Reviews

A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks

kenadietd's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

bethgiven's review

4.0

Joy's dad lost his job, which means a lot of difficult changes for her family: they've sold their home and now live in an apartment, where Joy has to make new friends. She has to quit piano lessons. Her mom is working long hours, and her parents are fighting a lot. She's lucky, then, when her new neighbor Nora introduces her to a secret room in the apartment building that only the kids know about, affectionately called The Hideout. No matter what's going on, The Hideout is a soft place to land.

This cute middle grade novel reads a little "young" -- the characters are all so wholesome and friendly, even when they're angry. That's not really a bad thing, though, and even as an adult, I found myself compelled by the story -- especially as the conflict escalated about halfway through the book. I was definitely rooting for Joy and her family and friends.

A delightful book for tweens, introducing some heavier topics (grief, parents separating) while still keeping a light tone. A little bit of moralizing, which some readers might not like, but I thought it was fine for the audience.

yara_m's review

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

myblackbookish_life's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

natasha_dean's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

joyfulfoodie's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is a great little read to help kids see someone in their situations and how they overcome their struggles. Most of the problems the kids face are very common, and seeing someone else process them can be so helpful - both for not feeling alone and for guidance on what to do themselves. 
Problems covered:

Parent being laid off/fired
Moving to a new home 
Financial insecurity (low grade, never food shortage levels)
New school
Strong face for younger sibling
Parents fighting/arguing 
First job
Lying to family
Keeping secrets 
Lost dogs
Working for something you care about 
Apologizing
Fear of parental divorce 

mssarahmorgan's review

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

rosasparks's review

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. This is ideal for kids between 9 and 13. It's a story about a girl who is 12 and her life is turned upside-down after her dad loses his job. First her parents sell the house and they all move to a small apartment. Now she has to share a room with her little sister. She thought the move would make her parents stop arguing but they argue even more so now. She quickly finds a new friend who is also her neighbor. Once she meets all the kids from her new building she is accepted into their friendship circle. She loves it!

I love that thus book teaches accountability and gives examples of what that could look like when you hurt people you love.

emmadstanden's review against another edition

5.0

When her father loses his job, causing her family to move into an apartment building, Joy Taylor’s life dramatically changes: she has to share a room with her little sister, the walls are thin, she has to give up piano lessons. While the move ignites her parents to start arguing constantly, she discovers a group of kids living in the building and finds solace in the group’s hideout. Joy discovers the other teens in her apartment building have their own dreams – filmmaker, illustrator, costume designer – and also are struggling with their own problems – loss of mother, parents not supporting art, overwhelmed in a big family. Joy makes some mistakes forcing her to admit to and fix her mistakes, learning her actions can affect others. A SOFT PLACE TO LAND demonstrates the importance of leaning on community, embracing tough times, and healing together. Janae Marks handles tough subjects for tweens without being too heavy.

nqcliteracy's review

5.0

Super sweet and big-hearted book that grapples with regular friendship woes of tweens and financial stress for parents - and all that comes with growing up. Appreciate so much the everyday nature of it all. All our kids need heart-warming stories like these.