Everything We Keep

by Di Walker

Trailing her orange suitcase, and a heart full of worry, thirteen-year-old Agatha is about to go home. She has been in and out of foster care for years now, but her latest new life lived with naval precision with Katherine, Lawson and their dog, Chief, has proved to be the salvation that Agatha needed. She has new friends, a sense of place, and space to breathe. But when the social worker says it's time to return to her parents, her world comes crashing down. "Home" has always made her anxious and ashamed - and she can't understand why now she is being forced to go back. Is it possible to find a way to love her parents without having to live with them?

Genres: Young Adult, Coming Of Age, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Friendship

297 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polished this one off in 24 hours. A lovely easy read with some great little characters
Agatha has a lot going on in her home life - hoarder parents due to trauma and Agatha in and out of foster care.
She is torn between staying loyal to her parents and starting afresh where she can go to school without being teased.
Focuses on true friendship and resilience and overcoming the obstacles of life.
Great read for reluctant readers as the language is easy to understand

[chelseaslibrary]

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy!

*semi spoiler review*

This was an absolutely brilliant story of a young girl who experiences a trauma at a young age that also effects her parents and how they end up coping with the loss. This results in her being put into a foster home, but with someone she truly knows that cares for her and her well-being; although she's still struggling.

It was a hard read talking about the absolute shattered world that Agatha had to deal with as her parents were unable to cope or get the help they needed to be there for their daughter during such a hard time in all of their lives.

It was brilliant reading and seeing inside this type of story!

[ayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

It hooked me, and I really wanted to find out what the 'accident' was. So I was really curious. This book was a good break from romance novels, and I thoroughly enjoyed this. This is a recommendation to anyone really!!! :)

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to give this a higher rating than 3 stars as it is a captivating story about Agatha, a young girl who's parents are not coping after the death of her little sister. BUT, the text is riddled with errors and I found that distracting. It is such a shame as the premise of the story is not one I had come across before.

The book is prefaced with a seemingly ideal sixth birthday party - happy child, loving parents, lots of friends. But cut to seven years later and everything has fallen apart. Agatha's parents are coping by hoarding and her living conditions are so horrendous that she has been removed from their care. Agatha loves her parents but can't live in a house which she can barely more around and which smells of rotting food. She refuses to go to school as a result of bullying and she believes that she is the cause of her sister's death.

Step in Katharine, Agatha's latest foster carer and things start to look up. But Agatha has a long way to go before she feels comfortable and safe.

The story itself is emotional and had me gripped for the most part, although it lost its way a little about half way through, and I do have to wonder about the editing as a whole. I don't think Scholastic did the author any favours with their role in the publishing of this story, but if you can overlook that then this is a memorable read.

[Amanda Caddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about Agatha. Going through the Australian Foster system she has finally found a home she is comfortable in, she’s doing well. Then she finds out she’s going back home.
Only thing is, she doesn’t feel at home there.
I really felt for Agatha. Being torn between wanting to be with people you love, but not being able to be in their presence at all.

This book had me feeling all the feelings on the spectrum and then some. I work in a high school, and I’m wondering now if I have given enough to students that are In Agatha’s situation. I don’t know all the details, or even some of the details, and in some cases I know absolutely nothing about the past of the students I see. Are they experiencing a traumatic past I know nothing about? The thought makes me want to give them all a hug just in case!

[Chay · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing in the book was riddled with errors, making it hard to fully enjoy, and the storyline was both predictable and uninteresting. The main character, Agatha, was quite flat compared to most books, and the characters around her were even more so. The way the plot was structured made it difficult to engage myself into reading it, because it was so bland that I found myself hoping for something horrible to befall the characters, just so that I could have my desire to read something even remotely interesting met.

[sarah ꩜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i remember the first time i read this i was like 10 and it was one of those books that really got me into learning more about the behaviours and emotions of people. it was an easy read but also a deep book that explores trauma and the shaky fear of coming to realise just how unwanted and hated you are by the ones you love, and the shy realisation that just because you are shunned it does not mean it was your fault, nor does it mean it is up to you to carry all the weight on your shoulders. loved this book and loved re reading it.

[Tina Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agatha loves her parents, but it is impossible for her to remain with them - this story is a powerful and emotive portrayal of a young teen trapped in a cycle of foster care. There is guilt, mistrust and hopelessness to be overcome as Aggie refuses to believe things could ever change for her.
This story is shared in an age appropriate and accurate way - and I think should encourage empathy in any reader.

[Tiffany Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure you have a tissue handy. This book will take you on such an emotional rollercoaster that you don’t want to get off until you know that Agatha the main character is ok. You will want to hug Agatha and tell her that everything will be ok. Wonderfully written you won’t be able to put it down. I read it in one sitting. Please read Agatha you won’t regret it!

A fantastic second novel by Australian author Di Walker. In the words of Molly Meldrum ‘do yourself a favour’.

[Jenn Sellmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about Agatha, and although heartbreaking, the genuine love and care she found when she managed to let people in. The way Katherine tenderly cares for her while giving her the skills to make her own choices is commendable.
I did, however, find a number of errors, (mostly a wrong word in the middle of a sentence) which normally would turn me off, but the story kept me hooked.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story for younger teenagers. Agatha is in Year 8, she has been in the foster care cycle because her parents, who love her, can’t look after her. Agatha has stopped going to school because of bullying from other kids. If she wants to stay with her foster parents, Katherine and Lawson, then she needs to go to school. Life starts to change. Set in Melbourne.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was nothing like I expected it to be. Actually, I liked the book better because the book dealt with issues that were much more interesting than what I had anticapated. The author tells the story of a young girl growing up in difficult situations and how she overcame. The book would break my heart at times and then become comforting.

[Nathan Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Di writes beautifully, creating places and characters that are so familiar and vivid, so that when she traumatizes one of them, you really get quite upset with her. Her storytelling makes for very hard-to-put-down reading. I can't wait for her third book. :)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can get past the regular spelling and grammatical errors throughout (goodness knows what was going on in the editing process Scholastic), this is a really lovely read that will touch your heart.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOP #5
I love this book, I normally read fantasy/romance but this was a really good break from that. Normally when I read books like this I only read the words and can’t concentrate on the story but I got pulled into this story.

(Small spoiler)


And you can’t go wrong with a happy ending.

[Coral Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a tear jerker but an excellent look into someone else's life and the power of friendship without being judgemental.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book and devoured it within 24hrs! Really enjoyed Agatha’s story 💛

[Chontalle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Good story, needed a bit of fleshing out. Nice Young adult novel that hits a few important topics.
Would love a sequel

[Emma Stoneley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an amazing book, it had a backstory that is happening in real life and we don't even know about it. I liked the relationship between all the characters and the kindness shown towards others.

[Grace Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter recommended this it was a really enjoyable story about families or lack there of

[astrid♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i remember reading this book last year. Agatha can get a little annoying sometimes but other than that it was a great book about a young girl in foster care, struggling with her past trauma.

[Tammy Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧳Oh Agatha🧡….how I wanted to reach out and help you
🧳A fabulous story of resilience, the impact of trauma, living with hoarding, and having the courage to put your own needs first.
🧳Perfect for younger teens , it will definitely evoke empathy and the power of kindness.
🧳I couldn’t put this one down.

[Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Implied Hoarding Disorder, death of a child and sister in the past, grief and loss depiction
Score: Five out of ten.

Everything We Keep, Di Walker's sophomore novel, was disappointing.

It starts with Agatha living in foster care for years. She must go to school and live with her parents again, even though she's distanced herself from them and wants to move on. It's difficult for her to start school since people have homeschooled her for years.

Agatha and other characters lack development and depth, but deepening them could help. The writing style is accessible and lacks purple prose, but it skips detailed descriptions and reads younger than a YA novel, even though the protagonist is 13. The pacing is slow, almost 300 pages, yet it feels longer with filler pages, but removing those could solve that issue.

The most imperative conflict here involves Agatha and her parents, with one of them developing a Hoarding Disorder after losing Agatha's younger sister to a hit-and-run. The court intervenes, making Agatha's parents lose custody of her and forcing her to live with foster parents. However, they never sought mental health support, sending a message of the consequences of ignoring mental health issues. Agatha's parents would've been better off if they had support for their disorder. The conclusion is okay.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely shattered my heart, but luckily put it back together again ❤️

Agatha is 13 years old and has had to deal with the Australian foster system. She has a rocky living situation with her parents who unfortunately have trouble caring for her due to a bad hoarding addiction.

I had my own brush with a hoarding experience a year ago when my sister passed away and we had to clear out her apartment. That experience gave me a whole other level of understanding and respect for Agatha.

I felt so many things reading this book. Disappointment, frustration, respect, love, and above all, hope. The characters were so vivid, I didn’t have a choice but to get involved in their journeys.

I HIGHLY recommend this read, and I hope you love it as much as I did. Thank you so much to @scholastic_au and @diwalkerbooks for my #gifted advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Penny Waring · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows 13-year-old Agatha as she navigates life switching between the foster family she prefers to live with and the parents who love her but don't have the capacity to care for her. Students will feel for Agatha as she is pushed from home to home by an imperfect system that doesn't always take her needs or wishes into account. The novel deals with the effects of trauma, the mental health issue of anxiety, friendship, new school, and the concept of 'family'. There is also a pet dog. Difficult themes are approached in an age-appropriate way, and Agatha has many interactions with helpful and supportive grown ups who help her with strategies for coping and learning to thrive. The story ends on a positive note, although this part felt a little rushed.

Students years 6 - 8 would enjoy this novel. There is plenty to unpack!

[Éowyn Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely enthralled by Agatha’s story! And her big BIG heart despite everything she’s been through. ‘Everything We Keep’ captures the journey of renewal after devastation and the courage it takes to walk through all the different seasons of life.

It’s incredibly special to read this story knowing the author of this book personally - and seeing the love she shows to others, as well as the world through her eyes.

I love Agatha as if she was my dearest friend, my sister and my daughter all in one. And I feel so challenged to be more compassionate and hopeful because of her story.

Without a doubt - 5 stars!