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Every Missing Piece
This stunning novel follows a girl looking for answers about a mysterious boy as she learns about grief, family, and putting the pieces back together—perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Erin Entrada Kelly.
Maddy Gaines sees danger everywhere she at the bus stop, around the roller rink, in the woods, and (especially) by the ocean. When Maddy meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the North Carolina woods, she suspects is Billy Holcomb--the boy who went missing in the fall. As Maddy tries to uncover the truth about Billy Holcomb, ghosts from her own past surface, her best friend starts to slip away, and Maddy's world tilts once again. Can she put the pieces of her life back together, even if some of them are lost forever?
Maddy Gaines sees danger everywhere she at the bus stop, around the roller rink, in the woods, and (especially) by the ocean. When Maddy meets a mysterious boy setting booby traps in the North Carolina woods, she suspects is Billy Holcomb--the boy who went missing in the fall. As Maddy tries to uncover the truth about Billy Holcomb, ghosts from her own past surface, her best friend starts to slip away, and Maddy's world tilts once again. Can she put the pieces of her life back together, even if some of them are lost forever?
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2020
33 people are currently reading
3185 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Conklin
6 books229 followersMelanie Conklin is the author of Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, and A Perfect Mistake. Melanie grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
November 4, 2022
There is so much to unpack with this one. The cover alone says volumes. There is Maddy biking with her beloved dog Frankie. The house is a work in progress as her family has changed in many ways. Then there are the problems with her friend Cress and the ways they are both growing and changing. In the midst of the uncertainty, Maddy thinks she has spotted a missing boy in her neighborhood. Her recent growth in maturity leads her to proceed with caution. Meanwhile Maddy struggles to accept her new stepfather. I love the Saturdays with Stan and how his little red notebook goes from an annoyance to a treasure as the book progresses. This is likely to be on the Newbery short list in 2020. It is a winner!
May 22, 2024
This was presented as a mystery book. It was the reason I bought it, as I've been reading a lot of middle grade mysteries. However, I don't think mystery is at the heart of this story - and that is not a bad thing.
This a book about losses. About recovering from losing what you loved the most. Most importantly, this is a book about letting go of the past to be able to see the happiness waiting for us in the future.
Melanie Conklin treats her characters with compassion, the compassion every child needs when facing an everyday filled with uncertainty and grief.
Maddy lost something very important. Since that happened, everything she sees in the world is danger.
Maddy's mother has tried to help her trust again. She has offer routines and exercises to help Maddy move through life with ease. But the hurt inside Maddy is not healing, and the pain forces her to stay vigilant, reminding her that any given day, life may take everything you cared for away.
It's not until a boy disappears, his photo plastered on every newspaper and the news on TV, that she finds a new purpose in life: to find him.
Easier said than done, particularly when her neighborhood nemesis have declared the old cemetery their own private play ground and rumor has it, it's there where others had seen a mysterious boy who just about fits the description of the lost one from the papers.
A character driven story with heart and a little bit of action. Too naive in parts, perhaps reflecting children younger than the actual characters are meant to be, it still manages to be interesting and a joy to read.
This a book about losses. About recovering from losing what you loved the most. Most importantly, this is a book about letting go of the past to be able to see the happiness waiting for us in the future.
Melanie Conklin treats her characters with compassion, the compassion every child needs when facing an everyday filled with uncertainty and grief.
Maddy lost something very important. Since that happened, everything she sees in the world is danger.
Maddy's mother has tried to help her trust again. She has offer routines and exercises to help Maddy move through life with ease. But the hurt inside Maddy is not healing, and the pain forces her to stay vigilant, reminding her that any given day, life may take everything you cared for away.
It's not until a boy disappears, his photo plastered on every newspaper and the news on TV, that she finds a new purpose in life: to find him.
Easier said than done, particularly when her neighborhood nemesis have declared the old cemetery their own private play ground and rumor has it, it's there where others had seen a mysterious boy who just about fits the description of the lost one from the papers.
A character driven story with heart and a little bit of action. Too naive in parts, perhaps reflecting children younger than the actual characters are meant to be, it still manages to be interesting and a joy to read.
December 24, 2023
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“People are complicated. The ones who don’t have many friends are usually the ones who need them the most.”
With hints of a compelling mystery and learning to cope with grief and loss Every Missing Piece is a middle grade coming-of-age story that touches upon subjects of grief and loss, while also navigating the efforts and lengths people do to protect the ones they love. 🫂
“When your father dies unexpectedly, people don’t forget. The tragedy is always there, hovering like a ghost in their words. When they look at you, they see the same person, but inside, you’ve changed.
They can’t see the change inside of you, but they can feel it. And it feels wrong to them. They wear their concern on their faces, the questions they want to ask but never will. Do you remember him? Do you miss him?”
