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And Then, Boom!
A gripping new novel-in-verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish , featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him
Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn’t tell anyone he’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity’s been shut off, and the school year’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.
Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn’t tell anyone he’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity’s been shut off, and the school year’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
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March 13, 2024The follow-up to Lisa Fipps’s instant classic Starfish is And Then, Boom!, a middle-grade verse novel that is simultaneously heart-breaking and inspirational. When the book opens, Joe Oak is eleven years old and living with his beloved Grandmum. Because his mother is prone to disappearing for extended periods, Joe and Grandmum live in precarious circumstances. Joe lives first in poverty, “and then, Boom!”, things get worse. And Then, Boom! gives readers insights into hunger, homelessness, abandonment, and foster care while also providing reminders about resilience, friendship, ingenuity, and kindness.
Lisa Fipps absolutely gets what poetry needs to be like in middle grade verse novels. The verse in And Then, Boom! is mostly accessible but challenging in places while also subtly dropping in little poetry lessons that young readers can take forward to future reading experiences. (Onomatopoeia is almost a character in this book!) And Then, Boom! might best be read as one longer poem rather than as a collection of individually title pieces. Recurring themes, motifs, and phrases stitch together the novel in ways that help young readers feel validated as accomplished readers when they understand how the book comes together.
And Then, Boom! makes clear that Starfish was no fluke. Lisa Fipps is an important, powerful voice in contemporary literature for young people. Look for And Then, Boom! in May, 2024. Thanks to Lisa Fipps, Nancy Paulsen Books, and Penguin Random House for an early copy of And Then, Boom!.
This review is also posted in slightly different form on my What's Not Wrong? blog and on Instagram.
June 9, 2024
This book is FABULOUS! Super quick read but so powerful! A middle school must read.
February 1, 2024
And then, BOOM, Lisa Fipps does it again! Only put it down once!! Amazing connections between so many of the characters and loved seeing the many ways that people really saw Joe (and his Grandmum) and found ways to support. So much for kids to connect with and discuss and an important light shone on the poverty struggles that face so many. So much amazingness in one fabulous book!
December 27, 2023
“Then make me choose and watch what happens.”
Oh, my heart.
And Then, Boom! is a story about a middle grade boy who is forced to grow up too quickly. 11-year-old Joe’s world turns upside down when his mom is arrested and skips out on bail, leaving Joe and his Grandmum without a place to live. Joe and his Grandmum then embark on a journey plagued with food insecurity, displacement, and abandonment that many face. There were many scenes in this book that broke my heart, and served as a reminder that most people are one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness firsthand.
What really shone through in this book, for me, was the “small” gestures from others that meant EVERYTHING to Joe. The kindness of others can be such a lifechanging impact. What may feel like not enough can be the difference between having something to eat/wear for another day. It doesn’t have to be a grand expensive gift or an organized event, it can just be a casserole. You never know exactly what people are going through but, if you’re paying attention, you can see when others are struggling. This book is rich with discussion opportunities and I will be using it for my middle grade book club when it comes out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Merged review:
“Then make me choose and watch what happens.”
Oh, my heart.
And Then, Boom! is a story about a middle grade boy who is forced to grow up too quickly. 11-year-old Joe’s world turns upside down when his mom is arrested and skips out on bail, leaving Joe and his Grandmum without a place to live. Joe and his Grandmum then embark on a journey plagued with food insecurity, displacement, and abandonment that many face. There were many scenes in this book that broke my heart, and served as a reminder that most people are one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness firsthand. What really shone through in this book, for me, was the “small” gestures from others that meant EVERYTHING to Joe. The kindness of others can be such a lifechanging impact. What may feel like not enough can be the difference between having something to eat/wear for another day. It doesn’t have to be a grand expensive gift or an organized event, it can just be a casserole. You never know exactly what people are going through but, if you’re paying attention, you can see when others are struggling. This book is rich with discussion opportunities and I will be using it for my middle grade book club when it comes out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Oh, my heart.
And Then, Boom! is a story about a middle grade boy who is forced to grow up too quickly. 11-year-old Joe’s world turns upside down when his mom is arrested and skips out on bail, leaving Joe and his Grandmum without a place to live. Joe and his Grandmum then embark on a journey plagued with food insecurity, displacement, and abandonment that many face. There were many scenes in this book that broke my heart, and served as a reminder that most people are one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness firsthand.
What really shone through in this book, for me, was the “small” gestures from others that meant EVERYTHING to Joe. The kindness of others can be such a lifechanging impact. What may feel like not enough can be the difference between having something to eat/wear for another day. It doesn’t have to be a grand expensive gift or an organized event, it can just be a casserole. You never know exactly what people are going through but, if you’re paying attention, you can see when others are struggling. This book is rich with discussion opportunities and I will be using it for my middle grade book club when it comes out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Merged review:
“Then make me choose and watch what happens.”
Oh, my heart.
And Then, Boom! is a story about a middle grade boy who is forced to grow up too quickly. 11-year-old Joe’s world turns upside down when his mom is arrested and skips out on bail, leaving Joe and his Grandmum without a place to live. Joe and his Grandmum then embark on a journey plagued with food insecurity, displacement, and abandonment that many face. There were many scenes in this book that broke my heart, and served as a reminder that most people are one paycheck away from experiencing homelessness firsthand. What really shone through in this book, for me, was the “small” gestures from others that meant EVERYTHING to Joe. The kindness of others can be such a lifechanging impact. What may feel like not enough can be the difference between having something to eat/wear for another day. It doesn’t have to be a grand expensive gift or an organized event, it can just be a casserole. You never know exactly what people are going through but, if you’re paying attention, you can see when others are struggling. This book is rich with discussion opportunities and I will be using it for my middle grade book club when it comes out.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2024
The latest book from a fav author, this was an incredibly moving and tender middle grade novel in verse about a young boy living with food and housing insecurity who loses his grandmother and is then abandoned by his mother forced to survive on his own and rely on the kindness of strangers and teachers to get by. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like No fixed address by Susin Nielsen. HIGHLY recommended!!
December 17, 2023
Couldn’t put it down… love the onomatopoeia parts - so creative!
April 9, 2024
A beautiful and thoughtful book written in prose. Tough topics discussed (hunger, neglect, abandonment, poverty) however the take away is the importance of helping others and asking for help. Fipps creates emotions from readers with few words. ‘And then boom’ sprinkles some humour to keep readers engaged and not completely heart broken. ARC received from NetGalley.
June 2, 2024
Sadder than Starfish. Sadder than Rex Ogle's Free Lunch. But the ending makes the journey worth it. A must read, middle grade verse novel. Loved it.
June 16, 2024
From the dedication to the final pages, Lisa Fipps delivers an heart wrenching story that leaves the reader filled with hope for a better life. I believe this book is going to save the lives of many young people who will finally find themselves in the pages of a book! Wow!! Must read!
April 26, 2024
I won an Advanced Reader Copy of this book on GoodReads, and I can't be more glad that I did. Lisa Fipps is now in my top 5 favorite authors. After reading this title, I inhaled her other one in a matter of hours. I don't typically take the time to write reviews, but I feel like this book was worth it.
This book was amazing, and I think it can be a great tool in building understanding. I cried, I laughed, and I rejoiced with Joe as he navigated challenges. I wish a book with this much feeling and perspective had been around when I was in middle school; I think it would have helped me understand what some of my peers were going through.
I cannot wait for Lisa Fipps's next book. It will be sure to be another one with the ability to change lives.
This book was amazing, and I think it can be a great tool in building understanding. I cried, I laughed, and I rejoiced with Joe as he navigated challenges. I wish a book with this much feeling and perspective had been around when I was in middle school; I think it would have helped me understand what some of my peers were going through.
I cannot wait for Lisa Fipps's next book. It will be sure to be another one with the ability to change lives.
January 30, 2024
Get ready reader, this novel in verse will pull hard on your heartstrings.
Joe, middle school kid, had had to grow up fast and hard.
Joe’s mother has gotten in some trouble with the law, so her grandmum puts up the house as collateral for her daughter’s bond. But the mother once again gets The Itch and skips court as well as town. Bond money is gone so grandmum and Joe lose their home. They were already sitting on the precipice of homelessness before mom’s big mess. The pair are now living out of their car. Joe doesn’t want to let anyone know what is happening. He tries to behave at school as though everything is cool. This is pretty hard to pull off when you are starving, stinky from trying to bathe from a hose or dirty public toilet, and your clothing is threadbare. Kind adults assist Joe at school as much as they can. His teacher makes sure there are always snacks available for all the kids, which Joe takes full advantage of but without being greedy, and offers him access to the closet of lost clothes that he can choose from. Some things are really nice, like the brand new sneakers that fit him perfectly and even still have the tags on them. Hmmm, how did those get in there among the lost items?
