Partly Cloudy

by Tanita S. Davis

From a Coretta Scott King Honor author, a “delightful” novel about the microaggressions of middle school and what one girl learns about community (Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble). Lightning couldn’t strike twice, could it? After a terrible year, Madalyn needs clear skies desperately. Moving in with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo, and switching to a new school is just the first step.It’s not all rainbows and sunshine, though. Madalyn discovers she’s the only Black girl in her class, and while most of her classmates are friendly, assumptions lead to some serious storms.Papa Lobo’s long-running feud with neighbor Mrs. Baylor brings wild weather of its own, and Madalyn wonders just how far things will go. But when fire threatens their California community, Madalyn discovers that being neighborly means more than just staying on your side of the street— it means weathering tough conversations and finding that together a family can pull through anything.“Feel-good realistic fiction . . . reminds young readers that families and friendships alike require honesty, compromise, and understanding—especially when the forecast is partly cloudy.” —Booklist (starred review)“In this gentle multigenerational narrative, Davis explores race, tough conversations, and climate change as her endearing protagonist learns to face conflict and embrace community.” —Publishers Weekly

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Childrens, Family, Audiobook

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2021

Reviews

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was such a tough one to rate.

So the book starts off with Madlyn being told by her parents that they will be having her live with her great uncle Papa Lobo this school year. Madlyn had a tough time the past school year after she and her parents had to move to a new town when her father lost his job. None of them think going back to the same middle school is best for her. Papa Lobo lives in a much better school district but in order to attend, she must live with him during the week.

Madlyn has to adjust to a new house, new school, and her father's new job which means he'll be away for weeks at a time. In addition her mother will only be seeing her on the weekends. At this new school Madlyn quickly notices she's the only Black girl and one of very few brown faces. Despite reluctance she seems to be making new friends easily. Until she finds out that one of her new friends isn't comfortable around Black boys and displays some micro-aggressive behavior towards her neighbor.

I loved the Creole heritage heavily displayed here and how loving Madlyn's family was. I thought this book did a really good job showing the types of tough sacrifices that need to be made sometimes so they kids can have a better life.

Where the book was a struggle for me was the handling of racism. Up until about 70% the book danced around even dubbing Madlyn's new friend's behavior as racist. And while I appreciated that it made a point that Black people should not have to educate white people it did show Black people having to be the better person in two situations with white characters displaying racist behaviors. I wasn't too keen about that. Plus the important confrontation about said racist behavior happened very late in the book when there was a crisis going on.

Also I found Madlyn came across younger than she is. She's in junior high which places her around age 12/13 but I was getting age 9/10 from this story. Plus she's at an age where open communicate should've been stressed beyond listening and learning.

It's a very teachable read that could definitely open up some conversation about the best way to deal with micro and macro aggressive behavior.

I received an arc from HarperCollins Children in exchange for an honest review.

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partly Cloudy is an insightful middle grade story about family, community, and handling microaggressions in middle school. Author Tanita S. Davis presents the somewhat controversial idea that not all racist behavior is necessarily out of “evil” intent. Regardless, such microaggressions are worth addressing and learning about the backgrounds of others can build a measure of empathy. This slice-of-life novel is perfect for those who enjoy reading about the day-to-day of a character. It also features a lovable community and Creole words interspersed throughout. I liked this story and would definitely recommend it.

Read my full review on my blog.

Many thanks to the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly]

After her dad lands a job on the east coast and her mom takes on more hours to recoop financial hits over the last years, Madalyn is ready to start a new school year in a new school...even if it means living with extended family and not her parents. Friendship seems to be happening, though the girl Madalyn believes to be her friend does some things to her she can't stand. Madalyn is Black, as is her friend at her uncle's place, and Natalie has been less than generous about her interactions with both of them.

When a wildfire causes huge disruption to her new life and Madalyn invites Natalie over when her sister can't be reached, Madalyn must wrestle with what it means to be a friend, to find forgiveness, and to determine the difference between a partly cloudy friendship and a partly sunny one.

