Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A tween's summer is spent making new friends and memories-and a difference for her family and community.Georgiana Matthews is an 11-year-old Black girl who lives in Snellville, Georgia, but is spending the summer in Bogalusa, Louisiana, with relatives: Her mother's Aunt Vie has Alzheimer's, and the toll it's taken on her family is significant. Georgie wishes for more opportunities to help out, such as working at Aunt Vie's renowned diner and the freedom to explore the area on her own, but her overprotective mother is resistant. Discontented, hopeless, and bored, Georgie decides to take the initiative and organize a talent contest to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Foundation in honor of her great-aunt. She enlists the help of 12-year-old Markie Jean, a girl who works at the diner and who was formerly fostered by Aunt Vie, and Georgie's best friend, Nikki, who arrives for a surprise visit. So begins Georgie's summer of newfound independence, friendship, and adventure, during which she discovers truths about herself and her family. Youngblood's writing fluidly delivers a compelling narrative imbued with historical and cultural context. The novel highlights the significance of kinship and fighting for what you believe is right. The strong pacing and peppering of historical events and pop-culture references will have readers increasingly invested with each turn of the page. Most characters are Black.A heartwarming story with an inspiring message about creative youth activism. (Fiction. 9-13)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Gr 4-6 In this sequel to Love Like Sky, Georgie "G-Baby" is spending her summer in Bogalusa, LA, so her family can help care for Great Aunt Vie, who has Alzheimer's. Feeling stuck, treated like a baby but with adult expectations, Georgie meets Markie while helping out at the family diner in town. Georgie's mom is reluctant to let her spend time with Markie, who is a foster child with a big personality. As Markie and Georgie become friends, they find great purpose in their summer looking for Markie's biological mother and organizing a talent show as an Alzheimer's benefit. As Markie uncovers more of her history, the friends discover that the truth is often complex and painful, though not without hope. Youngblood writes an optimistic story bursting with heart, strategically weaving discussions of equity, race, and relationships into the well-paced narrative. Nearly the entire cast is Black, and Markie has a limb difference. Many characters, especially Markie, masterfully demonstrate respect and communication in a way that will benefit all readers. While the ending may be idealistic, it is the ending tweens will want and it is beautifully delivered. Readers need not have read Love Like Sky to thoroughly enjoy this title. VERDICT Packed with important life lessons, this story is also a captivating tale of summer adventure and mystery. A dynamic cast, intriguing plot, and essential advice make this a recommended purchase for all libraries. Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR

ALA Booklist (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

In this follow-up to Love like Sky (2018), Georgie has adjusted to her new blended family and remains grateful for her sister's recovery from illness, but just as life settles, new drama appears. Mama and Georgie head to small-town Louisiana to look after Great Aunt Vie, founder of the revered Sweetings diner. Georgie is eager to prove her independence by filling in at the bustling restaurant, but also helping out at the diner is Markie, a 12-year-old foster girl who navigates the world without one of her arms and with all the freedom and confidence Georgie thinks she desires. When Markie becomes determined to learn the truth about her birth mother, Georgie joins her in the quest, and the pair begins unraveling mysterious threads that reveal intertwined family history and heartbreak. Youngblood's thoughtful story doesn't shy away from big subjects lzheimer's, foster care, racial injustice d Georgie is a warm and witty guide through it all. A welcoming and worthwhile exploration of Southern small-town dynamics and the all-important ties that bind both friends and family.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A tween's summer is spent making new friends and memories-and a difference for her family and community.Georgiana Matthews is an 11-year-old Black girl who lives in Snellville, Georgia, but is spending the summer in Bogalusa, Louisiana, with relatives: Her mother's Aunt Vie has Alzheimer's, and the toll it's taken on her family is significant. Georgie wishes for more opportunities to help out, such as working at Aunt Vie's renowned diner and the freedom to explore the area on her own, but her overprotective mother is resistant. Discontented, hopeless, and bored, Georgie decides to take the initiative and organize a talent contest to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Foundation in honor of her great-aunt. She enlists the help of 12-year-old Markie Jean, a girl who works at the diner and who was formerly fostered by Aunt Vie, and Georgie's best friend, Nikki, who arrives for a surprise visit. So begins Georgie's summer of newfound independence, friendship, and adventure, during which she discovers truths about herself and her family. Youngblood's writing fluidly delivers a compelling narrative imbued with historical and cultural context. The novel highlights the significance of kinship and fighting for what you believe is right. The strong pacing and peppering of historical events and pop-culture references will have readers increasingly invested with each turn of the page. Most characters are Black.A heartwarming story with an inspiring message about creative youth activism. (Fiction. 9-13)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Though Georgie, 11, wants to spend the summer creating dance routines with her best friend, she instead finds herself headed from her home outside Atlanta to Bogalusa, La.-a small town that, thanks to the local paper mill, literally -stinks.- While Georgie-s sister Peaches, who-s recovering from meningitis, stays with the girls- father, Georgie and her mother will be helping great-aunt Vie, whose Alzheimer-s has recently accelerated, and working to keep Sweetings, the diner Vie established, operational. But Georgie-s stuck at Vie-s home doing chores until meeting 12-year-old Markie Jean, a girl with a limb difference who works at the diner. As Georgie and Markie become close, and Georgie begins to win some independence from her protective mother, she makes it her duty-with mixed results-to find Markie-s biological family, raise community awareness about Alzheimer-s, and save the family-s restaurant. Crafting a largely Black tween cast embarking on a summer full of family secrets, friendship, soul food, and life lessons, Youngblood (Love Like Sky) delivers a well-paced look at the importance of family legacy. Ages 8-12. Agent: John Rudolph, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (July)