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A review by booksandbeyonce
The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner
5.0
Thanks to @kidlitexchange for a review copy of this book--all opinions are my own.
A MILLION STARS to this simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting middle grade novel by Kate Messner. Kirby Zigonski, aka Zig, is just your average middle school geek. He's into computers, enjoys geocaching, and doesn't quite know how to handle his feelings (are they feelings?) for his friend Gianna. Zig's parents are divorced, and he hasn't heard from his dad in a while, but he knows something really strange is going on when his mom refuses to contact his father even after she and Zig get evicted from their apartment. Zig's experience being homeless introduces him to new friends, old classmates, and eventually reveals the truth about where his father is.
I read this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. Messner touches on so many issues here, from homeless students to abusive relationships to the power of friendship, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Zig. I also definitely teared up at the end--read it and find out why! As a teacher, it was a great reminder of how much harder simple tasks are for homeless students, and it would be a great way to build empathy in students towards that population. I recommend this book for all classroom libraries, grades 5 and up!
A MILLION STARS to this simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting middle grade novel by Kate Messner. Kirby Zigonski, aka Zig, is just your average middle school geek. He's into computers, enjoys geocaching, and doesn't quite know how to handle his feelings (are they feelings?) for his friend Gianna. Zig's parents are divorced, and he hasn't heard from his dad in a while, but he knows something really strange is going on when his mom refuses to contact his father even after she and Zig get evicted from their apartment. Zig's experience being homeless introduces him to new friends, old classmates, and eventually reveals the truth about where his father is.
I read this book in one sitting because I just could not put it down. Messner touches on so many issues here, from homeless students to abusive relationships to the power of friendship, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Zig. I also definitely teared up at the end--read it and find out why! As a teacher, it was a great reminder of how much harder simple tasks are for homeless students, and it would be a great way to build empathy in students towards that population. I recommend this book for all classroom libraries, grades 5 and up!