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Beginners Welcome: A Moving Middle Grade Novel of Magical Realism and Hope After Loss for Kids
The acclaimed author of Where the Watermelons Grow is back with a story perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Ali Benjamin, about finding friendship after a tragic loss.
It’s been eighty-three days since Annie Lee’s daddy died, but she still sees reminders of him everywhere. His record player mysteriously plays his favorite songs, there’s shaving cream in the sink every morning, and the TV keeps flipping to the Duke basketball games he loved.
She knows Mama notices it too, but Mama’s been working around the clock to make ends meet. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s friends ditched her over the summer. She feels completely alone—until she meets Mitch.
Though Mitch is tough and confident on the outside, she may need a friend just as badly as Annie Lee. But after losing so much, Annie Lee is afraid to let anyone get too close.
And Mitch isn’t the only friend trying to break through Annie Lee’s defenses. Ray, an elderly pianist who plays at a local mall, has been giving her piano lessons. His music is pure magic, and Annie Lee hopes it might be the key to healing her broken heart. But when Ray goes missing, searching for him means breaking a promise to Mitch.
Faced with once again losing those who mean the most to her, Annie Lee must make a retreat back into her shell, or risk admitting how much she needs Mitch and Ray—even if it means getting hurt all over again.
Just like in her debut, Where the Watermelons Grow, Cindy Baldwin brings her signature twist of magic to this authentically heartfelt story.
A Whitney Award finalist
An AML Award finalist
It’s been eighty-three days since Annie Lee’s daddy died, but she still sees reminders of him everywhere. His record player mysteriously plays his favorite songs, there’s shaving cream in the sink every morning, and the TV keeps flipping to the Duke basketball games he loved.
She knows Mama notices it too, but Mama’s been working around the clock to make ends meet. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s friends ditched her over the summer. She feels completely alone—until she meets Mitch.
Though Mitch is tough and confident on the outside, she may need a friend just as badly as Annie Lee. But after losing so much, Annie Lee is afraid to let anyone get too close.
And Mitch isn’t the only friend trying to break through Annie Lee’s defenses. Ray, an elderly pianist who plays at a local mall, has been giving her piano lessons. His music is pure magic, and Annie Lee hopes it might be the key to healing her broken heart. But when Ray goes missing, searching for him means breaking a promise to Mitch.
Faced with once again losing those who mean the most to her, Annie Lee must make a retreat back into her shell, or risk admitting how much she needs Mitch and Ray—even if it means getting hurt all over again.
Just like in her debut, Where the Watermelons Grow, Cindy Baldwin brings her signature twist of magic to this authentically heartfelt story.
A Whitney Award finalist
An AML Award finalist
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2020
19 people are currently reading
3061 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Baldwin
5 books348 followersCindy Baldwin the author of the critically acclaimed novels WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW, BEGINNERS WELCOME, THE STARS OF WHISTLING RIDGE, and NO MATTER THE DISTANCE (2/2023). She lives just outside Portland, Oregon, with her husband and daughter.
(PS, Goodreads friends! I am no longer accepting friend requests on Goodreads.)
(PS, Goodreads friends! I am no longer accepting friend requests on Goodreads.)
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July 30, 2019I am so excited to share BEGINNERS WELCOME with the world in just a few months! I figured I'd use this space to share a little about the book. Although it is unrelated to WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW, I'm hoping that readers who enjoyed that one will love BEGINNERS WELCOME, too! You'll recognize some of the same things: a preteen girl dealing with a heavy problem, a complex mother/daughter relationship, a magic-infused contemporary setting, and a plotline that has a lot to do with the heroine learning the strength of the community and "found family" around her.
BEGINNERS WELCOME actually takes place in my hometown, Durham NC! Many of the places described in the novel—like Brightleaf Square Mall or the Maplewood Cemetery—are real Durham locations. Although the piano that's a focal point in the story isn't there anymore, when I was growing up there was usually a grand piano near El Rodeo restaurant in the mall, and that's what Annie Lee's piano is based on! Like Annie Lee, I spent quite a bit of time playing music in Brightleaf Square, thanks to my violin teacher, who often would gather several students to give a Christmas recital to passers-by.
If you like melancholy ghost stories, books about sad girls learning to be happy, or WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW, I hope you'll love BEGINNERS WELCOME as much as I do! ❤️🎹☂️
BEGINNERS WELCOME actually takes place in my hometown, Durham NC! Many of the places described in the novel—like Brightleaf Square Mall or the Maplewood Cemetery—are real Durham locations. Although the piano that's a focal point in the story isn't there anymore, when I was growing up there was usually a grand piano near El Rodeo restaurant in the mall, and that's what Annie Lee's piano is based on! Like Annie Lee, I spent quite a bit of time playing music in Brightleaf Square, thanks to my violin teacher, who often would gather several students to give a Christmas recital to passers-by.
