June 1, 2023
A 10-year-old navigates the uncertainty of life with an unreliable parent while holding on to hope. Sofie has lived in difficult circumstances for a long time. Her mom has struggled with drug use and abusive relationships for much of Sofie's life. They live in poverty in Des Moines, Iowa, making frequent visits to the community center for free lunches and to borrow books, which Sofie takes comfort in. Although Sofie aches for her mother's elusive support, it becomes clear that she has love and support from Con, her 13-year-old brother; her recently sober great-grandfather; and family friend Tommy, her mom's boss at the restaurant. But her mother's erratic nature causes Sofie to harbor a persistent sense of unease and fear of abandonment. When her mother disappears for weeks and is subsequently sent to prison for crimes committed with her boyfriend, the question arises of determining an appropriate guardian. Life from Sofie's perspective is painfully but realistically conveyed, and the portrayal will resonate especially with readers with experience of poverty, addiction, or family trauma. Amid fears and crises, there are still small comforts to be found, capturing feelings of inherent value in her family. As the search for a caregiver finds a happy, albeit unlikely, resolution, the complex mood evoked by Moranville for much of the book is set aside for a softer landing. Most characters appear to be White. A poignant, pointed portrayal of the heavy burden parental instability places on a family. (Fiction. 9-13)
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Starred review from June 19, 2023
Fifth grade Des Moines, Iowa, resident Sofie feels lucky to have her 13-year-old brother Connie looking after her in their mother’s chaotic household. Despite his care, however, she yearns to have a more stable relationship with her mom, who struggles with drug dependency and is often in abusive relationships. Things begin looking up when Sofie’s mother starts working at the restaurant owned by family friend Tommy, until she suddenly disappears for three weeks. When she returns, she’s immediately arrested for crimes she committed with her boyfriend. Now the children need a new guardian, but after the court deems that their beloved great-grandfather Gunner can only keep Con, due to Gunner’s recent incarceration, Sofie worries she might be taken from the only people she feels safe with. Sofie’s vulnerable POV and her propensity to highlight the good in every situation exude warmth, and a number of cozy, joyful moments, as when Con buys Sofie a pair of special “brand-new, in-a-box, straight-from-the-store shoes,” help buoy wrenching setbacks and conflict caused by the characters’ familial dynamics. An optimistic conclusion, ferried by an enduring heroine, rounds out this hopeful novel by Moranville (Surprise Lily). Main characters read as white. Ages 8–12.
July 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 Tough topics permeate Moranville's novel, which follows 10-year-old Sofie and her 13-year-old brother, Con, through a tumultuous year. Their free-spirited mother loves them intensely, but she also loves to party, get high, and bring around terrible boyfriends. As a result, Sofie and Con have learned to look out for each other. Their world's fragile order is disrupted when their estranged great-granddad, Gunner, comes to stay with them. Sofie just wants him gone, but when their mom takes off without a word (again) and gets herself arrested, Gunner becomes an unexpected source of stability and love. Moranville writes with candor and respect for her audience as she delves into the very real issues of poverty, addiction, physical abuse, foster care, and having an incarcerated parent, as well as the host of emotions that accompany these situations. Sofie finds respite in novels, and readers are sure to recognize the books that help her navigate the disruptions in her life. Though difficult and traumatic circumstances fill the narrative, readers who share Sofie's experiences will feel seen and ultimately reassured.
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Starred review from October 6, 2023
Gr 3-7-Summertime is often not a respite for those who depend on the structure, supervision, and food that public school provides. Moranville introduces siblings Sofie, 10, and her brother Connie, 13, as they parent themselves using wit above their years to avoid protective services and keep their family intact. Sofie and Connie's single-parent mom has abandoned the kids and let abusive boyfriends harm them in the past, and it appears her hard-partying ways are returning. Once Sofie's great-grandfather, Gunner, leaves prison on parole, Sofie's mom spirals out of control landing Sofie in foster care with more surprises along the way. This title has multiple social-emotional learning connections about accepting your feelings, fighting terror with new habits, building trust, and nurturing a garden. Moranville skillfully intersperses literature connections that implore readers to uncover just what was so comforting to Sofie, and to discover the power of reading in their own lives. VERDICT A unique book with the message that the scars of generational trauma are deep and lasting, but the cycle can be broken with creative outlets, strong family ties, and determination. A must-read companion to Leslie Connor's Waiting for Normal.-Laura Dooley-Taylor
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