After losing her father in a horrible tragic accident, eleven-year-old Maddy Gaines has always taken precautionary steps to the extreme - seeing potential danger in literally everything that exists, she's always prone to do the utmost care in everything. 'Some people have a talent for things like hair and clothes, but my skills lie more in stubbornness and determination.' But, when the new kid in her class, Eric bears striking similarities to Billy Holcomb, a recently reported missing child, Maddy will have to put aside her own fears and concerns in order to find out what truths lie hidden behind closed doors. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The mystery part of the story was very compelling for me; I was genuinely intrigued and curious to see how it would play out and how much of Maddy's detective skills would get her closer to the truth about Eric - 'he looked like a kid who could use a friend.' I liked how passionate she was in her resolve and even more about how she didn't allow the nature of her extreme need to be overly cautious outweigh her good sense of judgment. 👍🏻 I liked how the clues were presented in sparse detail with just enough intrigue to keep me guessing about whether or not there was some truth to Maddy's speculations. And when all was revealed, it delved into a much more serious and darker tone of the story, which I admit, did catch me by surprise.
And I think, because of that - the story wasn't quite well developed in that regard; to address a subject as heavy as domestic abuse would make for a more touching story, but I felt that it was a bit underdeveloped, here. 'Abuse isn’t about love. It’s about control. And it’s wrong.' It was something that was quickly brought to light, but not enough of a strong connection to Maddy to make it impactful. The build up was gripping and excellent, but the latter half didn't quite appeal to me as much as I would have expected it to have. The ending, while unexpected, still felt a bit rushed and rather a little too convenient for my liking. 🙁
“But some losses keep coming back, the way a shout echoes long after it’s gone. I still text him sometimes. The messages don’t go through, but writing them helps.
Sometimes I just say, “I love you.”
He never answers back.”
Aside from uncovering the mystery behind Eric, I appreciated how the story also focused on Maddy's grief about her father; the story behind it was quite heart-breaking, when you think about how it was just an unfortunate accident - one that could have been easily avoided. 'All it takes is one little mistake, and your world can change forever. For example, you can end up without a dad.' 🥺 The text messages to her father were such a heart-breaking touch, but one that was equally touching. I don't blame Maddy for being zealous in her precautions; it pained me to read it, but at the same time, I appreciated the way in which the author allowed Maddy to find closure in it - how she learned not to hold tight to the responsibility of guilt for what happened. I know, it'll never quite be enough, but seeing her get closure from her family - the words of comfort that she so desperately needed was treated with a lot of kindness, which I appreciated. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“‘For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love,’” Stan says with a smile. “Carl Sagan said that. He was a fellow star nerd. You’d like him.”
One aspect of the story I really enjoyed was her relationship with her stepfather, Stan. He was a really solid guy - one of those good guys, who really did care for her, but never pushed her into accepting him, no matter how much he wanted her to be welcoming to him. 'We talk, but I don’t know much about his life before us. And he doesn’t know much about my life before him.' I liked that Maddy was finally willing to give him a chance - learn more about him - see how much they shared in common than she realized. 😢 Even if he was a bittersweet reminder to the father she had lost, I appreciated how the author allowed Maddy a chance to grieve, while also accepting the changes in her life. That love doesn't go away, but she can make room in her heart for more of it. He proved time and time again how supportive and receptive he was to her fears and concerns, and in the end, even, really shined as a father.
“Love seemed like some kind of mysterious force that traveled invisibly between people. It didn’t seem right that you couldn’t see it or control it, and that it could strike at any time.”
And most importantly, friendship and family is the heart of this story. Maddy's relationship with her mother and her friends helped her grow and adjust to her sadness and also shed light on how she viewed life, in general. They were there for her, even when she felt that she was alone and wanted to be alone. It was also this very figurative look that much like how we can assume things are safe just by their appearance, so too, can people not be judged solely on their appearance - good or bad. And when I think about it, I think that was something that really shined the most for me, and one that is worth mentioning as a positive of this story. 🤍🤍
“People are complicated. The ones who don’t have many friends are usually the ones who need them the most.”
With hints of a compelling mystery and learning to cope with grief and loss Every Missing Piece is a middle grade coming-of-age story that touches upon subjects of grief and loss, while also navigating the efforts and lengths people do to protect the ones they love. 🫂
“When your father dies unexpectedly, people don’t forget. The tragedy is always there, hovering like a ghost in their words. When they look at you, they see the same person, but inside, you’ve changed.
They can’t see the change inside of you, but they can feel it. And it feels wrong to them. They wear their concern on their faces, the questions they want to ask but never will. Do you remember him? Do you miss him?”
After losing her father in a horrible tragic accident, eleven-year-old Maddy Gaines has always taken precautionary steps to the extreme - seeing potential danger in literally everything that exists, she's always prone to do the utmost care in everything. 'Some people have a talent for things like hair and clothes, but my skills lie more in stubbornness and determination.' But, when the new kid in her class, Eric bears striking similarities to Billy Holcomb, a recently reported missing child, Maddy will have to put aside her own fears and concerns in order to find out what truths lie hidden behind closed doors. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The mystery part of the story was very compelling for me; I was genuinely intrigued and curious to see how it would play out and how much of Maddy's detective skills would get her closer to the truth about Eric - 'he looked like a kid who could use a friend.' I liked how passionate she was in her resolve and even more about how she didn't allow the nature of her extreme need to be overly cautious outweigh her good sense of judgment. 👍🏻 I liked how the clues were presented in sparse detail with just enough intrigue to keep me guessing about whether or not there was some truth to Maddy's speculations. And when all was revealed, it delved into a much more serious and darker tone of the story, which I admit, did catch me by surprise.
And I think, because of that - the story wasn't quite well developed in that regard; to address a subject as heavy as domestic abuse would make for a more touching story, but I felt that it was a bit underdeveloped, here. 'Abuse isn’t about love. It’s about control. And it’s wrong.' It was something that was quickly brought to light, but not enough of a strong connection to Maddy to make it impactful. The build up was gripping and excellent, but the latter half didn't quite appeal to me as much as I would have expected it to have. The ending, while unexpected, still felt a bit rushed and rather a little too convenient for my liking. 🙁
“But some losses keep coming back, the way a shout echoes long after it’s gone. I still text him sometimes. The messages don’t go through, but writing them helps.
Sometimes I just say, “I love you.”
He never answers back.”
Aside from uncovering the mystery behind Eric, I appreciated how the story also focused on Maddy's grief about her father; the story behind it was quite heart-breaking, when you think about how it was just an unfortunate accident - one that could have been easily avoided. 'All it takes is one little mistake, and your world can change forever. For example, you can end up without a dad.' 🥺 The text messages to her father were such a heart-breaking touch, but one that was equally touching. I don't blame Maddy for being zealous in her precautions; it pained me to read it, but at the same time, I appreciated the way in which the author allowed Maddy to find closure in it - how she learned not to hold tight to the responsibility of guilt for what happened. I know, it'll never quite be enough, but seeing her get closure from her family - the words of comfort that she so desperately needed was treated with a lot of kindness, which I appreciated. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“‘For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love,’” Stan says with a smile. “Carl Sagan said that. He was a fellow star nerd. You’d like him.”
One aspect of the story I really enjoyed was her relationship with her stepfather, Stan. He was a really solid guy - one of those good guys, who really did care for her, but never pushed her into accepting him, no matter how much he wanted her to be welcoming to him. 'We talk, but I don’t know much about his life before us. And he doesn’t know much about my life before him.' I liked that Maddy was finally willing to give him a chance - learn more about him - see how much they shared in common than she realized. 😢 Even if he was a bittersweet reminder to the father she had lost, I appreciated how the author allowed Maddy a chance to grieve, while also accepting the changes in her life. That love doesn't go away, but she can make room in her heart for more of it. He proved time and time again how supportive and receptive he was to her fears and concerns, and in the end, even, really shined as a father.
“Love seemed like some kind of mysterious force that traveled invisibly between people. It didn’t seem right that you couldn’t see it or control it, and that it could strike at any time.”
And most importantly, friendship and family is the heart of this story. Maddy's relationship with her mother and her friends helped her grow and adjust to her sadness and also shed light on how she viewed life, in general. They were there for her, even when she felt that she was alone and wanted to be alone. It was also this very figurative look that much like how we can assume things are safe just by their appearance, so too, can people not be judged solely on their appearance - good or bad. And when I think about it, I think that was something that really shined the most for me, and one that is worth mentioning as a positive of this story. 🤍🤍
February 17, 2020
Kids are resilient, right? Maddy proves that adults sometimes dismiss their traumas or the causes of over-the-top behavior and actions. Melanie Conklin’s EVERY MISSING PIECE is a heartwarming tale that speaks to loss, grief, family bonds and abuse while weaving a fascinating mystery for young adult readers.
Maddy may have been chasing the wind by calling the police for perceived crimes, but when she sees a boy she cannot help but believe is a long missing child, she digs down deep and won’t let having cried wolf once too often stop her from uncovering what her gut is telling her.
A wonderfully told tale that addresses so many issues with a delicate, yet enlightening way as one girl gets through the maze of her own past traumas to help another.
This is an amazingly well-told tale, as entertaining as it is touching.
