A review by hopecatena
Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

 
I went into this book with literally no idea what this book was about. I was happily surprised by what I read! I am a big advocate for more Middle grade novels that deal with mental health and mental illness and I think this is a beautiful example of that. Fig is essentially the caretaker for her single parent dad. Most of the time she can handle his erratic behavior but it always get worse during Hurricane season. CPS is already aware of the situation between Fig and her dad due to the police finding him out in the middle of a hurricane. Things get worse when her dad's behavior follows her to school and the teacher calls CPS. With the help of their new neighbor, Marc, things are getting better... except Fig doesn't know what to do when her dad doesn't need her and she doesn't know how to deal with all the drama that comes with being a middle schooler too.
This novel was beautifully written and it tells a story not often told in Middle Grade books. I liked the ways that Fig as the narrator drew parallels between Vincent Van Gogh and her dad. I liked the bond with Marc. The way the author showed how smart and competent kids can be, but that they shouldn't have to parent their parents. There were some parts that were tedious and frustrating but overall this is a beautiful story.