them, and their friendship was spectacular.
• Pro: Gephart really did an outstanding job thoughtfully exploring feelings of loneliness, grief, and regret. And, I loved seeing boys, who shared their emotions with each other. It's so important for young men to see that it's acceptable to be in touch with their feelings.
• Pro: I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was alternating third person omniscient, with the addition of a third point of view, "a nosy, noisy narrator", who I really enjoyed.
• Pro: This entire book tugged at my heartstrings, but the ending totally snapped them. It was so, so sweet and unexpected, and I think it could give a lot of comfort to a tween, who had suffered a loss.
Overall: An endearing story of friendship, loss, endings, and beginnings, which touched my heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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What happens when the anxious bowler's shoe hits the lonely new girl on the head? They strike up a great friendship, of course.
• Pro: This book delivered so many feels! It was touching and heartwarming and just so precious and sweet. I swear my heart exploded over and over again as I read this book.
• Pro: Family was a really important part of this story, and Gephart doesn't just show the bright and shiny side of family. She also showed the imperfect side, and I like that she included some family conflict, because it gave her a chance to explore things like resolution and forgiveness.
• Pro: What an interesting group of kids. Amy was a writer, Miles was a bowling hustler, Randall was a fashionista, and Tate was a knitting weight-lifter. I absolutely adored all four of them, and their friendship was spectacular.
• Pro: Gephart really did an outstanding job thoughtfully exploring feelings of loneliness, grief, and regret. And, I loved seeing boys, who shared their emotions with each other. It's so important for young men to see that it's acceptable to be in touch with their feelings.
• Pro: I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was alternating third person omniscient, with the addition of a third point of view, "a nosy, noisy narrator", who I really enjoyed.
• Pro: This entire book tugged at my heartstrings, but the ending totally snapped them. It was so, so sweet and unexpected, and I think it could give a lot of comfort to a tween, who had suffered a loss.
Overall: An endearing story of friendship, loss, endings, and beginnings, which touched my heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
February 1, 2019
The bowling culture frames this book so well and complements its many themes. There is loss, family, friendship, belonging, worrying, transition, perfectionism and much more you could extrapolate from this novel. I am not a very good bowler, but I can still relate to that drive for yet another strike only to find you are a few pins short. One really great reminder in the narrative is that although it is admirable to strive for perfection, you might find that your sweet spot is somewhere short of that goal. Highly recommended to 4th grade and up.
August 13, 2018
It’s difficult to write about loss—because everyone experiences loss differently, but death has become all too common, and teachers need novels to help their students deal with loss and gain empathy for their peers who are coping with grief. “1.2 million children will lose a parent to death before age 15” (Dr. Elizabeth Weller, Dir. Ohio State University Hospitals, 1991); [last year] 400,000 people under 25 suffered from the death of a loved one (National Mental Health Association). Sometimes, especially in multi-generational households, the death of a grandparent affects a child as much as the loss of a parent.
Grieving her mother’s death, Amy is torn from her best friend and her home in Chicago to live in her uncle’s funeral home in Buckington, Pennsylvania. Her father is learning the funeral trade and is away Monday to Friday, and Amy, even with her optimism, is not making new friends. Life hits a low when she sits down with girls in the middle school cafeteria—and they move to another table! But she meets a new best friend, Tate, a weight lifer with interesting fashion sense, in the school library, and they spend their lunch hours talking stories and eating Jelly Krimpets.
Meanwhile Miles is still grieving the loss of his grandmother while worrying about his grandfather dying. In fact, Miles worries about everything. His family owns Buckington Bowl, and bowling the perfect game, especially while beating his best friend Randall, is his goal.
And a bowling shoe is how Miles and Amy connect—literally, both at the beginning and the end of this delightful middle-grades novel. In addition to Randall and Tate, Amy and Miles become each others’ support system through the special bond of grief and loss.
A delightful novel about the power of family and friendship which features two sports uncommon for a middle-grades book, female weight-lifting and bowling. The story also conveys the power of story, those we read and those we write.
Grieving her mother’s death, Amy is torn from her best friend and her home in Chicago to live in her uncle’s funeral home in Buckington, Pennsylvania. Her father is learning the funeral trade and is away Monday to Friday, and Amy, even with her optimism, is not making new friends. Life hits a low when she sits down with girls in the middle school cafeteria—and they move to another table! But she meets a new best friend, Tate, a weight lifer with interesting fashion sense, in the school library, and they spend their lunch hours talking stories and eating Jelly Krimpets.
Meanwhile Miles is still grieving the loss of his grandmother while worrying about his grandfather dying. In fact, Miles worries about everything. His family owns Buckington Bowl, and bowling the perfect game, especially while beating his best friend Randall, is his goal.
