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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this story though the summary was a little deceiving. The first chapter details Emma on her flight to Denver while thinking about how everything in her life blew up. Chapter 2 to the 55% mark explains the past 7 months of Emma's life where she makes new friends, leaves behind her best friend, and witnesses her brother transforming into a different person after a shoulder injury. About 25% of the book takes place in Wyoming which was disappointing. Emma never connected to Delia and Sadie and even though she befriended Tyler, their friendship was rushed with lots of gaps. I was expecting a story about Emma's summer in Wyoming and coming to terms with her brother's opioid addiction, but there was so much else going on that made her brother a side story. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It had been a while since I picked up a Young Adult novel, and I’m so glad I chose this one. Through Emma’s voice, we experience her beautiful yet complicated friendship with Becka, her brother Austin’s struggle with substance abuse, the emotional upheaval of moving away from her family, and—most importantly—her journey of self-discovery.
The narration is crisp, the story is well-crafted, and the character development strikes the perfect balance. Jenn Bishop weaves multiple themes into the narrative with care, addressing serious issues without veering into melodrama.
This book is a fantastic read for teenagers, who will find it deeply relatable. I also highly recommend it for parents, as it offers valuable insight into the challenges their teens may face.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 /5
Loved this book! Emma, the main character, is going through so much of what my own students are going through. Changing relationships with her friends and family are confusing her, and she feels like it’s her fault that things get messed up. When she gets sent to Wyoming, she’s almost relieved. The things she does there and the people she meet center her a bit, but she still thinks she can make things right again. But is that really true? Should things revert back to the way they were? Preordered this one for my classroom! (In addition to the fabulous plot & characters, I loved the descriptions of Wyoming, especially now when I’m not traveling, and the idea of meeting a baby buffalo!)
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a story of friendship and family, of growing up and growing apart, of trusting your gut and forgiving yourself when you don't. I loved it.
Emma is finishing up her sixth grade year. After she joins the school's art club, she finally finds her "herd" (her brother, Austin's, term). This leaves her torn between her best childhood friend, Becca, and her new friends that share common interests. Then, she makes a mistake that may ruin her friendship with Becca forever. Normally, she'd consult her brother about such things, but he's suddenly moody and distant. Her gut says something's wrong, but she can't put her finger on it just yet. When she finally realizes what is happening, her parents tell her that she's going to spend the summer in Wyoming - preventing her from healing her friendship with Becca, supporting her brother and attending a local art camp. Will the distance from home give her a chance to heal?
I am continually amazed at Jenn Bishop's ability to write middle grade characters dealing with trauma in such meaningful and healthy ways. In this novel (spoiler alert) Emma's brother is battling an opioid addiction. She questions herself for missing signs and not questioning him more, as all of us would. But her trip to Wyoming is healing, as she uses the local bison to connect to her brother on the other side of the country (LOVED this symbolism). Through her inner dialogue we see her turmoil and the healthy way she processes this grief. I think it will be a great book to hand to readers who are dealing with this own situation in their own lives.
Thank you to the author and Simon and Schuster books for sharing this with me and the #litreviewcrew to review. We appreciate it!
Emma is finishing up her sixth grade year. After she joins the school's art club, she finally finds her "herd" (her brother, Austin's, term). This leaves her torn between her best childhood friend, Becca, and her new friends that share common interests. Then, she makes a mistake that may ruin her friendship with Becca forever. Normally, she'd consult her brother about such things, but he's suddenly moody and distant. Her gut says something's wrong, but she can't put her finger on it just yet. When she finally realizes what is happening, her parents tell her that she's going to spend the summer in Wyoming - preventing her from healing her friendship with Becca, supporting her brother and attending a local art camp. Will the distance from home give her a chance to heal?
I am continually amazed at Jenn Bishop's ability to write middle grade characters dealing with trauma in such meaningful and healthy ways. In this novel (spoiler alert) Emma's brother is battling an opioid addiction. She questions herself for missing signs and not questioning him more, as all of us would. But her trip to Wyoming is healing, as she uses the local bison to connect to her brother on the other side of the country (LOVED this symbolism). Through her inner dialogue we see her turmoil and the healthy way she processes this grief. I think it will be a great book to hand to readers who are dealing with this own situation in their own lives.
Thank you to the author and Simon and Schuster books for sharing this with me and the #litreviewcrew to review. We appreciate it!
Ah yes, the book in which I explore my long obsession with bison (and also maybe my crushes on local meteorologists?).
Middle grade book that I picked up a little after school started because I needed something to read and this one was fast and a great read! I loved how Bishop handled topics that most people would think 'too sensitive' etc for middle grade readers and this book is going to teach a lot - it taught me a lot and I'm not even the intended audience.
cw: addiction, overdose, bullying
Made me teary towards the end... I liked that the opioid use wasn't the only conflict in the book... Familiar settings for MA readers
Made me teary towards the end... I liked that the opioid use wasn't the only conflict in the book... Familiar settings for MA readers
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a coming-of-age and issue story. Emma’s life starts to fall apart when her older brother is injured and prescribed opioid painkillers. She is sent to spend the summer with family friends in Wyoming (this is where she meets my favorite character in the book, Tyler). Bishop provides valuable lessons about friendship, family, and drug addiction, honestly depicting the confusion, fear, and anger that arise when a family member struggles with substance abuse, when friendships end, and when you stifle your own voice to make others happy.