Starred Review While El dreads starting a new school in seventh grade, the most disturbing part of that first day comes when Dad meets her afterward and delivers the news that her six-year-old sister, Echo, is in the hospital because of a tumor. The coming months bring chemo and surgery for Echo, a lost job for Mom, and hard times for this close-knit family. El can't bear to confide in her old friends, and it takes awhile before she can open up to Octavius, the one classmate who connects with her. By gradually giving up the pretense of normality, she is able to accept the reality of what her family is living through as well as the empathy and the support of those who want to help. Medically, the ending strikes a cautiously optimistic note. The author of Train I Ride? (2017), Mosier creates a network of convincing characters with varied personalities, interests, and relationships. Simple, direct prose makes the writing widely accessible, while the realistic portrayal of emotions and relationships makes it compelling. Written from El's point of view, the story traces a journey that no one would want to take, but readers will follow her through every line of this absorbing novel.

An artist's sketch of Viva, a smiling girl with curly hair and light-brown skin, comes to life on the page. The artist tries to re-draw Viva while the original looks on in disapproval ("can I try...to rock what I got?") until they finally reach a mutual understanding. Kerascokt's illustrations bring a sketchpad to life; pages are busy with doodles, sketches, ink stains, and mistakes.

Gr 5-8 The author's latest novel tackles the subject of childhood cancer and offers readers a window into a sibling's point of view. El is a seventh grader from New York who recently found out that her six-year-old sister Echo has cancer. The diagnosis turns the family inside out. El must deal with the swarm of new feelings inside herself and all around her. Mosier writes from the older sibling's perspective which gives this novel a fresh viewpoint over other novels that explore this subject. The details and dialogue ring true and will give middle graders an empathetic window into an emotional and deeply personal familial experience. VERDICT A realistic fiction story that reads like a biography, this poignant tale is a strong addition for any collection serving older elementary and middle school readers. Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL