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alenka's review
emotional
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
3.0
This was all right! I haven't read Marks' other book, although I intend to eventually, so this is my first experience with her writing. She creates a cast of very sweet and loving characters who are going through a tough time. Joy's father lost his job during a series of massive layoffs, and the loss of his salary pushes their family to have to sell their house and move into an apartment. Joy is devastated to have to move, go to a new school, and start sharing a room with her six year old sister, Malia. However, on their first day in the new place she runs into a girl her age named Nora, and they strike up a new friendship. Nora introduces Joy to other kids in the building and to a special, secret space in the basement called The Hideout where they go when they need some space. As Joy's parents' fighting over money continues, Joy finds solace in her time in the Hideout, and in exchanging messages with an anonymous Hideout kid who wrote a sad poem on the wall. Joy desperately wants to know who the poet is, but they hide their identity. Slowly, things go awry, and Joy struggles with the burden of being strong for her sister as her parents fight and with managing her desperate desire to be privy to the struggles and secrets of her friends.
This is a very emotional story and follows a lot of emotional growth not just for Joy, but also for her parents and friends. Joy is "almost a teenager" although her voice - and the narrative voice - is quite young, and she tries to take on more burdens than she can handle. Marks also captures the beauty of small communities like the one in this apartment building, where many neighbors have lived their a long time and believe in looking out for each other. A gift of cookies and time to play with the dog that belongs to the sweet, elderly woman next door turns into a dog walking job for Joy and Nora. Budding friendships among the kids in the building mean Joy doesn't have to feel so alone as she starts a new school. That, I think is a real highlight of this story - in losing her house, Joy gains an invaluable community.
Joy and Nora's initial interaction is a bit awkward - they immediately share their deepest worries and traumas which feels kind of contrived. The story can drag a bit at points mostly because the narrative feels overly familiar. Joy's parents aren't seeking divorce, but their arguing and relationship struggles echo narratives from other middle grade novels that address divorce, and I didn't feel like any new ground was covered here. Overall, however, this is a solid story that will appeal to many young readers who know that kids need time and space away from home, adults, school and struggles (third space, if you will) to process their emotions and heal.
This is a very emotional story and follows a lot of emotional growth not just for Joy, but also for her parents and friends. Joy is "almost a teenager" although her voice - and the narrative voice - is quite young, and she tries to take on more burdens than she can handle. Marks also captures the beauty of small communities like the one in this apartment building, where many neighbors have lived their a long time and believe in looking out for each other. A gift of cookies and time to play with the dog that belongs to the sweet, elderly woman next door turns into a dog walking job for Joy and Nora. Budding friendships among the kids in the building mean Joy doesn't have to feel so alone as she starts a new school. That, I think is a real highlight of this story - in losing her house, Joy gains an invaluable community.
Joy and Nora's initial interaction is a bit awkward - they immediately share their deepest worries and traumas which feels kind of contrived. The story can drag a bit at points mostly because the narrative feels overly familiar. Joy's parents aren't seeking divorce, but their arguing and relationship struggles echo narratives from other middle grade novels that address divorce, and I didn't feel like any new ground was covered here. Overall, however, this is a solid story that will appeal to many young readers who know that kids need time and space away from home, adults, school and struggles (third space, if you will) to process their emotions and heal.
porshea's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag/ Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again? What a universal lyric, right? A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks, a middle grade book about twelve-year-old Joy Taylor going through a tumultuous life transition, brings similar energy in the mysterious verse that intrigues Joy through much of the book: “I’m tired of smiling when actually I’m falling apart/ I’m tired of hiding the pain that’s inside my heart.”
Most of the story moves with Joy drifting like an untethered plastic bag. With her family having to downsize from a nice house in the suburbs with plenty of space that kept her family of four from bumping into each other, Joy is dismayed by the cramped apartment lifestyle her family is forced to adapt to after her father loses his job. Emphasizing the issues in being stuck in a smaller space together, her parents are locked into constant bickering that she can only drown out with her headphones on the top bunk the small room she now shares with her younger sister, Malia. Just when her frustrations with this arrangement reach the point where the earbuds and bit of comfort she can provide to Malia feels more draining than helpful, she makes friends with a longtime resident of the building and new schoolmate, Nora. Nora picks up on Joy’s need for privacy and shows her the secret hangout passed down from building kid to building kid over time.
Read more here: https://blackgirlscreate.org/2021/08/the-plot-thickens-a-soft-place-to-land/
Most of the story moves with Joy drifting like an untethered plastic bag. With her family having to downsize from a nice house in the suburbs with plenty of space that kept her family of four from bumping into each other, Joy is dismayed by the cramped apartment lifestyle her family is forced to adapt to after her father loses his job. Emphasizing the issues in being stuck in a smaller space together, her parents are locked into constant bickering that she can only drown out with her headphones on the top bunk the small room she now shares with her younger sister, Malia. Just when her frustrations with this arrangement reach the point where the earbuds and bit of comfort she can provide to Malia feels more draining than helpful, she makes friends with a longtime resident of the building and new schoolmate, Nora. Nora picks up on Joy’s need for privacy and shows her the secret hangout passed down from building kid to building kid over time.
Read more here: https://blackgirlscreate.org/2021/08/the-plot-thickens-a-soft-place-to-land/
stacy_z's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an ARC courtesy of Netgalley.
If anyone enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington, they will also enjoy A Soft Place to Land.
Janae Marks excels at writing strong female middle school protagonists with big dreams. This was a fun read that is great for upper elementary or 6th graders.
Joy’s father lost his job and consequently, Joy’s family had to sell their home and move into a much smaller apartment building. In addition to missing her old home, Joy now has to contend with a lot of things. She’s a passionate musician but her parents can no longer afford a piano or piano lessons, she keeps overhearing her parents arguing about finances, and she’s starting over as a new kid at a new school without any friends.
Thankfully, Joy is quickly befriended by a girl, Nora, in her building who turns out to be a classmate and her friendship circle welcomes Joy. Her new friends even show her the Hideout, a hidden and long-forgotten room in their apartment complex that acts as a secret clubhouse for all the kids. Joy soon starts exchanging messages to an anonymous kid in their building who also seems to be going through a rough patch, until they suddenly stop responding. Friendships fall apart when it’s discovered that secrets are kept from each other and Joy desperately tries to find a way to make things all right again for her family, neighbors, and her friends.
If anyone enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington, they will also enjoy A Soft Place to Land.
Janae Marks excels at writing strong female middle school protagonists with big dreams. This was a fun read that is great for upper elementary or 6th graders.
Joy’s father lost his job and consequently, Joy’s family had to sell their home and move into a much smaller apartment building. In addition to missing her old home, Joy now has to contend with a lot of things. She’s a passionate musician but her parents can no longer afford a piano or piano lessons, she keeps overhearing her parents arguing about finances, and she’s starting over as a new kid at a new school without any friends.
Thankfully, Joy is quickly befriended by a girl, Nora, in her building who turns out to be a classmate and her friendship circle welcomes Joy. Her new friends even show her the Hideout, a hidden and long-forgotten room in their apartment complex that acts as a secret clubhouse for all the kids. Joy soon starts exchanging messages to an anonymous kid in their building who also seems to be going through a rough patch, until they suddenly stop responding. Friendships fall apart when it’s discovered that secrets are kept from each other and Joy desperately tries to find a way to make things all right again for her family, neighbors, and her friends.
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