If you like melancholy ghost stories, books about sad girls learning to be happy, or WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW, I hope you'll love BEGINNERS WELCOME as much as I do! ❤️🎹☂️
September 27, 2019
Subtly magical, and full of so many other good things: music, dogs, the satisfaction of watching an egg go SPLAT! on the sidewalk. I loved Annie Lee, her parents, her friends, and the life she was trying to find for herself after the huge loss she had suffered. I know this will sound weird, but for a book where music plays such a huge part, the book felt very quiet to me. Annie Lee tries to be invisible, her mother, her friend Mitch, and others around her are quiet people as well. And because their voices are so quiet, it lets you hear the music around them. This is truly a beautiful and heartfelt story about friendship, loss, and opening your heart.
April 21, 2020
All the feels, beautiful story. Tears of all kinds happening.
Highly recommend. Can't think of anything else to say.
Highly recommend. Can't think of anything else to say.
March 2, 2020
This is such a beautiful, heart strings book full of love, loss, vulnerability, and friendship. Annie Lee's daddy died just a few months ago. He was never a planner because he lived in the moment. So Annie and her mother are left with only a tiny insurance policy while they can barely make ends meet. Annie Lee makes a new friend at school and their friendship blossoms into something quite beautiful. Annie begins sneaking away to the mall across town to take private piano lessons with an elderly gentleman willing to teach for free. But as so often is the case, secrets can damage so many people in their wake. I love that this story shares so much heartache, but also offers much-needed resolution. Just lovely!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
October 2, 2019
Thank you to the author for sharing an ARC with Collabookation.
Annie Lee's dad died suddenly over the summer, and her world is upended. Her dad was the fun parent, the parent with whom she could talk and laugh, the parent she felt most herself with. With her mom suffering through the depths of grief, worrying about finances, and working around the clock, Annie Lee finds herself a relatively peaceful place listening to an older man play piano at the mall. When she hears him play, she can see the music, and she loses herself in the magic of it. Knowing her father always wanted her to learn to play, Annie Lee decides to continue his legacy through piano lessons.
I loved this book for its beauty, but its ugliness too. When Annie Lee silently wishes it had been her mom who died, instead of her dad, it feels so real. The anger that Annie Lee directs at her mom is rough to witness, but man, I could see my twelve year old self feeling exactly that way (not about my mom specifically, but in the general wishing it had been anyone other than who it was).
Cindy Baldwin has such a way with finding those raw and ugly thoughts, but the text also exudes forgiveness to the protagonist. I can't help but think of the students who might feel some relief at seeing a character on a page have these bouts of sadness, anger, and harsh thoughts about people they love. Isn't that what adolescence is?
This book is about grief. It's also about family and opening yourself to new things and people who can bring you some joy. But mostly its the story of being willing to find yourself, and love yourself, in your toughest times.
Highly recommend to kids in grade 5 and up.
Annie Lee's dad died suddenly over the summer, and her world is upended. Her dad was the fun parent, the parent with whom she could talk and laugh, the parent she felt most herself with. With her mom suffering through the depths of grief, worrying about finances, and working around the clock, Annie Lee finds herself a relatively peaceful place listening to an older man play piano at the mall. When she hears him play, she can see the music, and she loses herself in the magic of it. Knowing her father always wanted her to learn to play, Annie Lee decides to continue his legacy through piano lessons.
I loved this book for its beauty, but its ugliness too. When Annie Lee silently wishes it had been her mom who died, instead of her dad, it feels so real. The anger that Annie Lee directs at her mom is rough to witness, but man, I could see my twelve year old self feeling exactly that way (not about my mom specifically, but in the general wishing it had been anyone other than who it was).
Cindy Baldwin has such a way with finding those raw and ugly thoughts, but the text also exudes forgiveness to the protagonist. I can't help but think of the students who might feel some relief at seeing a character on a page have these bouts of sadness, anger, and harsh thoughts about people they love. Isn't that what adolescence is?
This book is about grief. It's also about family and opening yourself to new things and people who can bring you some joy. But mostly its the story of being willing to find yourself, and love yourself, in your toughest times.
Highly recommend to kids in grade 5 and up.
May 29, 2019
A beautiful, moving story about people learning to be brave through difficult things. Would absolutely recommend to anybody and everybody.
February 11, 2020
Finished Annie Lee’s story last night. The last few chapters made me laugh and cry. I wish my daddy would visit me in the ways that hers had, and I wish so badly I could have the same dreams, but there was some serious wisdom between her and her mama - and I thank you for that. A story revolving around grief, with so much more intertwined - unlikely friendships, change, growth, and the will to move forward under the hardest circumstances. 💚🎹. Out February 2020. .