And a bowling shoe is how Miles and Amy connect—literally, both at the beginning and the end of this delightful middle-grades novel. In addition to Randall and Tate, Amy and Miles become each others’ support system through the special bond of grief and loss.
A delightful novel about the power of family and friendship which features two sports uncommon for a middle-grades book, female weight-lifting and bowling. The story also conveys the power of story, those we read and those we write.
September 2, 2019
I enjoyed many elements of this book:
-the bowling alley setting , which you don't see too often
-Amy turns to writing for solace
-the book is divided into ten sections, the number of frames in a game of bowling, and a bowling score sheet appears the beginning of each section
-no bullies
-Amy's friends from her "before" life don't drift away, as commonly happens in MG
Although I loved the fact that Amy was a writer, I didn't enjoy the story she was writing.
There was a narrator that popped in throughout the book to punch up the emotional notes and hint at future events. In general, I don't enjoy this format, but it might enhance the reading experience for young readers.
Overall, this was a sweet story in which young people helped each other to climb out of the abyss of their grief.
-the bowling alley setting , which you don't see too often
-Amy turns to writing for solace
-the book is divided into ten sections, the number of frames in a game of bowling, and a bowling score sheet appears the beginning of each section
-no bullies
-Amy's friends from her "before" life don't drift away, as commonly happens in MG
Although I loved the fact that Amy was a writer, I didn't enjoy the story she was writing.
There was a narrator that popped in throughout the book to punch up the emotional notes and hint at future events. In general, I don't enjoy this format, but it might enhance the reading experience for young readers.
Overall, this was a sweet story in which young people helped each other to climb out of the abyss of their grief.
August 10, 2020
Amy and Miles, Randall and Tate; it made it even cuter that everyone was friends to begin with. Amy has just moved to town after her mother's death. Miles's family runs a bowling alley. Randall (who wore a bow tie to school everyday of 5th grade) and Miles have been friends forever. Tate whose best Perla has moved away has her own sense of style; she befriends Amy on her first day at her new school. From there the story evolves into the ups and downs of life.
This book was provided to me for free through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was provided to me for free through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2018
'In Your Shoes' is a wonderful new contemporary middle grade novel that tackles important topics such as mental illness, friendship, trust, trying to fit in, and family. I don't normally read this genre, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The story was sweet and definitely relevant to today's kids. I also really liked how it touches on mental illness (in the form of anxiety) and makes it accessible to the age range of children reading the story. I believe it's important to tackle ignorance at a young age.
The main characters, Miles and Amy, were both easy to identify with right from the beginning and easy to connect with. They were both realistic with flaws and great traits alike and both saw and accepted these things in each other, which made their friendship all the stronger. I really identified with Miles due to his anxiety issues because I also suffer from the same affliction. Amy was the new girl who hates living in her uncle's creepy funeral home. I loved watching Amy and Miles meet and then seeing their friendship grow and deepen throughout the novel. To me, the plot was that important - the story was more about their friendship and how important it can be in someone's life. Also, the tough topics it touches on kind of take over the small details of the story, but it's something that I didn't mind at all. I felt this was more of a character study instead of an intense plot and the ideas it talks of are more relevant than the majority of the things that happen during the story. I definitely recommend this book to fans of middle grade, children's fiction, and contemporary fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The main characters, Miles and Amy, were both easy to identify with right from the beginning and easy to connect with. They were both realistic with flaws and great traits alike and both saw and accepted these things in each other, which made their friendship all the stronger. I really identified with Miles due to his anxiety issues because I also suffer from the same affliction. Amy was the new girl who hates living in her uncle's creepy funeral home. I loved watching Amy and Miles meet and then seeing their friendship grow and deepen throughout the novel. To me, the plot was that important - the story was more about their friendship and how important it can be in someone's life. Also, the tough topics it touches on kind of take over the small details of the story, but it's something that I didn't mind at all. I felt this was more of a character study instead of an intense plot and the ideas it talks of are more relevant than the majority of the things that happen during the story. I definitely recommend this book to fans of middle grade, children's fiction, and contemporary fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2021
LOVED this story and will be rushing it into my 5th grader's hands next. I wish more people would read middle readers. The world would be a better place if they did. This story opens with a boy and a girl struggling through life. Amy's mom recently passed away and she is learning to move forward in a new town. Miles worries a lot, about death and accidents and struggles with anxiety. Together with their quirky friends, they learn to support each other's differences and also how to be there for each other when legitimate pain happens.