I was invited to receive a complimentary ARC edition from the Disney Book Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date: May 19, 2020
Publisher: Disney Publishing Group
Genre: YA
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Maddy may have been chasing the wind by calling the police for perceived crimes, but when she sees a boy she cannot help but believe is a long missing child, she digs down deep and won’t let having cried wolf once too often stop her from uncovering what her gut is telling her.
A wonderfully told tale that addresses so many issues with a delicate, yet enlightening way as one girl gets through the maze of her own past traumas to help another.
This is an amazingly well-told tale, as entertaining as it is touching.
I was invited to receive a complimentary ARC edition from the Disney Book Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publication Date: May 19, 2020
Publisher: Disney Publishing Group
Genre: YA
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
July 6, 2020
It’s a heartfelt story about a family struggling through the big and small adjustments in their lives and Maddy’s effort to understand the changes in her life…especially the recent introduction of a step father. Maddy… a sixth grader…just wants her old life back…but as her best friend tells her “You just have to get used to it.” When she finally learns what really happened to the missing boy… Billy and his mother…she learns to accept some hard truths about the emotional effects that domestic violence can have on everyone. It’s a book designed for 5th through 7th grade students…but it is well worth adults taking some time out to visit with Maddy.
May 12, 2020
Great book. Adding it to my list of AWESOME 2020 books!
https://www.mrcolbysharp.com/2020
https://www.mrcolbysharp.com/2020
January 8, 2022
If Counting Thyme failed to make you feel ✨emotions✨, fret not, you aren't an unfeeling monster! Melanie Conklin is back with another book that is (almost) guaranteed to make you feel something!
Jokes aside, Every Missing Piece really was an emotionally compelling novel that has cemented Conklin as one of my favorite middle-grade authors. The book follows Maddie after a boy from a nearby town goes missing - and seemingly reappears in the woods. Maddie's been through a fair amount, with the death of her father leading her to anticipate danger everywhere, her mother's upcoming remarriage, and the way her best friend has been changing recently. No one believes Maddie when she says that the boy is Billy Holcombe, who went missing, but she's determined to uncover the truth.
First off, the characters were excellent. Just like with Counting Thyme, I absolutely adored the characters, and they were really the driving force behind the entire book. Again, while I did get the feeling that some of the characters existed solely for Maddie's development and growth as a character, they were still unique and made the book enjoyable.
Additionally, Maddie's backstory was extremely captivating, and it was interesting to see how more was revealed over the course of the story and as more things happened, as well as how Maddie eventually came to terms with a lot of these incidents.
The best thing about this book, however, is the way that Conklin writes about so many important topics in a way that's perfect for the target audience.
The first example of this is . It's never spoken of graphically or gone into in-depth, but it's nevertheless still present in the book, and rather than being brushed aside or only briefly touched on, it's pretty well-discussed, and in a way that doesn't romanticize it.
There's also . Again, it's never brushed aside or included in the book for the sake of giving Maddie a character quirk. Neither does it become her defining character trait. It's handled gently and in a genuinely heartwarming yet realistic manner.
And yet, even with such serious topics this book never becomes too dark. At the end of the day, it's still about kids helping and messing around with other kids, and it maintains that lighthearted feel at times, balanced with various serious moments as well.
Overall, this book was so, so, so well-crafted, and I truly wish that I had been able to read it when I was small. It's surprisingly wholesome and touching yet effortlessly middle-grade. It's certainly a book to enjoy, yet also a book that makes you feel.
Jokes aside, Every Missing Piece really was an emotionally compelling novel that has cemented Conklin as one of my favorite middle-grade authors. The book follows Maddie after a boy from a nearby town goes missing - and seemingly reappears in the woods. Maddie's been through a fair amount, with the death of her father leading her to anticipate danger everywhere, her mother's upcoming remarriage, and the way her best friend has been changing recently. No one believes Maddie when she says that the boy is Billy Holcombe, who went missing, but she's determined to uncover the truth.
First off, the characters were excellent. Just like with Counting Thyme, I absolutely adored the characters, and they were really the driving force behind the entire book. Again, while I did get the feeling that some of the characters existed solely for Maddie's development and growth as a character, they were still unique and made the book enjoyable.
Additionally, Maddie's backstory was extremely captivating, and it was interesting to see how more was revealed over the course of the story and as more things happened, as well as how Maddie eventually came to terms with a lot of these incidents.
The best thing about this book, however, is the way that Conklin writes about so many important topics in a way that's perfect for the target audience.
The first example of this is . It's never spoken of graphically or gone into in-depth, but it's nevertheless still present in the book, and rather than being brushed aside or only briefly touched on, it's pretty well-discussed, and in a way that doesn't romanticize it.
