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ktdakotareads's review
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
tcbueti's review
5.0
A little slow but very respectful of kids’ need for their own space and some autonomy.
Joy’s family is struggling financially, and they’ve moved into a smaller apparent, forcing her to share a room with her little sister. She has also lost her piano and the $ to take lessons—she wants to compose film scores. Her parents are fighting, jobless dad sleeping at his brother’s house, so when her new friend Nora shows her the basement room (accessed through a trap door) that older kids in the building have fixed up, she’s thrilled. But then who is writing sad (troubling) messages on the wall?
She and Nora start a dog walking business—this is very well portrayed—the steps, challenges, etc.
An emergency causes her to accidentally reveal the secret room. Then everyone hates her. How can she make things right? Making (and keeping) friends.
Joy’s family is struggling financially, and they’ve moved into a smaller apparent, forcing her to share a room with her little sister. She has also lost her piano and the $ to take lessons—she wants to compose film scores. Her parents are fighting, jobless dad sleeping at his brother’s house, so when her new friend Nora shows her the basement room (accessed through a trap door) that older kids in the building have fixed up, she’s thrilled. But then who is writing sad (troubling) messages on the wall?
She and Nora start a dog walking business—this is very well portrayed—the steps, challenges, etc.
An emergency causes her to accidentally reveal the secret room. Then everyone hates her. How can she make things right? Making (and keeping) friends.
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
lisamcdreads's review
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of A Soft Place to Land for Janae Marks. While I like From the Desk of Zoe Washington better, A Soft Place to Land was an enjoyable book. Joy Taylor recently moved from her childhood house into a small apartment where she has to share a room with her sister. Her father lost his job, her parents are fighting more regularly and she misses her house tremendously. Because of her father's job loss, they no longer have the money to have her continue piano lessons which impacts her dream of becoming a film score composer. Luckily, she meets Nora, who lives in her building. Nora introduces Joy to other friends as well as The Hideout, a secret room in the building that no adults know about and the first rule is that no adults can ever be told about the space. In this space, Joy starts exchanging messages with an unknown kid in the building who seems in need of a friend. When the kid abruptly stops returning the messages, Joy becomes concerned.
Many kids will relate to the characters in this book in many different ways--those with parents who fight, those with parents who have lost a job, those with friend troubles, those who live in apartments. I think many mg readers will enjoy this book.
Many kids will relate to the characters in this book in many different ways--those with parents who fight, those with parents who have lost a job, those with friend troubles, those who live in apartments. I think many mg readers will enjoy this book.
ghostsandglitter's review
emotional
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
4.0
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
3.0
A Soft Place to Land was good but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it like I did From the Desk of Zoe Washington. This was one of my highest anticipated releases of this year and while it wasn't bad, it just didn't click for me.
I'm grateful that this book does not centre Black pain and trauma. Those stories matter too, of course. But it's great seeing one that doesn't. The protagonist is Black but beyond a few brief mentions of micro-aggressions and the feeling of being "the only Black kid in the class", there is no presentation of Black trauma. That's such important representation for young readers!
Great DAD representation. This parenting duo are both so tender and supportive of their kids but this dad especially. There are lots of books with great moms, but this dad is so sensitive and compassionate. It's not at the expense of their mom either, but she just happens to not be around as much (though she still gets to have special moments with Joy).
I will still keep my eyes open for future books by Janae Marks because she's a talented author who knows how to write kids well.
content warnings: brief mentions of racism and micro-aggressions, anxiety, financial insecurity, discussion of cancer/death/grief (of a parent that passed before the events of the novel).
I'm grateful that this book does not centre Black pain and trauma. Those stories matter too, of course. But it's great seeing one that doesn't. The protagonist is Black but beyond a few brief mentions of micro-aggressions and the feeling of being "the only Black kid in the class", there is no presentation of Black trauma. That's such important representation for young readers!
Great DAD representation. This parenting duo are both so tender and supportive of their kids but this dad especially. There are lots of books with great moms, but this dad is so sensitive and compassionate. It's not at the expense of their mom either, but she just happens to not be around as much (though she still gets to have special moments with Joy).
I will still keep my eyes open for future books by Janae Marks because she's a talented author who knows how to write kids well.
content warnings: brief mentions of racism and micro-aggressions, anxiety, financial insecurity, discussion of cancer/death/grief (of a parent that passed before the events of the novel).