A Soft Place to Land (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780062875877)

In this compelling and heartfelt mystery story, Janae Marks--author of the acclaimed bestselling From the Desk of Zoe Washington--follows a young girl reshaping her meaning of home. Perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Rebecca Stead. Two starred reviews! A Project Lit Club Book Club Selection, S&L Lead Title, Banks Street Best Children's Books of the Year, and Kids' Indie Next List Pick!

"Joyful. A book that kids will love." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me

Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn't have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist--and one day, a film score composer--have been put on hold.

A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complex's best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it's in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until--abruptly, they stop writing back. What if they're in trouble?

Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents' marriage, Joy isn't sure how to keep her own head above water.

"Squeezes your heart in such a special way." --Lisa Moore Ram馥, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say

"Readers will find hope in Joy's courage, ingenuity, and fierce dedication to her friends." --Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp

"A timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other." --Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done

Author: Janae Marks
ISBN-10: 0062875876
ISBN-13: 9780062875877
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Language: English
Published: 09/14/2021
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 1.10d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.9
Point Value: 7
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 513797 / Soft Place to Land


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2021
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2021
School Library Journal 09/01/2021 pg. 91
Publishers Weekly 08/30/2021
Booklist 09/01/2021 pg. 77