There was a moment when the author broke into the story- as she does not to often, but wonderfully helpful, where she basically warns kids that sometimes when you go through tremendous loss, that pain never goes away fully- it hibernates and crops up when you see others going through loss and hard times. Basically, its a painful and true part of life. It got me thinking about pain having a kind of "muscle memory"- even if you have moved beyond a certain experience, situations (sometimes just seeing another person's pain) can bring those physical feelings right back up to the surface out of seemingly nowhere. I adore that there are books out there talking about stuff like that, hidden in a very cute bowling friendship story.
I'm happy to have stumbled into this book- I think it could genuinely help people be better friends to others struggling through difficult stuff. Its not a downer book- I'm making it sound that way, but it was funny and wonderful.
There was a moment when the author broke into the story- as she does not to often, but wonderfully helpful, where she basically warns kids that sometimes when you go through tremendous loss, that pain never goes away fully- it hibernates and crops up when you see others going through loss and hard times. Basically, its a painful and true part of life. It got me thinking about pain having a kind of "muscle memory"- even if you have moved beyond a certain experience, situations (sometimes just seeing another person's pain) can bring those physical feelings right back up to the surface out of seemingly nowhere. I adore that there are books out there talking about stuff like that, hidden in a very cute bowling friendship story.
I'm happy to have stumbled into this book- I think it could genuinely help people be better friends to others struggling through difficult stuff. Its not a downer book- I'm making it sound that way, but it was funny and wonderful.
December 31, 2018
Even though I'm 38, I related to Amy and her need to not spend much time in the lunch room. When I was in school I used to sit in the hall on the floor to avoid the lunch room. I didn't find peace in the library like Amy, because I hated reading, because it was hard for me at that time. Again, Donna doesn't disappoint. Her books are a great read for all.
April 13, 2024
2.75 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️✨This one was pretty sad. It deals with heavy topics like death and grieving so you definitely have to be in the right headspace for it. The ending although was cute! I didn’t connect with it at all and definitely found it weird in certain parts.
October 6, 2018
3.5 stars
So contemporary is not my usual genre, but I was curious about this one because of the blurb on the back, I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it but overall I did enjoy it.
It's about a couple of odd middle graders and the awkwardness that goes along with meeting new people and becoming friends.
Miles pretty much lives at his parent's bowling alley and is always working on getting that perfect score. He is pretty much a worry wart and you can tell by that first line up above. He is always thinking about death and is a little strange. Amy's mother recently died and so her father moved them to Buckington, from Chicago. It's a huge change for her especially since she is now with her uncle who owns a funeral home. Her father is gone during the week learning how to work in a funeral home and her outlet for things is to write. She uses things that happens to her in real life and makes stories out of them.
Her first day of school starts off with a bowling shoe being thrown at her forehead. Miles and his friend had been fighting and Randall throw his shoe. Nice first meeting, huh? The next meeting goes just as well when she goes to the bowling alley and Miles accidentally spills his rootbeer on her. It's an awkward start but Amy kind of likes Miles and his clumsy ways. Then she meets her first friend in a library, Tate. It just so happens that Tate is friends with Miles and Randall.
The big thing in the story is the school dance. Randall is going with Tate and they are trying to get Miles to ask Amy but he is reluctant and doesn't really want to go to the dance, but Amy really does. Then some sad things happen and things take a bit a turn for Miles.
I really liked the characters even though they were pretty strange. I think they would be relatable to middle grade readers. They are at that awkward age that making new friends is a lot harder than it was when they were little. The pressure of dances and seeing the opposite sex in a different way.
I like how the author put Amy's story writing into the story so we kind of got a little story inside a story about a prince who was harry...lol. You just have to read it.
I understand the need to help middle graders understand loss and things like that but I was not ready to read a middle grade book that made me want to cry. I don't like crying especially over a scene in a book so for me I thought the last half was a bit to sad as I like happy MG books. It did redeem itself in the end. So I liked it but I didn't love it.
I would recommend it to those who like contemporary or have young readers who are into contemporary reads.
So contemporary is not my usual genre, but I was curious about this one because of the blurb on the back, I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it but overall I did enjoy it.
It's about a couple of odd middle graders and the awkwardness that goes along with meeting new people and becoming friends.
Miles pretty much lives at his parent's bowling alley and is always working on getting that perfect score. He is pretty much a worry wart and you can tell by that first line up above. He is always thinking about death and is a little strange. Amy's mother recently died and so her father moved them to Buckington, from Chicago. It's a huge change for her especially since she is now with her uncle who owns a funeral home. Her father is gone during the week learning how to work in a funeral home and her outlet for things is to write. She uses things that happens to her in real life and makes stories out of them.
Her first day of school starts off with a bowling shoe being thrown at her forehead. Miles and his friend had been fighting and Randall throw his shoe. Nice first meeting, huh? The next meeting goes just as well when she goes to the bowling alley and Miles accidentally spills his rootbeer on her. It's an awkward start but Amy kind of likes Miles and his clumsy ways. Then she meets her first friend in a library, Tate. It just so happens that Tate is friends with Miles and Randall.
The big thing in the story is the school dance. Randall is going with Tate and they are trying to get Miles to ask Amy but he is reluctant and doesn't really want to go to the dance, but Amy really does. Then some sad things happen and things take a bit a turn for Miles.
I really liked the characters even though they were pretty strange. I think they would be relatable to middle grade readers. They are at that awkward age that making new friends is a lot harder than it was when they were little. The pressure of dances and seeing the opposite sex in a different way.
I like how the author put Amy's story writing into the story so we kind of got a little story inside a story about a prince who was harry...lol. You just have to read it.
I understand the need to help middle graders understand loss and things like that but I was not ready to read a middle grade book that made me want to cry. I don't like crying especially over a scene in a book so for me I thought the last half was a bit to sad as I like happy MG books. It did redeem itself in the end. So I liked it but I didn't love it.
I would recommend it to those who like contemporary or have young readers who are into contemporary reads.
January 5, 2019
Full disclosure: Donna Gephart is a friend of mine, so this review may not be *entirely* objective. But I was blown away by Gephart’s sixth middle grade novel, IN YOUR SHOES, and I’m confident I would have felt the same even if I’d never met her. I fell in love with the structure of this novel from the get-go: A “noisy, nosy narrator” opens the story with a bit of philosophical framing: how our ordinary moments are nestled inside an unknowable universe, on an Earth spinning 1,000 miles an hour on its axis; and furthermore, how stories themselves are constructed, sometimes propelled by no more than a bowling shoe falling out of the sky. This narrator drops in now and then through the course of the book to provide wise and witty commentary on the action: the tale of a grieving boy and a grieving girl, Miles and Amy, whose friendship and first crushes help them both cope with the death of a beloved family member.
There’s also a story within that story, a fairy tale written by Amy, who is a budding novelist. Amy’s fairy tale glancingly plays off the other themes of the narrative—resourcefulness, resilience, kindness, bravery, loyalty. Amy’s writing and the way she thinks about writing are a meta-commentary on art and imagination, humorously exposing how the novel itself is constructed (the inciting incident, the twist, the climax, etc.) IN YOUR SHOES would make a fantastic companion read for a middle grade fiction writing unit or any literature unit looking at how stories are put together. But most importantly, Gephart has woven all these many layers together beautifully, into a hilarious, heartbreaking tale of how we manage the inevitable losses in our lives.
There’s also a story within that story, a fairy tale written by Amy, who is a budding novelist. Amy’s fairy tale glancingly plays off the other themes of the narrative—resourcefulness, resilience, kindness, bravery, loyalty. Amy’s writing and the way she thinks about writing are a meta-commentary on art and imagination, humorously exposing how the novel itself is constructed (the inciting incident, the twist, the climax, etc.) IN YOUR SHOES would make a fantastic companion read for a middle grade fiction writing unit or any literature unit looking at how stories are put together. But most importantly, Gephart has woven all these many layers together beautifully, into a hilarious, heartbreaking tale of how we manage the inevitable losses in our lives.
February 23, 2018
A boy meets girl young love story or, more specifically: bowling boy meets funeral home girl.
New in town, Amy is walking to school one morning when she is whacked in the head by a flying bowling shoe. The shoe's owner, one Miles Spagoski, is a proud member of the family that owns the local bowling alley. Amy and her father have recently moved to town following the death of her mother. They live with her uncle in his funeral home. Her father is away during the week taking classes in order to be certified to work at the funeral home. (Which seems an extremely odd career choice following the passing of one's spouse.) Lonely, Amy one day wanders into the bowling alley and, in order to learn the rest of the story, (Paul Harvey reference, anyone?) it would behoove you to read this new middle grade novel.
Honestly, one of the best first relationship books I have ever encountered. the characters are both likable and relatable, the story is tender and innocent, and, the dynamics between Miles and his beloved grandfather kick it up even further.
New in town, Amy is walking to school one morning when she is whacked in the head by a flying bowling shoe. The shoe's owner, one Miles Spagoski, is a proud member of the family that owns the local bowling alley. Amy and her father have recently moved to town following the death of her mother. They live with her uncle in his funeral home. Her father is away during the week taking classes in order to be certified to work at the funeral home. (Which seems an extremely odd career choice following the passing of one's spouse.) Lonely, Amy one day wanders into the bowling alley and, in order to learn the rest of the story, (Paul Harvey reference, anyone?) it would behoove you to read this new middle grade novel.
