Right as Rain

November 1, 2018
Rain, 11, knows that only a quarter of marriages survive a child's death; she's determined to make her parents "one out of four."The family members mourn separately. Rain's burdened by guilt over the loss of her teenage brother, Guthrie; her dad's withdrawn, angry, and depressed; her mom, briskly efficient, has forced a fresh start, finding a job in New York, where Rain must finish sixth grade 288 miles away from her old school in Vermont. Rain misses her best friend and the track team. Their new apartment is tiny; Frankie, the Dominican super's daughter, is unfriendly; the urban density's overwhelming. Her family is white and doesn't speak Spanish, and their new neighborhood is a Latinx one. The only place Rain spots other light-skinned people is at the trendy cafe where they sip espresso. Through community-service projects, a school requirement, Rain slowly finds her footing. The track coach recruits her to run the 100-meter relay with Frankie, Amelia, and Ana for a city meet--that's scheduled on the anniversary of Guthrie's death. Realistic explorations of how grief divides a struggling family and gentrification erodes a community are balanced by the love and friendship among these diverse characters. Rain likes to count things and loathes dresses. Like Frankie and her friend who's moved away, Rain might be gender nonconforming. Amelia stutters; Nestor might be homeless; Casey dislikes being touched. Each is seen whole.Timely, well-integrated themes, a vibrant setting, and well-drawn, likable characters--the diversity's unlabeled, but it's there--make this a winner. (Fiction. 8-12)

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Gr 4-7-Stoddard's sophomore effort is an emotional exploration of grief, guilt, and the uplifting power of community. Following the death of her older brother, Guthrie, 10-year-old Rain and her family leave Vermont for Washington Heights in New York City. Guthrie's death has affected her parents in vastly different ways. Her mother is in constant motion and avoids any talk of her son. Her father rarely leaves his bedroom, shutting himself off from the world. Their conflicting coping methods create a tense household that forces Rain to bury her feelings deep. Spare flashbacks to the tragic night unfold throughout the novel and slowly reveal Rain's painful memories and misplaced guilt. Rain also struggles to transition to her new neighborhood, where the majority of people don't look like her and the storefront signs are in Spanish. By opening up to new friendships and embracing her community, Rain develops a growing sense of empathy that allows her to recognize that pain is universal and creating connections is the key to healing. One of Rain's most important relationships is with classmate Frankie, whose icy demeanor hides her loneliness. The girls bond through their shared love of running track, which provides freedom from the pressure of their everyday lives. This touching middle grade novel addresses the heartache of loss while also providing an insightful, accessible introduction to privilege, homelessness, and gentrification. VERDICT Honest, gut-wrenching, and hopeful, this is a story about letting people in and discovering you're a part of something larger. Share this with readers who enjoy realistic and empowering titles like Lynda Mullaly Hunt's Fish In A Tree and Lisa Graff's Lost In the Sun.-Sophie Kenney, Delray Beach Public Library, FL

December 1, 2018
Grades 4-7 It has been almost a year since that night, and Rain's family needs a new start in a totally new town. Rain's new neighbor and classmate, Frankie, is chilly at first, until Rain realizes she's taken the place of Frankie's best friend, Reggie, in her home, her classroom desk, and even her place on the track team. However, Frankie respects Rain as a runner and introduces her to Ms. Dacie, who runs a makeshift teen center. When she learns Ms. Dacie's funding has been cut, she puts all her efforts into a fund-raising project in hopes of ignoring the sorry state of her homelife: her mother pretends everything is OK, while her father can barely get out of bed, and Rain is weighed down by the fact that she's been keeping a secret since that night?the night her brother died. Stoddard has written a beautiful story about a resilient girl many readers will be able to relate to, and she gently hits on tough topics, such as death and divorce, in a tender and truthful manner.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)