A smart, timely story of friendship and race, with a complex -- and real! -- family structure and setup amid the realities of climate change. There's a lot of meat packed into this little book and it's well seasoned and delicious.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! new school made more difficult by being the only black kid in her class (and having to deal with microaggressions) living with a relative away from her parents (Dad has new job on the east coast, Mom has a job that makes it hard to single parent), a friendship problem (a girl she likes is horribly prejudiced against black men and boys), and then on top of that, wildfires....Very good reading! Just saw another review from someone who wanted more plot, and less day to day life--when day to day life is full of small details of life and home and friends, clearly described, I am there for it! I'll take a large rooster collection (it came with the house) and ice cream and quirky neighbors over excitement any day. But there was excitement, with the fire; perhaps it wasn't plot excitement exactly, because Madalyn didn't rush out and Do Heroics, but it was exciting and believable.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madalyn has had a stormy year. First her father lost his job and they had to move across town, then she had a terrible year at her new middle school.

Madalyn knows she can't handle one more awful year at that middle school, so her parents come up with a plan. Madalyn will move in with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo and attend the school near him.

On the first day Madalyn makes some great friends and everything about the school is better than her previous school. She misses her parents though. She hates being apart from them, even though Papa Lobo is fantastic.

Madalyn is also concerned about one of her new friends, Natalie. When Natalie sees Madalyn with Papa Lobo's grandson, a black boy, Natalie says she shouldn't hang out with "boys like that." Turns out in the past Natalie was bullied by a black boy but Madalyn thinks it's turning Natalie downright racist.


What I Liked

*Papa Lobo is so charming and lovely. I liked all the little tidbits from Creole culture and the language.

*I like the conversations Madalyn had with her mother. They felt real, but were also tender and insightful.

*The author did a good job of demonstrating what a "microaggression" is. That's a hard concept for a lot of people to grasp.

*The weather related chapter headings were fun.


This is definitely a slice-0f-life story. Things are happening, but there's nothing major that dominates the plot. I enjoyed it but I didn't love it. Honestly, it could also be that I've reached my limit on junior books for the time being. I've read a lot recently and I can only take so much before I start craving all my mysteries. :D

[⛅ Sunny (sunnysidereviews) ⛅ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I think my expectations were too high. Review to come here, and on my blog https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie doesn’t want to move in with her Papa Lobo, but for now, it’s the right thing to do. A new school is needed for her, work for both of her parents has become complicated so there really isn’t a choice. A new home means more than just a different place to live and Maddie must adapt to a school without many Black faces and friends who may not be what she thought. Middle grade readers of all backgrounds will relate to many of Maddie experiences as she tries to adjust to being in unfamiliar surroundings and to make friends. Some readers will connect to some of the more negative, racially based events and hopefully all will come away with a greater understanding of how to behave in a kinder, gentler way towards all. Excellent choice for libraries serving students in grades 4-6 with no worries about profanity, violence or sexual content.

[Shannon]

Partly Cloudy

I Picked Up This Book Because: I am a fan of the Illustrators work.

Media Type: eBook
Source: HC Public Library
Dates Read: 1/31/23 - 2/1/23
Stars:
Narrator(s):

The Characters:

Emery Taylor:
Oliver Smith:
Reese Taylor, Alex Smith, Kelly,

The Story:

I am bored and not invested in the characters. I am not the intended age level and that may be the reason.

The Random Thoughts:

DNF = No Rating

[Jennifer Hottinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horrible year has Madalyn feeling down and she wonders if things could get any worse. She moves in with her great uncle, Papa Lobo, which means another new school. Could this one be better than her last? She is the only black girl in her class and some of the racist statements have Madalyn struggling with middle school and friendships all while missing mom. Will the skies clear for Madalyn and will she find friends who help clear those skies?
Excellent book! Loved Papa Lobo and mom's friendship analogy!!

[Sam Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book,very easy to read and well written. Covers a lot of hot topic issues, 5th grade and up.

[Gabie (OwlEyesReviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one for Oregon Battle of the Books committee. It’s pretty good! Definitely brings great perspective :)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

"Sometimes things weren't all the way sunny, and pretty soon there would be other kinds of weather on the way—life was always going to be changing like that—but at least Madalyn had learned that she could deal with a few clouds, too."

[Hannah]

Tanita is just so. damn. good. at her job!

[Luciam079 · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Zero · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was good and it had a nice premise but for me it was just filler things and daily life things that filled up 99% of the book for me. Wasn’t what i was expecting and wasn’t in the mood for that at the time but then again i don’t like a lot of fillers in books for no reason.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Changes lie ahead for Madlyn. And these are no small changes either. We're talking . . .
- Moving in with her Great Uncle Papa Lobo and being away from her parents
- Starting a new school where she is the only black girl in her class
- A lactose intolerance
- Losing old friends, making new friends and dealing with their racist behaviors
. . . . things like that.

Honestly, I'm not sure how to summarize this book. There isn't a lot that happens in this book it's more just about Madlyn adapting to new situations.

2 stars not because I don't think it has value but because "it was ok". Which is what 2 stars is defined as when I hover over it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madalyn's first day of school starts out kind of rocky when she slips and has an embarrassing fall that is witnessed by the entire school. Then she finds out she's the only black girl in her class, and Carlin and Sydney make her feel very unwelcome. But then Madalyn meets a few of the other girls from class and things seem to be looking up. Natalie seems like a promising friend, until she makes a comment about being scared of "boys like that" when she sees Madalyn with Jean. At first Madalyn feels weird about Natalie's comment, and then she gets angry. Despite Natalie having one bad experience in the past, there's no reason for her to now develop a prejudice toward all black boys. Madalyn is hurt by Natalie's off handed comments and isn't sure she want's to be friends with someone who makes racist comments like that. But when a wildfire starts making their way toward their town, Madalyn decides to hold off having a "tough conversation" with Natalie until after their families are safe.

I've seen Partly Cloudy described as a quiet story and I would agree, with the caveat that it is also an important story. The story tackles the issue of racism with sensitivity, highlighting Natalie's misjudgments and Madalyn's feelings with an authentic real life feel. I also love how the author describes that the onus is not on Madalyn to explain or help Natalie to not have these racist thoughts but rather Natalie is the one who has to do the work. Madalyn is the one to decide whether their friendship is worth having a hard conversation, and letting Natalie know how she feels. I also loved how the story reflected a carrying family, Papa Lobo, Madalyn's mom and dad, Natalie's older sister and the many neighbors. The wildfire added an element of danger, with Madalyn's mom travelling to Papa Lobo's and Natalie's sister being unaccounted for during the height of the fire, it also showed how situations like this can bring people together. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. Thank you to Keely Platte from SparkPress for the E-ARC.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I'll post that review upon publication in early September.

Updated 9/7/21

3.5 stars

Though you may not know it by looking at her face on the cover, young Madalyn has a pretty fun time throughout most of this novel. She has a bit of an upheaval when she goes to live (during the school week) with her great uncle, Lobo, who is an awesome character. He's kind of every kid's dream: hilarious and constantly pushing ice cream and hot chocolate! It's tough to be away from her mom and dad during this time, but Madalyn seems to acclimate pretty well to the new environment.

The same can be said for her experience at school; it goes relatively well. Though Madalyn meets some wonderful friends, the one who initially shows the most potential also reveals her racist thoughts and behaviors. While this obviously puts a huge crimp in their relationship, this aspect of the novel is realistically portrayed: not particularly developed but present nonetheless.

Davis's depiction of varied family structures, economic uncertainty, and microaggressions between kids all work well throughout the novel, but I do wish there had been some more unity between what feel like two separate chunks of the book: before the big wrench in people's plans (keeping this vague to avoid spoilers) and after. The introduction of this big event felt oddly placed to me, and as a lifelong Californian who has experienced some of what is described here more than once, I also wonder how relatable and compelling this particular situation is for most readers.

There is a lot to like about this novel, but I'd have loved to see some more consistent follow through with the plotting and development. Lobo also needs a whole series of his own. I'll be looking forward to more from Davis.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book. It is very intriguing and it has a little bit of mystery to it.

Madelyn is the main character who moves in with her papa Lobo and has to move to a new school. Then she discovers she is the only black girl in her class. She meets this one girl but she is not sure to be friends or not. Then at the end of the book there is a fire that threatens her community.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This really strikes me as a very middle grade book, much more so than a lot of other books that I could categorize as middle grade/YA. With that in mind, tried to view this book from a middle schooler's perspective . I think that students in grades 4-7 would be the target audience.

Madelyn is a seventh grader living in California. She moves in with her great uncle Papa Lobo due to a change in family circumstances and a better school opportunity. While both her parents are okay and loving and Papa Lobo is kind, Madelyn misses part of her old life.

In addition to adjusting to living with Papa Lobo, Madelyn has to navigate a new school as The New Girl and one of the few Black students in the school-- she is the only Black female student in her class. As she slowly gets to know her peers, she encounters microaggressions and racism from someone who she thought was her friend. The beginning of the story and Madelyn's characterization seemed a little stilted to me; there was a lot of telling instead of showing. However, this book grew on me as I got further into the story. I liked how the conversation about race/standing up to your friends was embedded into the story and I also appreciate the realistic portrayal of the wildfire plot point-- a real issue for many people living on the west coast and especially relevant right now.

[Haylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madalyn's 6th grade year was the worst, with her best friend moving away, dad losing his job, and then a move of her own. All of this resulted in her going to a terrible middle school. The next school year, in order for Madalyn to go to a better school, she moves in during the week with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo. Madalyn is the only black girl in her class, but she makes some new friends on the first day of school. Things get difficult when one of them starts to say and do things that make Madalyn feel uncomfortable. Can Madalyn stay friends with her? Can she have the tough conversation she needs to have with the friend? When fire threatens both of their families, the girls are thrown together for better or worse.
Madalyn’s story has so much potential but misses the mark a little. It has a great approach to talking about racism from the perspective of a young black girl, and it is very accessible for middle grade readers. But the story has what feels like a fair amount of dead time where day to day actions are described that don’t move the story forward. Madalyn learns some valuable lessons about speaking up and helping others from both her mom and Uncle Lobo. I just wish there had been more to the plot.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the idea around this book. I loved seeing different families. The main character lives with her great uncle. One of the other girls lives with her older sister. I love that representation.

Also a big part of the story is dealing with California wild fires. Which as a Californian can confirm especially the past few years has become a yearly event unfortunately.

My issue with the book is that I love the ideas of it but just didn’t feel like a final product. There were times where we’re getting a whole section about just nothing. There were two girls at the beginning of the book that just disappear. Also there was something about Madalyn that just didn’t sit with me well. Like she almost felt immature? I realize she’s a middle grade student, but like compared to other middle grade characters there was just something about her that didn’t work for me.

This is a book I’d put in my classroom it’s just not one that I’ll be buying right away.

[ihaveabook4that · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new school is the right move for Madalyn even though she’s not excited about living with her great uncle, Papa Lobo. In addition to a new home, Madalyn must deal with being the only Black girl in class, microaggressions from a new friend, and not knowing if her parents are safe from California’s wildfires.

I love the diverse familial representation in this one. Main character Madalyn lives with her great uncle while her parents work. Her friend lives her older sister after their mom walked out on them.

The book also touches on California wildfires which I haven’t seen represented in kid lit.

I think middle grade students will relate to Madalyn’s experiences of adjusting to a new environment and trying to make friends.

I read this book as an ARC from the author. The finished copy was sent from @harperkids

[Ahtiya (BookinItWithAhtiya) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Tanita S. Davis delivers a stellar Black girl protagonist whose finding her way through tough circumstances and unfamiliar obstacles. PARTLY CLOUDY explores themes of friendship, specifically the questions: What does it take to make a friendship work? How do you navigate difficult conversations with friends or would-friends? There’s also a constant theme of kindness in the face of disaster present throughout the book, and I think young readers would definitely enjoy this read. As soon as I finished it, I knew I wanted to share this book with my homeroom kiddos!

[Pamela Sweezy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kinda got the feeling that someone put a bunch of popular phrases about social justice and potential issues for middle class adolescents into AI and it spit this out. I’m not the intended audience (upper elementary to middle school, I’m guessing) so, take this with a grain of salt. I couldn’t get invested in the characters but that’s just me.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventh grader Madalyn’s dealing with several problems at once, missing her parents and living with her great uncle to attend a better school, and befriending someone whose actions leave Madalyn upset and uncomfortable, all while wild fires pop up closer and closer to home.

