Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles - ADVISABLE

Where the Heart Is by Jo Knowles, 292 pages.  Candlewick, 2019. $17

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Rachel, 13, and her family don’t have a lot of money, but they do have each other and their cute home, and Rachel’s pony.  Rachel even has a summer job caring for the animals at the farm across the street for the new, rich couple who just moved in and hours to spend every day with her best friend Micah at the beach, even if she has to take her little sister along with her most days.  But her parents are arguing more and more about money and Micah seems to think that Rachel means some different to him  - that maybe now that they’ve been friends for so long it’s time for their relationship to head in a different direction. But Rachel’s not ready for that kind of relationship. At least not with Micah. 

Knowles writes a sweet book that is a slice of life as a girl goes through life’s many ups and downs. I like that there is nothing life and death about; there’s much to be said for a book that shows kids that other kids lives have ups and downs and questions.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS