Search This Blog
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 (2)
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada (1)
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (3)
- North Carolina (4)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (3)
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (10)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (4)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Stead's Newest Poignant But Hopeful
5:49 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been two years since her parents' divorce and lots has changed for 10-year-old Bea. While things have turned out mostly okay, she still worries a lot, which makes her eczema act up. To help calm herself, she keeps a list in her notebook of the things in her life that have not and will not ever change. She knows her mom and dad will always love her, for example. That's a constant, no matter what.
When Bea's dad informs her that he and his boyfriend will soon be getting married, Bea's thrilled. She loves Jesse. He's even got a daughter Bea's age, which means she'll finally have the sister she's always wanted. She just knows they're going to be BFFs. As the wedding date comes closer, though, Bea discovers that nothing ever goes perfectly. Building a new family isn't easy and sometimes change is difficult, confusing, and heartbreaking. With her family structure shifting once again, Bea has to learn how to manage her anxiety, deal with difficult situations, and find happiness along the way.
The List of Things That Will Not Change is the newest middle grade offering from Newbery Award-winning author Rebecca Stead. Although its plot is a little unfocused, the story is realistic in that it has both sad and happy parts. My favorite element of the novel, in fact, is its validation of emotions—not just that they can be super complicated, but also that it's okay, even important, to feel them. Bea's voice as she's dealing with hers is pitch-perfect, making her a narrator who is both authentic and relatable. Although The List of Things That Will Not Change deals with some tough subjects, overall it's an upbeat, hopeful novel. I enjoyed it, even if I didn't absolutely love it.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing's coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
1 comment:
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'
-
Short Take Reviews: Small Town Romance Edition10 minutes ago
-
-
Daily Prompt 12 Wed June9 hours ago
-
Harbour Street - Ann Cleeves13 hours ago
-
If You’ll Have Me14 hours ago
-
WIP Wednesday for 12 June 202414 hours ago
-
The Love Audit19 hours ago
-
-
-
The Dredge By Brendan Flaherty23 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Axiom's End by Lindsay Ellis1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
Reading Recap May 20242 days ago
-
-
-
Highcliffe House by Megan Walker3 days ago
-
Sunday Salon: June 9, 20243 days ago
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!5 days ago
-
-
Friday Flicks: American Fiction5 days ago
-
52. Operation Happy6 days ago
-
-
-
I have been reading...2 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up2 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?8 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra11 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)
I remember my daughter and I loving Stead's books so I wish you liked this one more, but that isn't always the case. Bummer.
ReplyDelete