This is a middle-grade novel, so there’s an age appropriate simplicity to the writing, at the same time the author puts Madalyn in a complicated and thought-provoking tangle with racism, where she has to determine whether it’s possible for her to continue a friendship with someone who fears black boys.

I liked Madalyn’s relationship with her mom, it’s kind of refreshing how well they communicate since more often than not mother/daughter bonds are depicted as fairly fraught, whereas here we have a daughter wanting to confide in her mom and a mom who gives her girl some grace and leeway emotionally. The mom isn’t immediately set on admonishing her kid whenever Madalyn shows frustration and anger, she meets those moments with understanding that her child is just feeling the sorts of ways any human would in challenging circumstances. Those readers who actually are middle-grade aged, seeing a kid receive that level of understanding is something they might really appreciate about this story, especially if understanding isn’t something they get a lot of in their own lives.

While the ending felt maybe a little too abrupt, I wouldn’t have minded a little more wrap-up on the friendship and the living apart from her parents situation, but the lead up to the ending was very much a page-turner as the tension in Madalyn’s friendship collided with concerns over wildfires and smoke in a riveting way.

[Wina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this contemporary novel for ages 8-12. Madalyn is starting a new school in 7th grade, which is far superior to her previous school, so I really enjoyed her amazement at the new school. The focus of the book is coping with changes and adversity. There are references to global warming, because they are in California and dealing with wildfires (causing smoke and evacuations). The other adversity to struggle with is racism--in a couple of characters who are afraid or suspicious of the black teenage boy in the neighborhood. Although they are nicer to Madalyn (not afraid of her), she feels terrible about it, and gets help from adults to figure out what to do/how to act. This book is great for understanding how both of these traumas feel to a middle schooler, explaining tools to get through the emergency together, helping each other, and presents options of how to react to racism and work on friendships/healing. Dealing with the aftermath of being bullied and the anxiety it causes is another theme. The characters are very likeable and relatable, and the author has a real handle on this age group. There is a little bit of French Creole, which is interpreted seamlessly in the story. A quick, feel-good read.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dad’s finally gotten a job after being unemployed for seven months, but it’s on the east coast. Mom’s working extra shifts and since Madalyn had bad experiences at her previous middle school, so it makes sense for her to move in with her Great Uncle, Pappa Lobo, during the school week where she’ll be in the attendance area of a better school and will have Pappa Lobo and his close community of neighbors and friends to care for her. Although she wants to change schools, Madalyn grieves being separated from her family. Making new school friends is complicated, especially when classmate Natalie seems welcoming but then makes comments that are ignorant or racist.

When wildfires send choking smoke over Pappa Lobo’s neighborhood and Madalyn’s mom is out of touch after evacuating as fire threatens her community, Madalyn must come to grips with what it means to help others, even if you are unsure if they want or deserve your help. Many readers will identify with the growing wildfire threat and will have experienced the smoke Madalyn describes; all will benefit from wrestling with stereotypes and racism in a middle school setting. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Gloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming! 4.5 stars from me ⭐️

I’d encourage you to look for the audio version! I’m a big fan of Joniece Abbott-Pratt, the narrator of this audiobook. What a beautiful voice and manner of storytelling! The main character of the story is endearing. Madalyn has a sweet heart. The writing is very detailed, vivid and gentle. Good work!

I agree with the top-voted review on the three issues that:
1) The difficult conversation with a certain character is postponed to the very end of the book
2) There is some messaging that “you need to be the bigger person” even when someone else is acting rude, racist, wrongly, etc.
3) It’s confusing and unknown which age the main character has because her school grade is close to 13 but the narration sounds like it is for a younger child.

Overall, a very good reading & listening experience! Madalyn is such a goody two shoes and her relationship with her family is pure and sweet. I’m definitely rooting for her! She is very likeable and memorable. Her family’s wisdom and her perspective are very precious and inspiring to me.