June 10, 2020
I don't know how Cindy Baldwin does it, but she somehow puts truth into fiction in a way that both breaks my heart and heals it.
I don't often talk about myself in Goodreads, and I don't plan to do so much here. However, I need to explain that I lost my mother to a heart attack when I was 14. In Baldwin's book, Annie Lee's father died suddenly, 83 days before the book begins.
I will try to say more later, and more coherently. For now, I can only say that every beat of Annie Lee's emotional journey is honest and true.
I cannot recommend this book forcefully enough.
I don't often talk about myself in Goodreads, and I don't plan to do so much here. However, I need to explain that I lost my mother to a heart attack when I was 14. In Baldwin's book, Annie Lee's father died suddenly, 83 days before the book begins.
I will try to say more later, and more coherently. For now, I can only say that every beat of Annie Lee's emotional journey is honest and true.
I cannot recommend this book forcefully enough.
April 30, 2020
I quite loved this little story. I liked Annie Lee and this coming of age story. I loved the touch of magic and the insights on friendship, what it means to be seen and the necessity of grieving.
September 6, 2019
Thank you to the author and Harper Collins Children’s for sharing an ARC with our #bookexpedition group.
Annie Lee misses her daddy. It’s been eighty-three days since he suddenly passed away, but the apartment where she and her mama live is full of his presence. The smell of his aftershave and hairs in the bathroom sink and the CD player and TV turning on by themselves to play his favorite song & show are all constant reminders of the void she and her mama feel.
With her mama working full-time. Annie Lee needs something (and someone) to help her with the loneliness that surrounds her. But she’s afraid of letting down her invisibility cloak and letting others get close to her again.
At her new school she meets Mitch, tough and confident despite being new, too. Annie Lee also meets Ray, an older pianist who plays at the local mall and gives her lessons.
When something happens to Ray, Annie Lee must make a choice that may cost her her new friendship.
With themes of hope, healing, and the strength of a community, this novel will be a middle grade reader favorite. Publishes 2/11/20. Be sure to preorder!
Annie Lee misses her daddy. It’s been eighty-three days since he suddenly passed away, but the apartment where she and her mama live is full of his presence. The smell of his aftershave and hairs in the bathroom sink and the CD player and TV turning on by themselves to play his favorite song & show are all constant reminders of the void she and her mama feel.
With her mama working full-time. Annie Lee needs something (and someone) to help her with the loneliness that surrounds her. But she’s afraid of letting down her invisibility cloak and letting others get close to her again.
At her new school she meets Mitch, tough and confident despite being new, too. Annie Lee also meets Ray, an older pianist who plays at the local mall and gives her lessons.
When something happens to Ray, Annie Lee must make a choice that may cost her her new friendship.
With themes of hope, healing, and the strength of a community, this novel will be a middle grade reader favorite. Publishes 2/11/20. Be sure to preorder!
September 13, 2019
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book for #bookportage.
Fans of WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW will not be disappointed with Cindy Baldwin's upcoming middle grade read, BEGINNERS WELCOME (release date Feb 2020). Cindy writes with the same emotionality that strongly connects the reader to her story and characters, but tells the story of Annie Lee and her experience moving forward after losing her dad a few months ago.
Annie Lee and her mom are still reeling from the unexpected death of her father, but also have his ghost to contend with in their home. Financial problems and long work hours for her mom have left Annie Lee to figure out how to cope without her dad all by herself. She befriends a girl named Mitch, but struggles to open her heart again. Then she meets an elderly piano player named Ray, whom she begs to teach her how to play with the magic she sees when he plays. Slowly, Annie Lee starts to find a way out of her own grief, until Ray goes missing and she has to decide how brave she is, and what she's willing to risk, to find him.
We talk a lot about the need for sad books for middle graders, and this is a prime example of a book centered on loss, but also the hope that slowly blooms in the midst of it. Annie Lee's gentle awakening to light in the world beyond her darkness is beautiful, and I love the characters like Ray, Queenie, and Mitch who walk along that journey beside her. Although Annie Lee's mom is isolated by her grief, we also see her grow and become a support to Annie Lee, too. This is the type of book that quietly has so much to say that it begs to be read again and again.
I think many young readers will be drawn to Annie Lee's story, and I recommend adding it to your collection in February.
Fans of WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW will not be disappointed with Cindy Baldwin's upcoming middle grade read, BEGINNERS WELCOME (release date Feb 2020). Cindy writes with the same emotionality that strongly connects the reader to her story and characters, but tells the story of Annie Lee and her experience moving forward after losing her dad a few months ago.
