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lauriehnatiuk's review
5.0
@katemessner has quickly become one of my favourite authors - she tackles sensitive topic areas so kids can see themselves in her books.
In this book she tackles homelessness using geocaching as a backdrop. We meet Zig who lives with his mother who is a nursing student - dad has been a no show for months now. Times are hard and Zig and his mother get evicted when mom cannot pay the rent and end up in a homeless shelter.
Zig and friends Ruby & Gianna get into geocaching and Zig is convinced a geocacher named “Senior Searcher” is his father leaving him clues to find him since they use to geocache together.
A realistic portrayal of kids who are living in shelters and providing the window and sadly mirror for students to see themselves. An important read for educators to think about the students in their classrooms and ensuring they have what they need without being shamed and/or ridiculed.
In this book she tackles homelessness using geocaching as a backdrop. We meet Zig who lives with his mother who is a nursing student - dad has been a no show for months now. Times are hard and Zig and his mother get evicted when mom cannot pay the rent and end up in a homeless shelter.
Zig and friends Ruby & Gianna get into geocaching and Zig is convinced a geocacher named “Senior Searcher” is his father leaving him clues to find him since they use to geocache together.
A realistic portrayal of kids who are living in shelters and providing the window and sadly mirror for students to see themselves. An important read for educators to think about the students in their classrooms and ensuring they have what they need without being shamed and/or ridiculed.
readingthroughtheages's review
5.0
I am really glad Kate Messner went back and continued the story of Gianna and Zig.
I love that this is a stand-alone novel, or a continuation of the friendship of the two characters we met in The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.
Another great story from the great Kate Messner.
I love that this is a stand-alone novel, or a continuation of the friendship of the two characters we met in The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.
Another great story from the great Kate Messner.
charireads's review
5.0
Such a sweet story! Opened my eyes to the potential of my students being homeless and trying to function normally. So many possible tie ins for a book club read or class novel.
yapha's review
4.0
Zig is having a rough start to his eighth grade year. He hasn't seen his father in over a year, and his father cancelled on him yet again. After coming across a GPS unit at a garage sale, Zig becomes convinced that his father has left him a series of clues in geocaches around town. As Zig becomes obsessed with following these, the rest of his life starts falling apart around him. His mother is working at the local diner while going to nursing school but it isn't enough to stay on top of their rent. With no other choices, Zig and his mom end up in a homeless shelter. Zig pulls away from his friends, not wanting them to know what he is going through, and his school work starts slipping as well. (Messner inserts a not-so-subtle but necessary reminder to teachers to have compassion and stay in touch with what is going on in their students' lives.) This engaging novel will draw readers into Zig's world and well placed clues will lead readers to the truth before Zig realizes it himself. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.
azajacks's review
5.0
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s_hay's review against another edition
5.0
Zig is an 8th grader who hasn't seen his dad much since he left home and when Zig's dad cancels yet another visit Zig is upset. But then Zig discovers Geocaching, a hobby that his dad once had, and he finds a geocacher that he is sure is his father. In an attempt to catch up with his dad Zig follows the clues to the caches he hid. Meanwhile, the bills at home are piling up and Zig's mom refuses to ask his dad for help. Zig faces the prospect of losing his home, begins having trouble at school, and even loses touch with his friends as life begins to spiral out of control.
A good look at the struggle of poverty that many kids hide that would be good for kids who are not in that situation.
Good for ages 11 and up.
A good look at the struggle of poverty that many kids hide that would be good for kids who are not in that situation.
Good for ages 11 and up.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
Kate Messner delivers another great story and a great character in Zig. Loved this book about family, friendship, geocaching, the environment and homelessness.
I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
jess_reads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
engpunk77's review
4.0
I appreciate middle grade books that portray difficult family situations, and this one satisfied my need for books like that. Zig is a latchkey kid, practically, with a difficult situation that gets a lot worse before things look up for him, and it's so important for tweens of all backgrounds to see life from his perspective. I had feelings about how his teachers handled his situation, and I saw our good intentions in "helping the needy" in a new way. The message here is to have hope, but HOPE IS NOT ENOUGH. You have to have a backup plan for when your hopes don't pan out. What a necessary life lesson! Endearing characters, real life crud, and an interesting plot that was a "twist" according to the middle school-aged students reading this in my club (not so much for me), and this is overall a WIN.