His best friend finds a trailer park that his grandmother can afford to rent. The dwelling is not much, yellow with brown spots, so they name it The Overripe Banana. They have no things with which to furnish the trailer and King of the Castle trailer park owner, Frank, kindly recognizes this fact. He becomes known as Uncle Frankie. He takes them to his barn filled with secondhand furniture, doors, windows, you name it. They get everything they need even a little gas for The Fishbowl, grandmum’s Pacer. This is an old American Motor’s car with lots of glass kinda like a fishbowl.
Still, Joe and his grandmother spiral downwards into poverty. Food stamps (SNAP) doesn’t pay for toilet paper, or tooth paste, or anything that keeps one clean. so Joe has to find and use whatever he can in public restrooms. Tragedy strikes, then the tornado… so you see why the cover of the book has the weight of the world on Joe’s shoulders.
The human kindness displayed in this book was so heartwarming, which I believe is indicative of most folks. The way Joe and grandmum sacrificed for each other demonstrated a genuine and deep love.
I most highly recommend this novel for kids of all backgrounds to read and understand that there are truly hungry people right next door. Even though ethnicity is never stated, I liked the authors use of names like Hakeem, Zuri and Bashirah.
Lisa Phipps has a unique way with language that bring every aspect of the story to full life.
Joe, middle school kid, had had to grow up fast and hard.
Joe’s mother has gotten in some trouble with the law, so her grandmum puts up the house as collateral for her daughter’s bond. But the mother once again gets The Itch and skips court as well as town. Bond money is gone so grandmum and Joe lose their home. They were already sitting on the precipice of homelessness before mom’s big mess. The pair are now living out of their car. Joe doesn’t want to let anyone know what is happening. He tries to behave at school as though everything is cool. This is pretty hard to pull off when you are starving, stinky from trying to bathe from a hose or dirty public toilet, and your clothing is threadbare. Kind adults assist Joe at school as much as they can. His teacher makes sure there are always snacks available for all the kids, which Joe takes full advantage of but without being greedy, and offers him access to the closet of lost clothes that he can choose from. Some things are really nice, like the brand new sneakers that fit him perfectly and even still have the tags on them. Hmmm, how did those get in there among the lost items?
His best friend finds a trailer park that his grandmother can afford to rent. The dwelling is not much, yellow with brown spots, so they name it The Overripe Banana. They have no things with which to furnish the trailer and King of the Castle trailer park owner, Frank, kindly recognizes this fact. He becomes known as Uncle Frankie. He takes them to his barn filled with secondhand furniture, doors, windows, you name it. They get everything they need even a little gas for The Fishbowl, grandmum’s Pacer. This is an old American Motor’s car with lots of glass kinda like a fishbowl.
Still, Joe and his grandmother spiral downwards into poverty. Food stamps (SNAP) doesn’t pay for toilet paper, or tooth paste, or anything that keeps one clean. so Joe has to find and use whatever he can in public restrooms. Tragedy strikes, then the tornado… so you see why the cover of the book has the weight of the world on Joe’s shoulders.
The human kindness displayed in this book was so heartwarming, which I believe is indicative of most folks. The way Joe and grandmum sacrificed for each other demonstrated a genuine and deep love.
I most highly recommend this novel for kids of all backgrounds to read and understand that there are truly hungry people right next door. Even though ethnicity is never stated, I liked the authors use of names like Hakeem, Zuri and Bashirah.
Lisa Phipps has a unique way with language that bring every aspect of the story to full life.
November 25, 2023
"Even superheroes need help" This was NOT the story I expected but then again I shouldn't expect anything less from Lisa Fipps. I had to hold back the tears as I read this book in one sitting on a plane. The way that Lisa writes Joe's story is one that will take a long time for me to get over. And this is NOT a story that someone should ever forget. She hits on many issues that tweens face, but are very good about hiding. There are things that people may be going through that they don't want the world around them knowing about. But Joe learns that its OK to ask for help: from his friends, his teacher, his neighborhood "uncle". That from asking for that help, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I cannot wait to purchase this book for my school library because I KNOW that there are students in my school going through exactly what Joe goes through. Thank you Edelweiss for the e-arc!
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December 31, 2023Middle schooler Joe Oak has a list of things he wishes he didn’t have to know. For example, he knows how much his grandmum makes cleaning houses during the day and office buildings at night; he knows exactly how much money is loaded onto his family’s SNAP card each month; he knows what items he and his grandmum can use SNAP to purchase at the grocery store and, more importantly, he knows what items the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program won’t pay for. Things like...
“… soap, shampoo,
deodorant, detergent,
toothpaste and toilet paper
— anything you need to get and stay clean.”
Joe is good at math, finding comfort in the consistency of numbers. Indeed, Joe’s gift for calculations is at least part of the reason why he knows when the prices of items they need begin to rise. However, no matter how hard Joe tries to make sure they can afford everything they put into the grocery cart, sometimes those numbers just don’t add up.
“I know
the humiliation of a grocery store clerk
telling you your total, and you don’t have enough,
so you have to choose what food to put back
— all while everyone waiting in line watches.”
Both Joe and his grandmother are experts at trying to stretch what little they have into just enough for them to survive. Although they rarely make it to the end of the month without a trip to the local soup kitchen, they have each other, which makes things like constant hunger, home insecurity and Joe’s mother’s abandonment a bit more bearable. However, if there’s one thing Joe knows better than anyone, it’s that...
“Every story boils down to
and-thens
and
BOOMS!'
And-thens
and
BOOMS!
are all about the moments when
something happens
that changes
everything.”
Joe’s mother, who has never been reliable, blows back into town.
And-then, BOOM!
“The Mess With Mom” leaves Joe and his grandmum unhoused and living in their car.
Joe’s friend, Nick, tells him about a trailer for rent in same the mobile home park Nick calls home. And while the trailer is so rusted and lopsided Joe nicknames it “the overripe banana,” the park is managed by Uncle Frankie, who spends his days bartering and trading for resources to help the people who live on his property.
And-then, BOOM!
Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself, without his beloved grandmum or the confidence to tell anyone that he needs help. Just when it seems things can’t get any worse…
And-then, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
While Joe’s story is often dominated by the devastating effects of poverty, in the end, Lisa Fipps's sophomore novel-in-verse is a book about love and the kinds of storms that can only be weathered together. It’s only with the help of his “super hero” teacher, Ms. Swan, who works to make sure kids dealing with food, home or other resource insecurities can find the support they need without being “outed” as poor, that Joe is able to access additional food and clothing that grandmum just isn’t able to provide. It’s only with the help of the creative and generous Uncle Frankie, who finds a way for Joe and his grandmother to accept help while also maintaining their dignity, that they are able to begin the work of starting over. And it’s only with the help of his two best friends, Nick and Hakeem, who are constantly looking for ways to support their friend without ever taking away Joe’s ability to choose what happens to him, that Joe is able to finally use his own voice to ask for help.
“When you’re so used to doing everything for yourself,
you forget that others will help.
if you let them."
On a personal note, as someone whose own childhood was remarkably similar to Joe’s, the thing I loved most about And Then, Boom! was the thread of community running throughout. Poverty is not heroic. It's not romantic. And for every person who manages to break that cycle, there are countless others who don’t. What’s more, there’s no shortage of (perhaps well meaning, perhaps not) people who, having never experienced poverty themselves, feel empowered to offer advice to those trying to break free from its choke-hold. In my experience, however, the narrative of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” falls apart when you don’t actually have boots. Working hard, doing the “right things” are just part of the equation. The other part is community. Not only do Fipps’s descriptions of crushing poverty ring true, (raise your hand if your family ate “bad beef stew,” too!) but her choice to craft this as a story about the strength of community sends a message that makes this book a must read for kids and adults alike.
"I didn’t change my path, but I changed who joined me on it, and that changed everything.”
Full review with links can be found at librarygirl.net
---
ISBN: 9780593406328
Publication: May 4, 2024
Audience: grades 5+
CW: home insecurity, food insecurity, starvation, poverty, death of a grandparent, parental abandonment, foster care, natural disaster
“… soap, shampoo,
deodorant, detergent,
toothpaste and toilet paper
— anything you need to get and stay clean.”
Joe is good at math, finding comfort in the consistency of numbers. Indeed, Joe’s gift for calculations is at least part of the reason why he knows when the prices of items they need begin to rise. However, no matter how hard Joe tries to make sure they can afford everything they put into the grocery cart, sometimes those numbers just don’t add up.
“I know
the humiliation of a grocery store clerk
telling you your total, and you don’t have enough,
so you have to choose what food to put back
— all while everyone waiting in line watches.”
Both Joe and his grandmother are experts at trying to stretch what little they have into just enough for them to survive. Although they rarely make it to the end of the month without a trip to the local soup kitchen, they have each other, which makes things like constant hunger, home insecurity and Joe’s mother’s abandonment a bit more bearable. However, if there’s one thing Joe knows better than anyone, it’s that...
“Every story boils down to
and-thens
and
BOOMS!'
And-thens
and
BOOMS!
are all about the moments when
something happens
that changes
everything.”
Joe’s mother, who has never been reliable, blows back into town.
And-then, BOOM!
“The Mess With Mom” leaves Joe and his grandmum unhoused and living in their car.
Joe’s friend, Nick, tells him about a trailer for rent in same the mobile home park Nick calls home. And while the trailer is so rusted and lopsided Joe nicknames it “the overripe banana,” the park is managed by Uncle Frankie, who spends his days bartering and trading for resources to help the people who live on his property.
And-then, BOOM!
Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself, without his beloved grandmum or the confidence to tell anyone that he needs help. Just when it seems things can’t get any worse…
And-then, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
While Joe’s story is often dominated by the devastating effects of poverty, in the end, Lisa Fipps's sophomore novel-in-verse is a book about love and the kinds of storms that can only be weathered together. It’s only with the help of his “super hero” teacher, Ms. Swan, who works to make sure kids dealing with food, home or other resource insecurities can find the support they need without being “outed” as poor, that Joe is able to access additional food and clothing that grandmum just isn’t able to provide. It’s only with the help of the creative and generous Uncle Frankie, who finds a way for Joe and his grandmother to accept help while also maintaining their dignity, that they are able to begin the work of starting over. And it’s only with the help of his two best friends, Nick and Hakeem, who are constantly looking for ways to support their friend without ever taking away Joe’s ability to choose what happens to him, that Joe is able to finally use his own voice to ask for help.
“When you’re so used to doing everything for yourself,
you forget that others will help.
if you let them."
On a personal note, as someone whose own childhood was remarkably similar to Joe’s, the thing I loved most about And Then, Boom! was the thread of community running throughout. Poverty is not heroic. It's not romantic. And for every person who manages to break that cycle, there are countless others who don’t. What’s more, there’s no shortage of (perhaps well meaning, perhaps not) people who, having never experienced poverty themselves, feel empowered to offer advice to those trying to break free from its choke-hold. In my experience, however, the narrative of “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” falls apart when you don’t actually have boots. Working hard, doing the “right things” are just part of the equation. The other part is community. Not only do Fipps’s descriptions of crushing poverty ring true, (raise your hand if your family ate “bad beef stew,” too!) but her choice to craft this as a story about the strength of community sends a message that makes this book a must read for kids and adults alike.
"I didn’t change my path, but I changed who joined me on it, and that changed everything.”
Full review with links can be found at librarygirl.net
---
ISBN: 9780593406328
Publication: May 4, 2024
Audience: grades 5+
CW: home insecurity, food insecurity, starvation, poverty, death of a grandparent, parental abandonment, foster care, natural disaster
June 4, 2024
Lisa Fipps knows how to break hearts. Fortunately, in And Then, Boom, she proves that she is also willing to provide the glue that helps piece them back together.
I appreciated the depiction of poverty, especially in how the reticulated python imagery vividly illustrated the sense of not being able to breathe as each disaster within an impoverished life foists itself upon you. I didn’t know this especially well in childhood, but I spent a good portion of adulthood constricted by poverty’s grasp. Fipps captured the way it feels brilliantly.
I will note that there are aspects of this story that require a suspension of disbelief, but I think that only applies to adults. I believe that the target audience will have no trouble embracing it, even when it defies logic. What Fipps chose to do with this story effectively portrays a sense of hope and community when ongoing trauma makes such things seem nearly unattainable. I think it sets the right tone for middle graders whose hearts and imaginations need what And Then, Boom offers.
I appreciated the depiction of poverty, especially in how the reticulated python imagery vividly illustrated the sense of not being able to breathe as each disaster within an impoverished life foists itself upon you. I didn’t know this especially well in childhood, but I spent a good portion of adulthood constricted by poverty’s grasp. Fipps captured the way it feels brilliantly.
I will note that there are aspects of this story that require a suspension of disbelief, but I think that only applies to adults. I believe that the target audience will have no trouble embracing it, even when it defies logic. What Fipps chose to do with this story effectively portrays a sense of hope and community when ongoing trauma makes such things seem nearly unattainable. I think it sets the right tone for middle graders whose hearts and imaginations need what And Then, Boom offers.