Annie Lee and her mom are still reeling from the unexpected death of her father, but also have his ghost to contend with in their home. Financial problems and long work hours for her mom have left Annie Lee to figure out how to cope without her dad all by herself. She befriends a girl named Mitch, but struggles to open her heart again. Then she meets an elderly piano player named Ray, whom she begs to teach her how to play with the magic she sees when he plays. Slowly, Annie Lee starts to find a way out of her own grief, until Ray goes missing and she has to decide how brave she is, and what she's willing to risk, to find him.
We talk a lot about the need for sad books for middle graders, and this is a prime example of a book centered on loss, but also the hope that slowly blooms in the midst of it. Annie Lee's gentle awakening to light in the world beyond her darkness is beautiful, and I love the characters like Ray, Queenie, and Mitch who walk along that journey beside her. Although Annie Lee's mom is isolated by her grief, we also see her grow and become a support to Annie Lee, too. This is the type of book that quietly has so much to say that it begs to be read again and again.
I think many young readers will be drawn to Annie Lee's story, and I recommend adding it to your collection in February.
February 29, 2020
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC with #booksojourn.
Annie Lee has experienced the devastating loss of her father, and she and her mom are struggling emotionally and financially. To avoid the weight of her mom’s grief, and the ghost that seems to be following them, Annie Lee hides beneath an “invisibility cloak” to protect her heart from more hurt. While her mom works long hours, Annie Lee ventures beyond her neighborhood and discovers Ray, an elderly pianist who makes magic with his music. Annie Lee finds the courage to ask Ray to teach her, and their friendship begins. She also begins a gradual friendship at school with Mitch, a new girl who works hard to break through Annie Lee’s shell of protection.
Just when Annie Lee sees hope for solving all of her problems, her plans fall apart and she must decide if the risk to help one friend is worth losing another.
Even kids who have not lost a parent will relate to Annie Lee’s determination to solve her problems herself, as well as her desire to protect her heart from pain. I love her budding friendship with Mitch, as Annie Lee begins to see things from another’s point of view instead of just her own. Her friendship with Ray is lovely and pure, and is a catalyst to so many of the changes we see in Annie Lee, especially her relationship with her mom.
I have been reading Because of Winn-Dixie to my 3rd graders, as I do every year, and can see so many ways to compare these two wonderful books, even while they each stand in their own right. I can’t wait to share Beginners Welcome with my readers who loved Winn-Dixie.
Annie Lee has experienced the devastating loss of her father, and she and her mom are struggling emotionally and financially. To avoid the weight of her mom’s grief, and the ghost that seems to be following them, Annie Lee hides beneath an “invisibility cloak” to protect her heart from more hurt. While her mom works long hours, Annie Lee ventures beyond her neighborhood and discovers Ray, an elderly pianist who makes magic with his music. Annie Lee finds the courage to ask Ray to teach her, and their friendship begins. She also begins a gradual friendship at school with Mitch, a new girl who works hard to break through Annie Lee’s shell of protection.
Just when Annie Lee sees hope for solving all of her problems, her plans fall apart and she must decide if the risk to help one friend is worth losing another.
Even kids who have not lost a parent will relate to Annie Lee’s determination to solve her problems herself, as well as her desire to protect her heart from pain. I love her budding friendship with Mitch, as Annie Lee begins to see things from another’s point of view instead of just her own. Her friendship with Ray is lovely and pure, and is a catalyst to so many of the changes we see in Annie Lee, especially her relationship with her mom.
I have been reading Because of Winn-Dixie to my 3rd graders, as I do every year, and can see so many ways to compare these two wonderful books, even while they each stand in their own right. I can’t wait to share Beginners Welcome with my readers who loved Winn-Dixie.
February 23, 2020
Everything a middle grade book should be. I loved the complicated relationships Annie Lee learns to navigate as she experiments with taking off her invisibility cloak and opening up her heart again. It has only been a few months since Annie Lee lost her father unexpectedly, but his ghost still haunts both Annie Lee and her mother. Sometimes Annie Lee wishes it had been her mother she had lost instead. Her father was the one who could understand her. But her father was also impractical and failed to leave his girls with the resources they need to make it. And he is gone. Her mother is the practical one, working hard cleaning houses to keep food on the table. Annie Lee and her mother struggle to connect with grief and financial stress swirling around them.
Annie's father always wished he had stuck with music lessons and pushed her to persevere. He loved music. Music is one of her last connections to him, but Annie quit her piano lessons before he died. She just couldn't seem to make the keys do what she wanted. Then she hears Ray, and elderly man at the local mall who can make magic with the keys, and she wonders. Could he help her find that magic for her father? Getting help means opening up though, something she is set on not doing.
Annie Lee is also starting at a new middle school due to having to move across town from her family home to an apartment. Her plan: stay invisible. But skater girl Mitch keeps sitting next to her and finds her way in. Can Annie maintain a relationship with Mitch without giving away her family's secrets of ghosts and poverty? And when Annie is forced to make a choice between her only two friends, Ray and Mitch, will she lose them both?
From the dog (of course there is a dog!) to the egg drop challenge at school, this story drew me in and left me both chuckling, nodding my head in understanding, and shedding a few tears. Perfect for fourth grade and up.
#LitReviewCrew
Annie's father always wished he had stuck with music lessons and pushed her to persevere. He loved music. Music is one of her last connections to him, but Annie quit her piano lessons before he died. She just couldn't seem to make the keys do what she wanted. Then she hears Ray, and elderly man at the local mall who can make magic with the keys, and she wonders. Could he help her find that magic for her father? Getting help means opening up though, something she is set on not doing.
Annie Lee is also starting at a new middle school due to having to move across town from her family home to an apartment. Her plan: stay invisible. But skater girl Mitch keeps sitting next to her and finds her way in. Can Annie maintain a relationship with Mitch without giving away her family's secrets of ghosts and poverty? And when Annie is forced to make a choice between her only two friends, Ray and Mitch, will she lose them both?
From the dog (of course there is a dog!) to the egg drop challenge at school, this story drew me in and left me both chuckling, nodding my head in understanding, and shedding a few tears. Perfect for fourth grade and up.
#LitReviewCrew
September 16, 2019
Thanks to @cindybaldwinbooks and @kidlitexchange for this free copy. BEGINNERS WELCOME is out 2/11/20; pre-order now! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!!
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“Sometimes love meant holding on. But sometimes it meant letting go.”
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Annie Lee and her mother are on the edge of poverty and despair since her father died suddenly almost three months ago. Her father’s spirit is lingering in their home in the form of stubble in the sink each morning, smells in the kitchen, the TV turning on randomly and more. Annie Lee and her mother are stuck in the past and no one can move on. When Annie Lee meets an older gentleman with a gift for making music that feels like healing, she starts taking piano lessons from him. 🎶
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“Today my fingers didn’t slip or trip or clump like elephants. Today, they spoke all those words my heart could never figure out how to give voice to.”
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I can’t overstate the importance of sad books that address difficult situations like losing a parent. The language in this one is just gorgeous, too. I kept pausing to reread and savor the words. ❤️Where the Watermelons Grow is very popular in my library this year so I’ll be buying this one for sure!
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
.
〰️
〰️
“Sometimes love meant holding on. But sometimes it meant letting go.”
.
〰️
〰️
Annie Lee and her mother are on the edge of poverty and despair since her father died suddenly almost three months ago. Her father’s spirit is lingering in their home in the form of stubble in the sink each morning, smells in the kitchen, the TV turning on randomly and more. Annie Lee and her mother are stuck in the past and no one can move on. When Annie Lee meets an older gentleman with a gift for making music that feels like healing, she starts taking piano lessons from him. 🎶
.
〰️
〰️
“Today my fingers didn’t slip or trip or clump like elephants. Today, they spoke all those words my heart could never figure out how to give voice to.”
.
〰️
〰️
I can’t overstate the importance of sad books that address difficult situations like losing a parent. The language in this one is just gorgeous, too. I kept pausing to reread and savor the words. ❤️Where the Watermelons Grow is very popular in my library this year so I’ll be buying this one for sure!
.
〰️
〰️
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
February 18, 2020
This is one of the most gorgeously written books I have ever read! Cindy is so great at pulling and describing emotions. She writes so poetically, in a way that really helps the reader see the world through her character’s eyes. I finished it pretty quickly, as I wanted to see how the issue with the daddy’s ghost resolved. I found the ending satisfying, and very sweet. As a musician, I really loved the descriptions of music. Anyone with a passion for music would appreciate this book
May 27, 2023
I felt like a middle grade book to listen to at work and did I pick a good one. A ghost story with a lot of heart. A book of how to survive a loss, and how do you go on after a love one dies. I found this book would be a wonderful book for your middle grader when they do suffer from a loss to read. I would highly recommend this book for both young and the young at heart. Glad I had the opportunity to read it for myself!!
February 5, 2020
You guys. THIS BOOK. This book will reach in and heal your heart and stretch it and crack it and heal it again. I am so grateful to Cindy for telling hard stories that are so, so necessary. Everything from the overall structure to line level voice is just so exquisite. One thing I'm jealous of--Cindy does physicality of emotion so freaking well. Like, how??? And that kind of careful writing just makes this book that much more powerful.
August 18, 2019
Absolutely lovely.
February 24, 2021
Our girl and her mom are struggling to deal with the death of their dad/husband. A bit of a sad story, but with lots of hope.
May 24, 2022
عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: آوای پیانو زیر چترهای رنگی
به نظر شما چرا عنوان اصلی را نگذاشتهاند؟
به نظر شما چرا عنوان اصلی را نگذاشتهاند؟
June 10, 2020
Book Report “Beginners Welcome”
Name of the book: Beginners Welcome
Author: Cindy Baldwin
Date: 5/17/20
Main Characters: Annie Lee
Characters who I like and reasons: My favorite character is Annie Lee because even though life is really tough for her and her mother must work long hours and doesn't have any clothes she still tries to find joy in her life and does not give up.
Summarize in three sentences:
Beginners Welcome is the story of a young girl named Annie Lee who
loses her father after a sudden death and is unexpectedly poor and penniless. Annie Lee is very depressed until one day she ventures to the mall and finds a kind old man named Ray who plays the piano. Inspired by her father's love of music she starts to take lessons with Ray. Ray helps Annie Lee open up to people again and rediscover her love of music.
Most impressive sentences or parts and reasons What you feel or learn from this book :
The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that Annie Lee’s mother worked long hours to support her daughter even when the life insurance payments were not coming in.
My judgment:
Beginners Welcome was a wonderful book that really helps us understand and sympathize with people who have lost a parent.
Whom you can recommend and why:
I can recommend “Beginners Welcome” to anyone who loves a good book. This book was very straightforward and easy to read.
Name of the book: Beginners Welcome
Author: Cindy Baldwin
Date: 5/17/20
Main Characters: Annie Lee
Characters who I like and reasons: My favorite character is Annie Lee because even though life is really tough for her and her mother must work long hours and doesn't have any clothes she still tries to find joy in her life and does not give up.
Summarize in three sentences:
Beginners Welcome is the story of a young girl named Annie Lee who
loses her father after a sudden death and is unexpectedly poor and penniless. Annie Lee is very depressed until one day she ventures to the mall and finds a kind old man named Ray who plays the piano. Inspired by her father's love of music she starts to take lessons with Ray. Ray helps Annie Lee open up to people again and rediscover her love of music.
Most impressive sentences or parts and reasons What you feel or learn from this book :
The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that Annie Lee’s mother worked long hours to support her daughter even when the life insurance payments were not coming in.
My judgment:
Beginners Welcome was a wonderful book that really helps us understand and sympathize with people who have lost a parent.
Whom you can recommend and why:
I can recommend “Beginners Welcome” to anyone who loves a good book. This book was very straightforward and easy to read.
May 12, 2020
A beautiful & poignant story with powerful themes about family, friendship, loss, and connection, even beyond death. I loved the musical elements and how they coincided with Annie’s character arc. It’s a slower paced, quiet story with a powerful, heartwarming message, perfect for that 8-12 age group.
June 21, 2020
Beginner’s Welcome by Cindy Baldwin, 325 pages. HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2020. $17.
Language: G (1 Swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Trying to navigate the loss of her father at such a young age, Annie Lee is feeling a little lost. Life changed for Annie Lee in so many ways after her father had passed away, at the beginning of the summer before her sixth grade year. She was having a very hard time dealing with her grief, and felt so alone. She lost her best friends as things became really awkward between them. Annie Lee has to change schools as a move from her home to an apartment across town became necessary and was yet another change to deal with. Amidst all of this turmoil in young Annie Lee’s life, she discovers a new way of life, making wonderful friends, and building a better relationship with her Mom along the way.
Cindy Baldwin’s book is a very tender story about love and loss, and of dealing with grief and making it through hard times. Beginner’s Welcome is well written, and would be a great help for any young reader dealing with the loss of a loved one. The PG rating for mature content was due to the theme of losing a parent at such a young age. Through her character, Annie Lee, Baldwin touches on so many sensitive and real feelings that one experiences with the loss of a loved one, but more importantly, hers is a voice of hope which illustrates the overcoming of such feelings and experiences.
Reviewer: J. Nielson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: G (1 Swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Trying to navigate the loss of her father at such a young age, Annie Lee is feeling a little lost. Life changed for Annie Lee in so many ways after her father had passed away, at the beginning of the summer before her sixth grade year. She was having a very hard time dealing with her grief, and felt so alone. She lost her best friends as things became really awkward between them. Annie Lee has to change schools as a move from her home to an apartment across town became necessary and was yet another change to deal with. Amidst all of this turmoil in young Annie Lee’s life, she discovers a new way of life, making wonderful friends, and building a better relationship with her Mom along the way.
