Review: Just Under the Clouds

Just Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just Under the Clouds is a middle-school book about two young girls and a mother living in NYC struggling after the death of the father. Essentially homeless, moving from place to place, the family does what it can to stay together. Cora, a middle-schooler, deals with bullying and taking care of her special needs younger sister. She loves and protects her little sister, yet at the same time, she feels the weight of that responsibility. Cora struggles with math, but is artistic like her mother and enjoys the science of trees like her father. She desires friendship but isn't really sure how to be a friend when her life is constantly being uprooted. She desires a home, but how do you have a home when you don't know if you'll be sleeping in the same place tomorrow night?

I thought this was a well-written, realistic story about the struggles of this family and how Cora deals with the adversity in her life. I think this book could open up some good discussions in the classroom or at home.

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At my request, I received a free electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions on the book, and I received no compensation for this review.

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