Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (7)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, December 10, 2020
MG Scavenger Hunt Novel Upbeat Despite Grief Theme
8:22 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Last year, Joy Fonseca had a smart, kind best friend named Lukas Brunetti. She had even begin to think of him as more than just a buddy. Then, he had an accident and died. Joy is consumed by grief, still aching from the loss a year later. On her 13th birthday, she finally decides to open the envelope Lukas left for her exactly one year ago on the morning he died. She knows it's the first clue in their annual birthday scavenger hunt. Is it possible that the clues he planted then will still be there now? Joy's not sure, but she's finally ready to find out.
As Joy travels all over her little seaside town following Lukas' clues, she's reminded of all the great memories they made together. Swinging back-and-forth between the present (from Joy's point-of-view) and the past (from Lukas'), the story paints a picture of a sweet friendship, the kind that endures even when death intervenes.
Although Seven Clues to Home by Gae Polisner and Nora Raleigh Baskin is about grief and other hard things, it's a hopeful novel that reminds readers how important it is to live even in the face of heartbreak. It's more upbeat than it sounds, featuring likable characters and a treasure hunt format that makes it into a fun, exciting adventure with a little bit of mystery mixed in. While I didn't absolutely adore this novel, I did enjoy it overall.
(Readalikes: I feel like there are a million middle grade novels about grief, but no specific title is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for tough subject matter and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander1 hour ago
-
Toxic Prey by John Sandford1 hour ago
-
Final Cut by Marjorie McCown2 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Daily Prompt 23 April Tuesday12 hours ago
-
Falling - T.J. Newman19 hours ago
-
-
-
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth1 day ago
-
-
-
-
Top 5 Tuesday ~ Cheese1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sunday Salon: April 21, 20243 days ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post4 days ago
-
Reading as a retreat from reality1 week ago
-
Novel Love Story1 week ago
-
Reading Recap March 20242 weeks ago
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up3 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?6 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra9 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ▼ 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
This concept reminds me of The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, where the besties leaves a scavenger hunt for her. I love grief books, and this one sounds really touching
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about scavenger hunts in books that are so much fun? :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that Lukas left her birthday clues and that she gets to remember him as she follows the clues!
ReplyDelete