Cindy Baldwin’s book is a very tender story about love and loss, and of dealing with grief and making it through hard times. Beginner’s Welcome is well written, and would be a great help for any young reader dealing with the loss of a loved one. The PG rating for mature content was due to the theme of losing a parent at such a young age. Through her character, Annie Lee, Baldwin touches on so many sensitive and real feelings that one experiences with the loss of a loved one, but more importantly, hers is a voice of hope which illustrates the overcoming of such feelings and experiences.
Reviewer: J. Nielson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
November 19, 2019
Thanks to @kidlitexchange and @harperbooks for sharing Beginners Welcome by @cindybaldwinbooks. This book publishes on February 11, 2020, so go ahead and add it to your wishlist! You won’t want to miss out on this touching, inspiring story.
Annie Lee’s home life hasn’t been the same since her daddy died, and that’s not just because it seems like his spirit is still lingering in the apartment. Annie Lee’s mom works long hours, and since Annie Lee’s friends didn’t know how to relate after her dad’s death, Annie Lee finds herself alone, wrapped in her invisibility cloak. While she searches for things to keep her busy after school, she meets someone who might help her rekindle the love of music that faded after her dad died. Add into the mix a girl who reaches out to her at school, and Annie Lee finds herself wondering if she should let people in again, even if she’s worried about getting hurt again.
The magical realism aspects of this book are faint, so I wouldn’t push it into the fantasy genre, but I do think they added an interesting layer to this story.
Annie Lee’s home life hasn’t been the same since her daddy died, and that’s not just because it seems like his spirit is still lingering in the apartment. Annie Lee’s mom works long hours, and since Annie Lee’s friends didn’t know how to relate after her dad’s death, Annie Lee finds herself alone, wrapped in her invisibility cloak. While she searches for things to keep her busy after school, she meets someone who might help her rekindle the love of music that faded after her dad died. Add into the mix a girl who reaches out to her at school, and Annie Lee finds herself wondering if she should let people in again, even if she’s worried about getting hurt again.
The magical realism aspects of this book are faint, so I wouldn’t push it into the fantasy genre, but I do think they added an interesting layer to this story.
July 5, 2020
Endearing character (Annie Lee) struggles after her dad’s sudden death.... hard changes await her: moving to a small apartment, mom working long hours, loss of old friends, new school etc. While the plot & characters had potential, I felt the execution was simply too slow. Over 300 pages could’ve been covered in 1/2 the length.
did-not-finish
June 10, 2020This book is beautifully written and I want to find out what happens next, but at the same time it hurts my heart to read about this family struggling with such a great loss. It's too personal right now, so I may revisit in a few years.
March 30, 2020
Such a beautiful story. Cindy Baldwin is one of my favorite MG writers writing today. Her first two books are absolute gems.
September 23, 2019
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book for #bookportage.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
September 5, 2019
Thank you to the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I will be sharing this book with @kidlitexchange. Reviewers, you are in for a treat!
Eighty three days ago, Annie Lee’s daddy dropped dead on the church basketball court. And every morning since then, Annie Lee had awakened to her mama crying in the bathroom. The bathroom is in a cramped apartment, in a new neighborhood they had to move to because no one had planned for her daddy to be gone. Her best friends are in her old neighborhood and have pretty much forgotten about her, because what do you say to someone who suddenly loses her daddy. This means a new school, no friends, becoming a latchkey kid and feeling completely alone. Her only protection from her heartbreak and her loneliness is her magic cloak which makes her invisible to the world.
Part of Annie’s new life meant coming straight home after school with the promise to never leave the apartment. However, Annie felt so alone and haunted by her daddy’s ghost (his prized record player begins playing his favorite song even when it’s not plugged in, his whiskers fill the bathroom sink every morning and the air is rich with the scent of his aftershave), she was compelled to take her skateboard out and explore the neighborhood. In her travels she discovers an intriguing urban mall built into two old red brick buildings and connected by a fancy courtyard. And what she discovers in the courtyard changes her life. When she allows her cloak to slip a bit, she makes some new friends, finds the support she so badly needs and maybe even discovers a way to heal her broken heart.
I loved everything about this book. I flew through it and finished it in a day (although after anxiously anticipating Cindy Baldwin’s latest book, I wanted to slow down and savor every word). In fact it was so good, I read it again, even though my TBR pile was staring at me!
First of all, I loved Annie Lee’s name. Somehow, it seemed so perfect for this story set in Durham NC. Then I discovered the lovely language (especially when describing the sparking lights of every color that appear above Ray’s head as Annie Lee listens to him play; and don’t miss the description of Queenie’s smile. It couldn’t be more beautiful. I can only hope someone feels that way about my smile one day), the memorable relationships, the gentle magic, the warm feelings of love among the characters, the friendships and finally the healing. The healing that only occurs because Annie Lee allowed her cloak to slip and ran the risk of being hurt, but instead found the much needed support and love she needed from her new friends.