Honestly, one of the best first relationship books I have ever encountered. the characters are both likable and relatable, the story is tender and innocent, and, the dynamics between Miles and his beloved grandfather kick it up even further.
September 30, 2018
This middle grade fiction book is about two kids dealing with a loss. Amy's mom died and she and her dad have moved in with her uncle and her dad is taking classes so he can work in the funeral home. Miles lives with his mom and dad and grandfather and they're all still dealing with the death of Miles' grandmother. The friendship between Amy and Miles is lovely and their friends, Tate and Randall, are also terrific. There are strong themes of family, friendship, and dealing with the death of a loved one, all of which will resonate with middle grade readers. I can't wait to put this into kids' hands!
November 16, 2018
What serendipity when I opened the mail yesterday for the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and found a fantastic middle grade novel about bowling!
As Group Tour Director for the Museum, you can imagine my frustration at some of the circumstances the characters endure, but for unbiased readers, the ending is more than satisfying.
I zoomed through this story in less than 24 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. My thanks goes out to the author for sending it along.
P.S. I bought ten copies for our gift shop!
As Group Tour Director for the Museum, you can imagine my frustration at some of the circumstances the characters endure, but for unbiased readers, the ending is more than satisfying.
I zoomed through this story in less than 24 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. My thanks goes out to the author for sending it along.
P.S. I bought ten copies for our gift shop!
July 14, 2018
Love, love, loved it. Excellent story telling...
July 19, 2018
Absolutely loved this story and the author’s notes which followed. I can picture myself and friends reading this and helping us understand some of the feelings we experienced at this age.
September 15, 2023
It was cute :-) I think some of my students would like this but for others, it reads a bit too young. There isn't enough excitement.
May 30, 2021
Miles, a pretty average boy, absolutely loves bowling as he’s grown up at the bowling alley his parents run that his grandparents started. Yet, he always thinks of the worst possible scenarios of ways people could die…it’s been an obsession of his ever since his grandma died. And then there’s Amy, an imaginative girl who’s still grieving over the loss of her mother and is ashamed of now living at her Uncle’s funeral home with her Dad. So, what happens when Miles and Amy meet?
Okay, where do I start?
This WAS a page-turner! Even though it’s realistic fiction, it was super intriguing. I actually completed this in two days; that’s how good it was! I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, the novel did not feel too much like a Middle Grade. The writing style felt a lot like a YA, which I thought was interesting.
One thing that I enjoyed a lot was the fact that it was a sad book. It was very emotional, which is a first for me. I’ve never read a sad book, so this is my first, and it was well-written. It really gets in your feels!
The emotions of the characters felt genuine, even though the novel was written in third person POV. And I enjoyed how vivid it was that the characters had their own personalities, which added to the realism.
Amy was a writer, and she began working on a short story shortly after starting at her new school. It was super fun and creative because whenever she worked on the story, we would read it during that scene. It’s almost like we got a chance to tap into Amy’s imagination a little bit.
Something else that was clever was whenever a new chapter section, or frame in bowling terms, was about to come , the author would narrate right before it or even in between chapters. It’s like we got to see what she was thinking about what has already happened or give a semi-teaser of what was to come next. That was cool!
The only thing I did not like was the epilogue. So towards the end of the novel, Miles grandpa died, and in the epilogue, it shows him talking with his wife, Miles grandpa, and Amy’s mother wherever they left to after they died. It felt a little eerie to me; however, it was only a 2-page scene and honestly could be skipped since the book is practically over. This is LITERALLY the only thing I disliked. Oh, and I will mention that h**k was used, but only twice.
So, would I recommend this book? If you feel like getting emotional and want to show sympathy to book characters, then sure! It’s such a tear-jerker! You definitely won’t want to put the book down, despite the sadness. I give this novel a 4.5 stars!
Okay, where do I start?
This WAS a page-turner! Even though it’s realistic fiction, it was super intriguing. I actually completed this in two days; that’s how good it was! I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, the novel did not feel too much like a Middle Grade. The writing style felt a lot like a YA, which I thought was interesting.
One thing that I enjoyed a lot was the fact that it was a sad book. It was very emotional, which is a first for me. I’ve never read a sad book, so this is my first, and it was well-written. It really gets in your feels!
The emotions of the characters felt genuine, even though the novel was written in third person POV. And I enjoyed how vivid it was that the characters had their own personalities, which added to the realism.
Amy was a writer, and she began working on a short story shortly after starting at her new school. It was super fun and creative because whenever she worked on the story, we would read it during that scene. It’s almost like we got a chance to tap into Amy’s imagination a little bit.
