  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 04/01/2017 Gr 4–6—Sixth grader Maddie is excited to go to the school dance, where she's hoping to spend time with her crush, Avery. Instead, her best friend Kiersten's new BFF Gabby dances with Avery. Meanwhile, a tornado levels Maddie's and Avery's homes while they are at the dance, and the two must take shelter at a neighbor's house for the rest of the summer; much drama ensues. Living with her crush in such close proximity intensifies Maddie's social anxiety and forces her to examine her feelings. Unfortunately, the characterizations are uneven. While Maddie's awkward avoidance tactics are authentic and relatable, some of her internal thoughts come across as overly adult and preachy, and her narration relies too much on telling and not enough on showing. The hopeful tone and conversational writing style make this an accessible read, though the message may be a bit too on the nose for some. VERDICT An additional purchase for large collections, especially those in need of wholesome realistic fiction.—Rachel Reinwald, Lake Villa District Library, IL - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 04/15/2017 For Maddie, the sixth-grade dance means time to hang with her best friend, Kiersten, and a chance to dance with her crush, Avery. Sure, Kiersten’s been hanging out with new girl Gabriella, but she and Maddie are still best friends. Then Avery asks Gabriella to dance, instead of Maddie. But that takes a backseat when a tornado destroys both Maddie’s house and Avery’s, and her dog goes missing. Soon after, she finds herself living in the same house as Avery—all summer. This might give him the chance to see her as more than a friend, but she’s so mortified to be sharing such close quarters that she can barely talk to him. But as Maddie’s family recovers from the aftermath of the tornado, life goes on. Bishop (The Distance to Home, 2016) nails the tween voice: Maddie is a realistic heroine who deals with typical middle-grade problems amidst disaster, and she navigates upheavals with occasional grace and more frequent missteps. Tornado or not, growing up is a tempestuous business. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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