Sadly, you’ll need to wait until February to read Annie Lee’s story, but I strongly recommend pre-ordering now. You’ll be so glad you did!
Eighty three days ago, Annie Lee’s daddy dropped dead on the church basketball court. And every morning since then, Annie Lee had awakened to her mama crying in the bathroom. The bathroom is in a cramped apartment, in a new neighborhood they had to move to because no one had planned for her daddy to be gone. Her best friends are in her old neighborhood and have pretty much forgotten about her, because what do you say to someone who suddenly loses her daddy. This means a new school, no friends, becoming a latchkey kid and feeling completely alone. Her only protection from her heartbreak and her loneliness is her magic cloak which makes her invisible to the world.
Part of Annie’s new life meant coming straight home after school with the promise to never leave the apartment. However, Annie felt so alone and haunted by her daddy’s ghost (his prized record player begins playing his favorite song even when it’s not plugged in, his whiskers fill the bathroom sink every morning and the air is rich with the scent of his aftershave), she was compelled to take her skateboard out and explore the neighborhood. In her travels she discovers an intriguing urban mall built into two old red brick buildings and connected by a fancy courtyard. And what she discovers in the courtyard changes her life. When she allows her cloak to slip a bit, she makes some new friends, finds the support she so badly needs and maybe even discovers a way to heal her broken heart.
I loved everything about this book. I flew through it and finished it in a day (although after anxiously anticipating Cindy Baldwin’s latest book, I wanted to slow down and savor every word). In fact it was so good, I read it again, even though my TBR pile was staring at me!
First of all, I loved Annie Lee’s name. Somehow, it seemed so perfect for this story set in Durham NC. Then I discovered the lovely language (especially when describing the sparking lights of every color that appear above Ray’s head as Annie Lee listens to him play; and don’t miss the description of Queenie’s smile. It couldn’t be more beautiful. I can only hope someone feels that way about my smile one day), the memorable relationships, the gentle magic, the warm feelings of love among the characters, the friendships and finally the healing. The healing that only occurs because Annie Lee allowed her cloak to slip and ran the risk of being hurt, but instead found the much needed support and love she needed from her new friends.
Sadly, you’ll need to wait until February to read Annie Lee’s story, but I strongly recommend pre-ordering now. You’ll be so glad you did!
March 19, 2020
There is only one word to describe this author: AMAZING! I loved this book. It has everything you would want in a book. The book is contemporary and full of emotion, mystery, suspense, hope, and magic. It is a poignant story of a girl, Annie Lee (a.k.a. Al) and her struggle to deal with the unexpected loss of her father. It is a story of loneliness as Annie Lee tries to get through each day while feeling so very alone. The story has mystery - mysterious happenings and a record player, radio and television that turn on randomly throughout the day. And night. It has suspense. Will Annie Lee continue to go down the lone, dark path that she seems to be on or will she find something to sustain her and carry her through? Hope is entwined throughout the story as Annie Lee slowly peels away the layers of sadness and opens her heart to Mitch, Ray, and Queenie and she and her mother begin to find their way. Reading this book is a magical experience. The characters are vivid and real. I found myself relating to them all right away - Annie Lee reminds me of myself during parts of my childhood (I wish I had been able to read this book then). Even though we never meet the father (alive) in this book, I felt like I knew him. He was portrayed as vividly as if he were sitting by me as I read. I could picture Mitch as well. She reminded me of some of my students and of some of the kids I met growing up. Balwin's descriptions of Annie Lee's mom, Ray and Queenie are so real that I feel like I know them as well. Another magical thing is that author Cindy Baldwin has cystic fibrosis and could relate first hand to the feeling of aloneness experienced by Annie Lee. I feel like the heart of the author touched every page of this novel with courage, love, and understanding.
Readers of this book will appreciate and relate to the references to Harry Potter woven throughout the story. I am a huge John Denver fan and so I loved the part that Annie's Song played in the novel. I think this book would make a great movie as well. I envy all those who will discover this book for the first time since they, like me will experience the emotion, suspense, hope, magic, and love that went into this book, and like me, they will continue to carry it with them for a long time to come.
Readers of this book will appreciate and relate to the references to Harry Potter woven throughout the story. I am a huge John Denver fan and so I loved the part that Annie's Song played in the novel. I think this book would make a great movie as well. I envy all those who will discover this book for the first time since they, like me will experience the emotion, suspense, hope, magic, and love that went into this book, and like me, they will continue to carry it with them for a long time to come.
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