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A review by mamadaughterbookclub
Once for Yes by Allie Millington
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Allie Millington's breakout debut last year, Olivetti, featured an unconventional narrator - a typewriter. With this book, she does it again, this time the narrator is an old brick building, the Odenburgh, the last of its kind left on its street. All the other older buildings have been demolished in favor of new, modern buildings. The Odenburgh and its tenants, especially 12 year old Prue in apartment 4C, don't want to lose their home.
For Prue, it's personal. The building holds memories, ones that she doesn't want to lose, especially after the death of her older sister Lina, who Prue shared a room with. She is worried that she'll lose even more of Lina, especially since Lina had started to pull away the last few months before she died.
So Prue decides to save the building. And what do you know? The Odenburgh joins in on the plan! Also joining Prue is Lewis, a boy who lives across the street in one of the new developments. Lewis has his own secrets, and his own reasons for wanting to save the Odenburgh. So he teams up with Prue, and with the help of the building itself, they get to work.
Along the way they meet the other tenants of the building. Who at first were un-neighborly and rude to one another, they suddenly find that they have one thing in common. And the thing they have in common is wanting to save their home.
It's a story about loss, grief, friendship, sisters, and community. Original and inventive, I can't wait to see what Millington writes next!
Recommended for ages 9+.
For Prue, it's personal. The building holds memories, ones that she doesn't want to lose, especially after the death of her older sister Lina, who Prue shared a room with. She is worried that she'll lose even more of Lina, especially since Lina had started to pull away the last few months before she died.
So Prue decides to save the building. And what do you know? The Odenburgh joins in on the plan! Also joining Prue is Lewis, a boy who lives across the street in one of the new developments. Lewis has his own secrets, and his own reasons for wanting to save the Odenburgh. So he teams up with Prue, and with the help of the building itself, they get to work.
Along the way they meet the other tenants of the building. Who at first were un-neighborly and rude to one another, they suddenly find that they have one thing in common. And the thing they have in common is wanting to save their home.
It's a story about loss, grief, friendship, sisters, and community. Original and inventive, I can't wait to see what Millington writes next!
Recommended for ages 9+.