Published: 2021
Series: N/A
Author: Janae Marks
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Friendship, Childrens, Family, Juvenile
Audience (Grade Levels): Upper Elementary & Pre-Teen (Grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8)
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads Link: A Soft Place to Land
Triggers: Difficult for kids with parents who argue a lot or are going through a divorce; difficult read for students who have just lost a parent
Review By: Diana Cashman
Publisher’s Summary:
“Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn’t have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist—and one day, a film score composer—have been put on hold.
A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complex’s best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it’s in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until—abruptly, they stop writing back. What if they’re in trouble?
Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents’ marriage, Joy isn’t sure how to keep her own head above water.” (Goodreads)
Review:
I really loved listening to this story on the Sora app. The voice of the narrator was very soothing, and she sounded exactly what I would have picked for the character to sound like. I felt like the story is very relatable and sadly probably very common for many students (parents struggle with money and need to move). My favorite part was the way the author added different layers with the secret hideout, and how the main character really had to struggle to get her friends back. She didn’t just run to her parents to figure things out for her, she had to put in the effort, and it was really difficult. As the reader, I was very emotionally invested in Joy and truly rooted for her throughout the story. Follow a young girl reshaping her meaning of home.
Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn’t have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist—and one day, a film score composer—have been put on hold.
A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complex’s best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it’s in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until—abruptly, they stop writing back. What if they’re in trouble?
Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents’ marriage, Joy isn’t sure how to keep her own head above water.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): This book is an excellent resource for exploring themes of resilience, dealing with unexpected family transitions, navigating financial stress, and coping with changing parental dynamics or marital arguments. Joy’s journey highlights the importance of problem-solving and emotional growth.
- English Language Arts (ELA): Ideal for upper elementary and middle school classrooms to analyze realistic fiction structures, dual-layered plots (the mystery of the secret writer alongside the family dynamic), and character development through internal conflict.
- Extension Activity / Library Application:
- Audiobook Listening Stations / Sora Promotion: Since the narrator provides a highly engaging and soothing experience, this is a prime selection for promoting digital audiobooks via school apps like Sora.
- Interactive Library Activity: Set up a secure, anonymous “Secret Message Board” or “Hideout” corner in the library where students can share positive notes, book recommendations, or motivational thoughts with one another, mirroring the community-building aspect of the book’s hideaway.
- Diversity & Representation: The book provides crucial representation of working-class families navigating sudden socioeconomic changes and financial hardships, a reality that is deeply common yet often underrepresented in pre-teen fiction. It centers a relatable protagonist who learns to find her footing, redefine the concept of “home,” and stand up for her peers independently.
Readalikes:
- From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
- Front Desk by Kelly Yang