There's also . Again, it's never brushed aside or included in the book for the sake of giving Maddie a character quirk. Neither does it become her defining character trait. It's handled gently and in a genuinely heartwarming yet realistic manner.
And yet, even with such serious topics this book never becomes too dark. At the end of the day, it's still about kids helping and messing around with other kids, and it maintains that lighthearted feel at times, balanced with various serious moments as well.
Overall, this book was so, so, so well-crafted, and I truly wish that I had been able to read it when I was small. It's surprisingly wholesome and touching yet effortlessly middle-grade. It's certainly a book to enjoy, yet also a book that makes you feel.
November 24, 2019
I loved hanging out with Maddy. Readers will, too.
June 23, 2021
Every Missing Piece is a sensitive, moving, and heartwarming middle grade book about managing anxiety and adjusting to a new step-parent. With an anxious, clever protagonist dealing with grief and friendship ups and downs, this relatable story will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to recover from difficult circumstances. This book manages to deal with tough themes like substance abuse and domestic abuse in a balanced age-appropriate way, while keeping readers engaged with a low stakes mystery. I highly recommend this to fans of mystery stories with plenty of heart.
Read my full review on my blog.
Read my full review on my blog.
November 23, 2024
کتاب در مورد دختری به نام مدیسون گینز است که به او مدی میگویند. مدی دختری 11-12 ساله است که چند سال قبل پدرش را در حادثهای از دست داده و حالا مادرش با مردی به نام استن ازدواج کرده است. مدی بسیار به پدرش وابسته بوده و هنوز هم مدام به او فکر میکند و بهخاطر فوت پدرش، دچار اضطراب و بدبینی نسبت به اتفاقات مختلف شده که به بهانههای مختلف مدام به پلیس زنگ میزند درحالیکه اتفاق خاصی نیفتاده.
در همین شرایط، اخبار از ربوده شدن پسری به نام بیلی هولکامب میگوید و مدی چند ماه بعد از این اتفاق، با پسر جدیدی در همسایگیشان آشنا میشود. پسری به به شدت او را به یاد بیلی میاندازد و فکر میکند او همان بیلی گمشده است و تلاش میکند تا در کنار پذیرفتن ناپدریش و شرایط جدید خانوادگیش، این معما را حل کند.
کتاب بسیار لطیف زیبا، پر از جزئیات واقعی از احساسات شخصیت اصلی دختر داستان نسبت به پدر فوت شدهاش، ناپدری جدیدش و دوستانش است. یک سیر بسیار مناسب دارد و به خوبی مسائل در کتاب پیش میروند و به نتیجه میرسند.
در همین شرایط، اخبار از ربوده شدن پسری به نام بیلی هولکامب میگوید و مدی چند ماه بعد از این اتفاق، با پسر جدیدی در همسایگیشان آشنا میشود. پسری به به شدت او را به یاد بیلی میاندازد و فکر میکند او همان بیلی گمشده است و تلاش میکند تا در کنار پذیرفتن ناپدریش و شرایط جدید خانوادگیش، این معما را حل کند.
کتاب بسیار لطیف زیبا، پر از جزئیات واقعی از احساسات شخصیت اصلی دختر داستان نسبت به پدر فوت شدهاش، ناپدری جدیدش و دوستانش است. یک سیر بسیار مناسب دارد و به خوبی مسائل در کتاب پیش میروند و به نتیجه میرسند.
May 28, 2022
Prachtig, mooi, hartverwarmend, liefdevol en ontroerend 🥺🥺🥺
AANRADER!!
AANRADER!!
January 20, 2021
When I was a little girl, I often wondered what would happen if I found a missing child. Would the grownups listen? Would they believe me?
Eleven-year-old Maddy's story centers on this question. Has she found Billy Holcomb, the child who went missing six months earlier? If she's right, will the adults believe her, or assume it's another instance of Maddy crying wolf?
All the while, Maddy struggles to adjust to the changes in her life, from her new stepfather to her evolving friendships. Change was never easy for me, so it is never easy for my characters. I hope you enjoy getting to know Maddy. She and her family hold a special place in my heart.
❤️ Mel
Eleven-year-old Maddy's story centers on this question. Has she found Billy Holcomb, the child who went missing six months earlier? If she's right, will the adults believe her, or assume it's another instance of Maddy crying wolf?
All the while, Maddy struggles to adjust to the changes in her life, from her new stepfather to her evolving friendships. Change was never easy for me, so it is never easy for my characters. I hope you enjoy getting to know Maddy. She and her family hold a special place in my heart.
❤️ Mel
August 20, 2020
This author knows her audience. She addresses trauma, grief, and the complexities of coping in such simplistic terms for a middle school reader. Great storytelling while addressing tough topics such as domestic violence and death.
October 5, 2022
4.7 ⭐️
It took me exactly 53 pages to get into it, but I was crying by the end. This was a great read with great writing and amazing characters. Maddy is so kween. So’s Billy, but Maddy’s just the part of me who thinks of the worst possible scenario in normal situations. Frankie is the best character tho. Don’t care what you say, Frankie is actually the best and carried the whole book. She deserves a Nobel, an Emmy, and an Oscar.
It took me exactly 53 pages to get into it, but I was crying by the end. This was a great read with great writing and amazing characters. Maddy is so kween. So’s Billy, but Maddy’s just the part of me who thinks of the worst possible scenario in normal situations. Frankie is the best character tho. Don’t care what you say, Frankie is actually the best and carried the whole book. She deserves a Nobel, an Emmy, and an Oscar.
February 11, 2020
Part mystery, part family drama, this book has a little bit of everything: the discomfort of evolving friendships, grappling with loss and family change, a community coming together to support someone in need, and an anxious, caring middle grade narrator trying to figure it all out.
July 17, 2020
Great book to start conversations about childhood trauma on multiple levels. However, it does this in a very beautiful and appropriate way.
Trigger warnings: child abuse, domestic abuse, death of a parent.
Trigger warnings: child abuse, domestic abuse, death of a parent.
March 26, 2024
Wow! I have rarely come across a book like this, one so important for middle grade readers. The honesty with which the story was laid out, including the grief Maddy is processing about her father’s death, the depiction of anxiety, the remedies in place to assist Maddy as she navigated her life, were all done so well. I loved the insights to Maddy’s thoughts regarding her new stepdad, how she came full circle (in no small part in thanks to the little red notebook) in her love for him, learning her heart had the room. Also, her friendship with a child who greatly needed it (Eric) was done well. The layers the author wove and the scary ending are unforgettable. A book every kid should read, for their safety + for other kids in their lives. Highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
I loved Conklin's Counting Thyme so I was excited to read her new book. Maddy's world is so real to many kids who worry about so many things in their lives. Having a strong character to relate to, who is not perfect and who questions herself frequently, is very reassuring for kids who need a Maddy character. There is a drama, mystery, danger, and finding family. I really enjoyed this story!
September 2, 2020
I was so glad I got to read another Melanie Conklin book! She’s such a great author and I LOVED her first book, Counting Thyme.
November 7, 2020
I enjoyed this poignant middle grade novel. It features likable characters, an engrossing plot, and some good lessons about managing grief, being a real friend, and dealing with difficult changes in life.
May 16, 2023
“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.”
We absolutely LOVED this book in my classroom. It had my students screaming at me to read one more chapter. What a great story of grief, fear, and learning to feel safe again! Will definitely read this book again.
We absolutely LOVED this book in my classroom. It had my students screaming at me to read one more chapter. What a great story of grief, fear, and learning to feel safe again! Will definitely read this book again.
September 30, 2022
it was rlly good for a BOB book. I reccomend.
October 18, 2020
Perfect and sweet, fairly predictable but in a comforting way, while also ringing absolutely true. Complex characters with real depth and emotionally tender relationships. A surprisingly gentle read, given the content.
November 24, 2022
Really enjoyed this. Rec'd via Netgalley
Original and engaging characters
Original and engaging characters
March 22, 2020
Thanks to the publisher and to my bookish friends at Book Portage (ARC sharing group) for allowing me to read this May 2020 release. This book is so many things. Maddy is trying to put together the pieces of a new life with her Mom and stepdad Stan while keeping alive the pieces missing from her old life since the death of her father. Then, she discovers a mystery that her brain just can't let go of, even if events in her past tell her she should. As all of these pieces come together, she also tries to reconcile how the changing relationships of early adolescence will fit together as she feuds with an old friend, and then her best friend.
In the long awaited second novel from Melanie Conklin we find the very likable Maddy tilting pieces of her life, having them tilt on her, and needing others to tilt them to show her the way. It's a story with a warm heart, filled with genuine characters. A great addition to an MG library.
In the long awaited second novel from Melanie Conklin we find the very likable Maddy tilting pieces of her life, having them tilt on her, and needing others to tilt them to show her the way. It's a story with a warm heart, filled with genuine characters. A great addition to an MG library.
August 26, 2022
“All it takes is one little mistake, and your world can change forever. For example, you can end up without a dad.”
Maddy Gaines is a 6th grader who sees danger everywhere. She's called the police so many times to report things that her mother signs her up with a therapist to help with her anxiety. It's no wonder though, because her father died saving her from drowning and she hasn't gotten over that trauma. “I can’t help it if I’m good a spotting trouble. Once you’ve seen the worst-case scenario, it’s impossible not to see terrible prospects everywhere, like promises waiting to be fulfilled.” Even Maddy's best friend, Cress, is worried about Maddy and her overactive sense of danger.
To add more complication to her situation, Maddy's mother has remarried and Maddy's not sure how to deal with Stan. “When a person is right, there’s a click. You fit together, like two halves of a plastic Easter egg. Stan is a good guy, but I’m pretty sure we’ll never click like that.” It feels like if Maddy connects with Stan, she might lose the connection with her father (whom she still texts all the time even though his phone is gone.)
Into this family drama comes the event of a boy, Billy Holcomb, being kidnapped. An Amber alert goes out and the search continues for six months with no success in finding him. One day, when Maddy is "trespassing" on Diesel Jessup's territory (Maddy and Diesel used to be friends, but lately this whole territory war has started between them), Maddy meets Eric, who is living in a trailer behind the Jessup house. Something is strange about Eric. For example, he has set booby traps all around the perimeter of the trailer. What's up with that? Maddy has the funny feeling that Eric is really Billy Holcomb. But she can't report anything until she has some solid evidence, because otherwise it's unlikely anyone will believe her.
So begins Maddy's journey to her "next self." She slowly gets to know Eric, thinking that she will find evidence to help support her theory, but in actuality, they are becoming friends. She begins to understand that Cress is maturing past their childhood rituals and that's okay because they can still be friends. She begins to see Diesel Jessup in a different light. And she slowly begins to realize that she should give Stan a chance because he deserves one and because it would make her mother so happy. “Just because someone’s gone doesn’t mean you stop loving them, even if you start loving someone else. There’s room in your heart to love so many people.” Maybe she can feel safe again.
And so when a truly dangerous situation does arise, Maddy is able to face it with the help of her family and friends. And she comes to understand that what happened to her dad wasn't her fault at all. It was a choice that he himself made. “Things will always go wrong. All we can do is make our choices.”
A wonderful book about the process of healing caused by trauma and guilt and the ability to make room in our heart for others. “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” Carl Sagan
Maddy Gaines is a 6th grader who sees danger everywhere. She's called the police so many times to report things that her mother signs her up with a therapist to help with her anxiety. It's no wonder though, because her father died saving her from drowning and she hasn't gotten over that trauma. “I can’t help it if I’m good a spotting trouble. Once you’ve seen the worst-case scenario, it’s impossible not to see terrible prospects everywhere, like promises waiting to be fulfilled.” Even Maddy's best friend, Cress, is worried about Maddy and her overactive sense of danger.
To add more complication to her situation, Maddy's mother has remarried and Maddy's not sure how to deal with Stan. “When a person is right, there’s a click. You fit together, like two halves of a plastic Easter egg. Stan is a good guy, but I’m pretty sure we’ll never click like that.” It feels like if Maddy connects with Stan, she might lose the connection with her father (whom she still texts all the time even though his phone is gone.)
Into this family drama comes the event of a boy, Billy Holcomb, being kidnapped. An Amber alert goes out and the search continues for six months with no success in finding him. One day, when Maddy is "trespassing" on Diesel Jessup's territory (Maddy and Diesel used to be friends, but lately this whole territory war has started between them), Maddy meets Eric, who is living in a trailer behind the Jessup house. Something is strange about Eric. For example, he has set booby traps all around the perimeter of the trailer. What's up with that? Maddy has the funny feeling that Eric is really Billy Holcomb. But she can't report anything until she has some solid evidence, because otherwise it's unlikely anyone will believe her.
So begins Maddy's journey to her "next self." She slowly gets to know Eric, thinking that she will find evidence to help support her theory, but in actuality, they are becoming friends. She begins to understand that Cress is maturing past their childhood rituals and that's okay because they can still be friends. She begins to see Diesel Jessup in a different light. And she slowly begins to realize that she should give Stan a chance because he deserves one and because it would make her mother so happy. “Just because someone’s gone doesn’t mean you stop loving them, even if you start loving someone else. There’s room in your heart to love so many people.” Maybe she can feel safe again.
And so when a truly dangerous situation does arise, Maddy is able to face it with the help of her family and friends. And she comes to understand that what happened to her dad wasn't her fault at all. It was a choice that he himself made. “Things will always go wrong. All we can do is make our choices.”
A wonderful book about the process of healing caused by trauma and guilt and the ability to make room in our heart for others. “For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” Carl Sagan
February 24, 2020
Thank you to the author and publisher for send an ARC of this book to #bookportage for review.
5 big stars for this absolutely beautiful novel by Melanie Conklin. I've been anxious awaiting a new book from her since loving her MG debut, Counting Thyme, and this book was well worth the wait.
Maddy is struggling with the death of her dad a few years ago, and how scary the world feels you're not prepared for a worst case scenario. She vigilantly pays attention to the world around her, and often worries about potential problems, much to the dismay of her mom and the local police (whom she contacts when she's notices something she think could be problematic. When a new boy arrives in town with a mysterious past, she's convinced he's the boy who went missing six months ago. How can she prove to everyone she's right? At the same time, her relationship with her best friend is changing, and her new stepdad, Stan, is trying to connect with her but she's not sure she's ready to open her heart up to him.
I really love the sensitive way that Maddy's anxiety is explored, and the support that she receives from her mom and stepdad. One of my favorite aspects of this story is the character development, and how the relationships between Maddy and Stan, and Maddy and her mom, change over the course of the book. There is so much heart in these characters, and though all are hurting in their own ways, it's wonderful to watch as they grow and find ways to connect to each other. As the story develops and we learn more about Eric, the boy with the mysterious past, the story addresses some tough topics and provides wonderful discussion material. There is a lot of suspense that I was not expecting, and the story was incredibly well-crafted.
I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR piles, and I will definitely be adding it to my library's collection in May.
5 big stars for this absolutely beautiful novel by Melanie Conklin. I've been anxious awaiting a new book from her since loving her MG debut, Counting Thyme, and this book was well worth the wait.
Maddy is struggling with the death of her dad a few years ago, and how scary the world feels you're not prepared for a worst case scenario. She vigilantly pays attention to the world around her, and often worries about potential problems, much to the dismay of her mom and the local police (whom she contacts when she's notices something she think could be problematic. When a new boy arrives in town with a mysterious past, she's convinced he's the boy who went missing six months ago. How can she prove to everyone she's right? At the same time, her relationship with her best friend is changing, and her new stepdad, Stan, is trying to connect with her but she's not sure she's ready to open her heart up to him.
I really love the sensitive way that Maddy's anxiety is explored, and the support that she receives from her mom and stepdad. One of my favorite aspects of this story is the character development, and how the relationships between Maddy and Stan, and Maddy and her mom, change over the course of the book. There is so much heart in these characters, and though all are hurting in their own ways, it's wonderful to watch as they grow and find ways to connect to each other. As the story develops and we learn more about Eric, the boy with the mysterious past, the story addresses some tough topics and provides wonderful discussion material. There is a lot of suspense that I was not expecting, and the story was incredibly well-crafted.
I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR piles, and I will definitely be adding it to my library's collection in May.
July 25, 2020
Ever since Maddy's father died while saving her life at the ocean, she has been a bit of an alarmist. She has a fire extinguisher and a rope ladder in case of a fire. She and her mom have regular safety checks and trim the shrubs so burglars can't use them to hide. Because she called 911 so often, she and the sheriff were on a first name basis. The tv would be turned off during crime reports, but she did find out about Billy Holcomb, who disappeared, and then six months later a new boy, Eric arrives . To deliver “Welcome to the Neighborhood” pies, Maddy navigates the booby traps Eric has set around his trailer where he and his mom live. Except for his hair color, weight and height, his facial features resemble Bobby. Without proof, Maddy knows she can't call 911, so she enlists her best friend to help her uncover the truth about Eric's possible identity. Other plot points involve Maddy's grief, which she expresses by texting her Dad, knowing full well there will be no response, and Maddy's adjustment to her new stepdad, Stan, who always seems to be writing in a small red notebook, and the ever present bullies. Excellent in it's treatment of some very real social issues.
May 15, 2022
This is a marvelous portrait of trauma and the anxiety that builds as a result. Maddy was an utterly convincing character, a kid who is still suffering from her father's death (a terrible accident), and has developed routines to ensure that she feels safe in her house. Her mother tries to help and goes through those routines with her. While her actions may be banking up Maddy's anxiety, at the same time she listens to her daughter, and that's powerful. I loved watched Maddy's developing relationship with her stepfather Stan (her internal criticisms of him are often hilarious), but I loved most of all Maddy's determination to do what she needed to do—from her routines to bringing pie after pie to a mysterious boy in her neighborhood to try to learn who he really is. Substance abuse is an issue in this book, but Conklin treats it well: It's an illness, not a choice (that's said out loud), and the boy affected by it is resentful and frustrated, a very real portrait of this kid. Domestic abuse is also a big theme, and it's genuinely scary, but not depicted. Conklin's hand is gentle, and puts all this on the page well. A warm, sometimes funny, and heartfelt story.
September 14, 2020
This isn't a typical mystery, but I still think it will appeal to mystery fans. It's more of a realistic fiction story with a mystery in it. I wish she'd gone to a therapist for her anxiety. She could have benefited from one, and it would have helped normalize it for kids.
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