Something else that was clever was whenever a new chapter section, or frame in bowling terms, was about to come , the author would narrate right before it or even in between chapters. It’s like we got to see what she was thinking about what has already happened or give a semi-teaser of what was to come next. That was cool!
The only thing I did not like was the epilogue. So towards the end of the novel, Miles grandpa died, and in the epilogue, it shows him talking with his wife, Miles grandpa, and Amy’s mother wherever they left to after they died. It felt a little eerie to me; however, it was only a 2-page scene and honestly could be skipped since the book is practically over. This is LITERALLY the only thing I disliked. Oh, and I will mention that h**k was used, but only twice.
So, would I recommend this book? If you feel like getting emotional and want to show sympathy to book characters, then sure! It’s such a tear-jerker! You definitely won’t want to put the book down, despite the sadness. I give this novel a 4.5 stars!
August 14, 2018
Miles, Amy, Tate, and Randall make for very memorable characters. Tough lessons are learned via the characters, and this is certainly a book I would promote as one to help with dealing with loss. One of my favorite parts was the story Amy writes and when Donna breaks the fourth wall with the narrator.
July 21, 2018
Tagging this book made me realize why I didn't enjoy it more. Death, anxiety, physical handicaps, moving, feeling that no one understands you...these are all experiences that many children have or will experience, sadly enough. And it's certainly possible to experience more than one of these circumstances at the same time. But Miles and Amy just cope with too, too much, and the scale of their suffering is severe enough that an adult reader certainly asks why no adult in their circle ever intervenes beyond the offer of food or a hug. Miles' fear of violent death, which he expresses all the time, goes largely unchallenged by his parents. His and Amy's ongoing grief about lost loved ones does not attract any concerned attention at their school. Amy must move to her uncle's funeral home in a different town while her dad trains to work there, and neither adult ask her how she feels, let alone about the move, but about living in such a locale after losing her mother to cancer. Her issues with one leg being shorter than the other causes her problems when she bowls, but no mention of how she copes in gym class? Even their friend Randall's asthma goes neglected by his parents, who allow him to attend a party next door with a cat in residence - and Randall promptly goes into cardiac arrest after discovering his inhaler is empty. Plans to attend the big dance are cancelled, off to the hospital!
Miles' sudden ability to organize an event for Amy that gives her the Cinderella fantasy she longs for (in the fifth grade?) is a sweet ending if unbelievable in the context of his untreated anxiety disorder. The children are extremely nice to each other, even if they appear to exist in a bubble world where just the four main characters attend class, socialize in the library, and of course, bowl. Adults are colourless, even the friendly school librarian and Miles' cranky grandfather. Amy's desire to be a writer is believable as she struggles to self treat her sadness by updating her beloved fairy tales but a distracting third-person narrative voice continually enters to explain not just Amy's stories but the meaning of the wider tale. If the reader doubts the unresolved list of woes that Miles and Amy encounter still can leave them dancing enraptured in each other's arms with the firm assurance from that narrator that they lived happily ever after, there is a final scene in heaven where the dead characters gather to watch approvingly and have a dance themselves. Enough already, get these kids some counselling!
Miles' sudden ability to organize an event for Amy that gives her the Cinderella fantasy she longs for (in the fifth grade?) is a sweet ending if unbelievable in the context of his untreated anxiety disorder. The children are extremely nice to each other, even if they appear to exist in a bubble world where just the four main characters attend class, socialize in the library, and of course, bowl. Adults are colourless, even the friendly school librarian and Miles' cranky grandfather. Amy's desire to be a writer is believable as she struggles to self treat her sadness by updating her beloved fairy tales but a distracting third-person narrative voice continually enters to explain not just Amy's stories but the meaning of the wider tale. If the reader doubts the unresolved list of woes that Miles and Amy encounter still can leave them dancing enraptured in each other's arms with the firm assurance from that narrator that they lived happily ever after, there is a final scene in heaven where the dead characters gather to watch approvingly and have a dance themselves. Enough already, get these kids some counselling!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2018
A terrific book to hand an advanced reader who may be too young/emotionally immature for many MG books written to their reading level. That's a hard-to-fit group of readers, to be sure. It feels wholesome, with Amy's fairy tale interludes, and seems likely to satisfy both the parents and kids in this group.
I appreciated the sensitivity with which Gephart addressed a range of fraught topics: death of a parent AND death of a grandparent; anxiety; starting school in a new town after an abrupt move; medical emergencies; less mainstream medical disabilities (asthma, hypergraphia, and leg-length discrepancy), and more. A bit like Alex Gino's JILLY P (which Goodreads won't let me hotlink) in that it crams a lot into one storyline.
