(2) YA Seventh grader Justin struggles to cope with the ambiguous circumstances surrounding his Vietnam War veteran father's death and ultimately the unknowability of his intentions. Relying on a small circle of support, including his older brother, his best friend, his bus driver, and a local homeless man, Justin slowly comes to terms with his grief and begins to move toward healing. Chapters are a collection of unconnected but chronologically unfolding scenes, most of which bring the reader directly into the events without preamble. This deliberately disconcerting style conveys a perpetual and profound disequilibrium that mimics the protagonist's inability to cope with his daily life, school, friendships, and family while he grieves internally. Deeper themes of war, conflict, and religion, with quantum physics and local small-town Minnesota history factoring in, add depth to Justin's journey.

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Brittany Kowalski gives an unflinching description of her difficult life in Chicago, including constant threat from her mother's abusive boyfriend. When her teacher asks students to imagine their futures, Brittany cannot imagine what's possible, only what she doesn't want. Still, Brittany begins recording thoughts and possible actions in a stolen notebook. The portrait of poverty is heartbreaking, but self-determined, persistent Brittany's story is ultimately uplifting.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2017