Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard - ADVISABLE

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard, 272 pages. Harper Collins, 2020. $17 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Cyrus is expected to follow in the steps of his Dad, who is a brave fireman, and was the star of his middle school and high school football teams. There's still pictures of him in the trophy cases. But Cyrus doesn't want to play football or become a fireman. He doesn't know what he wants yet; except for "Parker" the stray dog Cyrus found at the fire station that is now at the Humane Society waiting for a family. Cyrus skips out on football practice to walk Parker. He can't do his first assignment in 6th grade "write about the best book you've ever read" because he has trouble reading, and his old friends are now bullying the new kid. 6th grade is turning out to be really hard. Cyrus isn't brave like his dad, but maybe he's got what it takes to stand up for himself and others. 

Cyrus is a great kid, full of questions about himself because he's adopted after being abandoned at the fire station. His dilemma about keeping his friends who've changed or moving on to new friends is realistic for middle school. His relationship with his grandmother is sweet - she has suffered a stroke and can only say "Na-na" but Stoddard brings her meaning across well. I loved all the references to children's books! The teacher reads a picture book to the class every day and his choices are spot on - I hope readers in my library ask for them (Red, a Crayon's Story and Each Kindness). Brave Like That is perfect for readers just starting middle school.

Lisa Librarian