I would have liked to see the interactions between the four main characters deepen -- as it was, the sudden and deep friendship between Tate and Amy felt abrupt, and Miles's very generous actions toward Amy at the end of the book felt implausibly generous since the two had had fairly limited interactions before then. Other than lots of forehead tingling and tips of ears burning, there's little time spent developing their relationship.
Finally, and this is weird, I know, but there are some odd similarities between Gephart's writing and Jason Reynolds'. Bear with me. Death of a mom to cancer? Check. Partially set in funeral home? Check. (Reynolds' The Boy in the Black Suit, both.) Includes a name of a famous-in-literary-circles friend as a minor character? Check. (Author Chris Myers, for those of you who haven't read the TRACK series, and Mr. Schu the uber-librarian, here.) Just pointing that out.
I appreciated the sensitivity with which Gephart addressed a range of fraught topics: death of a parent AND death of a grandparent; anxiety; starting school in a new town after an abrupt move; medical emergencies; less mainstream medical disabilities (asthma, hypergraphia, and leg-length discrepancy), and more. A bit like Alex Gino's JILLY P (which Goodreads won't let me hotlink) in that it crams a lot into one storyline.
I would have liked to see the interactions between the four main characters deepen -- as it was, the sudden and deep friendship between Tate and Amy felt abrupt, and Miles's very generous actions toward Amy at the end of the book felt implausibly generous since the two had had fairly limited interactions before then. Other than lots of forehead tingling and tips of ears burning, there's little time spent developing their relationship.
Finally, and this is weird, I know, but there are some odd similarities between Gephart's writing and Jason Reynolds'. Bear with me. Death of a mom to cancer? Check. Partially set in funeral home? Check. (Reynolds' The Boy in the Black Suit, both.) Includes a name of a famous-in-literary-circles friend as a minor character? Check. (Author Chris Myers, for those of you who haven't read the TRACK series, and Mr. Schu the uber-librarian, here.) Just pointing that out.
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book about middle graders working through grief is sweet and heartwarming. I especially loved the emphasis on family bonds. Miles's relationship with his grandfather is especially sweet, so it makes it all the more heartbreaking when there's conflict between them. The book also deals with the topic of anxiety, as Miles struggles to let go of his fears. There's a cute middle grade romance, and a strong theme of friendship as well, which both add to the book's charm. With interesting settings (a bowling alley and a funeral home) and a ragtag cast of characters (one of whom has a slight disability), this book emphasizes that you don't have to fit a certain mold to be happy or accepted.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book about middle graders working through grief is sweet and heartwarming. I especially loved the emphasis on family bonds. Miles's relationship with his grandfather is especially sweet, so it makes it all the more heartbreaking when there's conflict between them. The book also deals with the topic of anxiety, as Miles struggles to let go of his fears. There's a cute middle grade romance, and a strong theme of friendship as well, which both add to the book's charm. With interesting settings (a bowling alley and a funeral home) and a ragtag cast of characters (one of whom has a slight disability), this book emphasizes that you don't have to fit a certain mold to be happy or accepted.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
April 16, 2018
We all read through the lens of our life experiences, and so much in this book resonated with me. I actually pulled out a highlighter and marked passages that would have been helpful to me growing up.
Miles suffers from anxiety, (so did I), and this is my favorite line: "Maybe his worrying didn't actually keep terrible things from happening. Maybe it just made him miserable."
Amy lives over a funeral home, and so you know death is going to touch both main characters, but this book is about so much more. It's about dealing with grief and being happy despite it. I cried during a couple of passasges, and without giving away too much, want to say the ending is brilliant. It touched my heart in the best way. Brava to Ms. Gephart. I like this book even more than LILY & DUNKIN!
Miles suffers from anxiety, (so did I), and this is my favorite line: "Maybe his worrying didn't actually keep terrible things from happening. Maybe it just made him miserable."
Amy lives over a funeral home, and so you know death is going to touch both main characters, but this book is about so much more. It's about dealing with grief and being happy despite it. I cried during a couple of passasges, and without giving away too much, want to say the ending is brilliant. It touched my heart in the best way. Brava to Ms. Gephart. I like this book even more than LILY & DUNKIN!
October 29, 2018
Donna Gephard has such a unique ability to write about her quirky characters with heart and soul. This is a 'love' story between Miles, an awkward, obsessive boy who is hustling at his family's bowling alley to save up for a truly special gift for his grandpa. He meets Amy, the new girl in town by having one of his shoes clunk her in the head...and that's a herald for the whole relationship. Amy is grieving the death of her mother and ironically is now forced to live in a funeral parlour. How can these two find a way to heal each other and themselves? You won't be able to put the novel down till you find out.
December 13, 2018
I loved this book. Amy and Miles weren't supposed to meet, but it was like the universe put them together. Miles family owned a bowling alley that his grandparents had started. Every morning his best friend Randall would come over and they would bowl before going to school. One morning they got into a fight and Randall threw his bowling shoe and it hit Amy in the face. It was like two different stories suddenly joined together. I loved how each chapter went back and forth between Miles and Amy's perspective. This book had a good mix of everything, mystery, romance, comedy. It was a really good read, and I would definety recommend it to people!
November 5, 2025
What a wonderful book dealing with grief & anxiety, new friends & family. Miles, Amy, Randall & Tate were great protagonists, loved the settings of the funeral home & bowling alley. Middle grade students will enjoy these friends, their journeys & the paths their lives take. Highly recommended!
October 6, 2018
3.5 stars
So contemporary is not my usual genre, but I was curious about this one because of the blurb on the back, I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it but overall I did enjoy it.
It's about a couple of odd middle graders and the awkwardness that goes along with meeting new people and becoming friends.
Miles pretty much lives at his parent's bowling alley and is always working on getting that perfect score. He is pretty much a worry wart and you can tell by that first line up above. He is always thinking about death and is a little strange. Amy's mother recently died and so her father moved them to Buckington, from Chicago. It's a huge change for her especially since she is now with her uncle who owns a funeral home. Her father is gone during the week learning how to work in a funeral home and her outlet for things is to write. She uses things that happens to her in real life and makes stories out of them.
Her first day of school starts off with a bowling shoe being thrown at her forehead. Miles and his friend had been fighting and Randall throw his shoe. Nice first meeting, huh? The next meeting goes just as well when she goes to the bowling alley and Miles accidentally spills his rootbeer on her. It's an awkward start but Amy kind of likes Miles and his clumsy ways. Then she meets her first friend in a library, Tate. It just so happens that Tate is friends with Miles and Randall.
The big thing in the story is the school dance. Randall is going with Tate and they are trying to get Miles to ask Amy but he is reluctant and doesn't really want to go to the dance, but Amy really does. Then some sad things happen and things take a bit a turn for Miles.
I really liked the characters even though they were pretty strange. I think they would be relatable to middle grade readers. They are at that awkward age that making new friends is a lot harder than it was when they were little. The pressure of dances and seeing the opposite sex in a different way.
I like how the author put Amy's story writing into the story so we kind of got a little story inside a story about a prince who was harry...lol. You just have to read it.
I understand the need to help middle graders understand loss and things like that but I was not ready to read a middle grade book that made me want to cry. I don't like crying especially over a scene in a book so for me I thought the last half was a bit to sad as I like happy MG books. It did redeem itself in the end. So I liked it but I didn't love it.
I would recommend it to those who like contemporary or have young readers who are into contemporary reads.
So contemporary is not my usual genre, but I was curious about this one because of the blurb on the back, I will admit that it took me a bit to get into it but overall I did enjoy it.
It's about a couple of odd middle graders and the awkwardness that goes along with meeting new people and becoming friends.
Miles pretty much lives at his parent's bowling alley and is always working on getting that perfect score. He is pretty much a worry wart and you can tell by that first line up above. He is always thinking about death and is a little strange. Amy's mother recently died and so her father moved them to Buckington, from Chicago. It's a huge change for her especially since she is now with her uncle who owns a funeral home. Her father is gone during the week learning how to work in a funeral home and her outlet for things is to write. She uses things that happens to her in real life and makes stories out of them.
Her first day of school starts off with a bowling shoe being thrown at her forehead. Miles and his friend had been fighting and Randall throw his shoe. Nice first meeting, huh? The next meeting goes just as well when she goes to the bowling alley and Miles accidentally spills his rootbeer on her. It's an awkward start but Amy kind of likes Miles and his clumsy ways. Then she meets her first friend in a library, Tate. It just so happens that Tate is friends with Miles and Randall.
The big thing in the story is the school dance. Randall is going with Tate and they are trying to get Miles to ask Amy but he is reluctant and doesn't really want to go to the dance, but Amy really does. Then some sad things happen and things take a bit a turn for Miles.
I really liked the characters even though they were pretty strange. I think they would be relatable to middle grade readers. They are at that awkward age that making new friends is a lot harder than it was when they were little. The pressure of dances and seeing the opposite sex in a different way.
I like how the author put Amy's story writing into the story so we kind of got a little story inside a story about a prince who was harry...lol. You just have to read it.
I understand the need to help middle graders understand loss and things like that but I was not ready to read a middle grade book that made me want to cry. I don't like crying especially over a scene in a book so for me I thought the last half was a bit to sad as I like happy MG books. It did redeem itself in the end. So I liked it but I didn't love it.
I would recommend it to those who like contemporary or have young readers who are into contemporary reads.
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