May 12, 2024
Life has thrown a lot of curve balls Joe's way. Once he gets used things, life throws him a "and then boom" moment. Joe's mom isn't someone he can rely on. He and his grandmum loose their home and have to live their car. Food is scarce and he has dirty old clothes to get by. Luckily there are some superheroes in his life: Grandmum, Ms Swan, his 5th grade teacher, Uncle Frankie, the trailer park caretaker, and his best friends, Hakeem and Nick. When things get really bad, these people help Joe finally feel safe. Recommend to fans of The War That Saved My Life and The Benefits of Being an Octopus.
January 27, 2024
Lisa Fipps (Starfish) writes another masterful book that will tug at readers’ heartstrings and help them put themselves into someone else’s shoes. Being in Joe’s shoes means homelessness, abandonment, poverty, hunger, and fear. But Fipps inserts supportive characters like Grandmum, Uncle Frankie and best friends Hakeem and Nick to keep the overall tone from getting too heavy and who may also encourage readers to be the help that someone else might need. The idea of “And then. Boom!” meaning that life will often hand us some “and then this happens” transitions that lead to bigger “boom” events is completely relatable and applies to many big and small situations in the lives of everyone. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4 and up. Would pair nicely with Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch or Chicken Boy by Francis O’Roark Dowell.
Thanks for an eARC, NetGalley.
Thanks for an eARC, NetGalley.
June 19, 2024
Just heartbreaking because of how realistic it is.
As she did in Starfish, Fipps takes a very hard topic and infuses it with empathy and realism and heartache, but also hope and love. This isn't an easy book to read, but it is an important one about childhood poverty and abandonment. But it also shows all children that they do not have to handle things on their own and that there are adults and people who want to and can help you.
As she did in Starfish, Fipps takes a very hard topic and infuses it with empathy and realism and heartache, but also hope and love. This isn't an easy book to read, but it is an important one about childhood poverty and abandonment. But it also shows all children that they do not have to handle things on their own and that there are adults and people who want to and can help you.
April 15, 2024
I generally do not care for books in verse. However, I love Lisa Fipps.
This book made me tear up so often I had to walk away from it a few times. Lisa has such a knack for writing earnest, strong kids that learn to thrive despite having challenging (to say the least) families.
The parallel with superheroes was *chef's kiss* not overwrought but just enough for middle grade readers to grasp. It is so important to put todays readers in other peoples shoes. Everyone could use more empathy these days.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
This book made me tear up so often I had to walk away from it a few times. Lisa has such a knack for writing earnest, strong kids that learn to thrive despite having challenging (to say the least) families.
The parallel with superheroes was *chef's kiss* not overwrought but just enough for middle grade readers to grasp. It is so important to put todays readers in other peoples shoes. Everyone could use more empathy these days.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
May 31, 2024
This book was so good. Perfect for ages 10 and up. It hits on some hard topic for sure, but all are topics which need to be talked about, read about and fixed. This book made me sad and happy while reading it. I think it is perfect for middle school teachers, doctors, parents, "helpers" and therapists to read. If you loved her book Starfish, you will love this just as much!
May 5, 2024
Another powerful book by Lisa Fipps. I cried so much reading this book.
May 12, 2024
A wonderfully humanizing look at a child who lives through homelessness and food and security, humanity, which is often left out when statistics are thrown around about.
May 21, 2024
Very cute middle grade novel with adorable loving characters dealing with poverty, depression and trying to survive. I really like Lisa Fipps’ books!
May 21, 2024
One of the most heart-wrenching books I've ever read, while also being the most heart-warming. Probably one of the best of this year for me.
June 4, 2024
This book is a gut punch in all the right ways. I found myself in tears so many times. It is a MUST read for middle grade students!
June 10, 2024
I cried so much.
June 23, 2024
Another Lisa Fipps masterpiece that you will want to read in one sitting. Be ready for some tears. But this is an important book for kids!
May 25, 2024
Of course you read a 5 star book after you’ve printed and published your summer reading list 😂
May 15, 2024
I have very rarely cried for a book. I cried at least three times reading this book. Lisa captures stories so well with very few words. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her multiple times, and each time she shines as a light on this earth. This story will sit with me for a very long time. Every person should read this book.
June 20, 2024
Loved this middle-grade book in verse! Topics include poverty, friendship, foster care, tornados, absent parents, depression, and community.
July 3, 2024
Such a powerful story!! Joe definitely grew up faster than he should have. I connected with that so much. I love how this author takes huge issues and helps you to connect to the people in them.
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