Starred review from October 4, 2021
Austin is used to being the new kid in class; along with his mother, the presumed-white fourth grader has moved so many times that he has developed strategies to stay under the radar and to conceal his trouble reading (“If you turn the pages too fast, teachers notice”). On his first day at a new school, Austin meets blue-eyed, effervescent classmate Bertie, who encourages him to apply to Safety Squad. Taciturn Austin relishes the idea of helping younger kids “on the bus and off the bus with their huge backpacks and their shoebox projects,” and though he imagines doing the job with easy confidence, he can’t bring himself to ask his unpredictable and avoidant mom to sign the permission slip. Austin’s narration is conversational and observant, threaded with descriptive colors and metaphors that hint at his learning obstacles: “It wasn’t like I could tell her that the words started to look like bricks, and the letters started to look like ants, and then the ants turned into dead leaves that were shriveled up with the edges all curling.” Swender’s (Solving for M) brief, textured tale never spells out the extent of Austin’s reading difficulty, while his vigilant protection of his secret and near constant anxiety at it being discovered imbues this thoughtful character study with tension and drive. Ages 9–12. Agent: Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary.
October 1, 2021
Gr 3-7-After more moves than he can count, Austin has learned how to blend in at a new school. Get someone to read the back cover of the book to you, so you can pretend you've read it. Write your name neat and tiny, because that's what all the smart kids do. Fake a coughing fit if you're called on to read aloud, because the teacher isn't going to deny you a drink of water. Austin doesn't want to cause any problems, and he doesn't want his teachers to cause him any problems. But things are pretty different when Austin moves to his newest school shortly before summer vacation. For one thing, his teacher seems much cooler than what he's used to. For another, he meets Bertie-an energetic and enthusiastic classmate who is determined to help Austin navigate this new environment, whether he needs help or not. Bertie is super excited to join the school's Safety Squad next year as a fifth grader, and Austin thinks that sounds cool, too. But you have to take a test on the rules to become a Safety Squad member, and that's something Austin can't fake. This middle grade novel provides an insider's perspective on what it's like to be a student with learning difficulties. Austin's coping mechanisms for getting through school work, and other activities that require reading, will be something struggling learners and reluctant readers can relate to. Additionally, Austin's frequent descriptions of the colors in his everyday life provide vivid imagery for readers. VERDICT A great addition to middle grade realistic fiction collections; hand this book to readers who have enjoyed Gary D. Schmidt's Okay for Now or Jacqueline Woodson's Harbor Me.-Alison Glass, Dwight School Lib., New York, NY
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 15, 2021
Moving and changing schools frequently has allowed fourth grader Austin to conceal his inability to read--and prevented him from getting help. Austin's a large kid (repeating second grade didn't help): shy, socially awkward, but quietly observant. Changing schools isn't easy, but he's learned what to expect, what's expected of him, and how to handle it. Initially unresponsive when Bertie--a small, friendly classmate--appoints herself his guide, he slowly warms to her and the school while hiding his inability to decode letters that wave and wobble across the page. His ingenious workarounds include querying the "phone lady" (digital assistant) on his mom's old phone, who answers questions and gives him a link to the audiobook he's supposed to read. At school Austin's especially impressed by the Safety Squad, a select cadre of fifth graders. Bertie encourages him to join. But how can he complete the application without disclosing his disability? While self-contained Austin projects the stoic resignation of children who've learned not to depend on adults, his troubled mom never comes into focus; how she supports them and why they move so frequently go unexplained. The parameters of Austin's disability (or disabilities) are unclear. If his backstory is frustratingly thin, however, Austin himself is a fully realized character whose predicament, true and false assumptions, and choices ring true from beginning to end. Characters mostly present White; naming conventions suggest a diverse classroom. Compellingly conveys the experience of living with an invisible, stigmatized disability. (Fiction. 8-12)
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December 1, 2021
Grades 3-5 Austin is used to being the new kid at school. Whenever his mom feels overwhelmed by life, they pull up stakes and resettle. He knows the drill--how he'll be introduced, the curious stares from teachers and classmates, even how lunch will taste. More important, he knows what he must do to protect his secret, because, though already at the end of fourth grade, he struggles with reading. This time, however, his new school is different. His teacher doesn't treat him like an extra burden, he is welcomed enthusiastically by talkative Bertie, and even unpredictable Dee turns out to be more friend than foe. Panic arises when Austin decides he wants to apply for a coveted spot on the fifth-grade Safety Squad, which includes taking a written test. How will he manage it? Throughout this short but spot-on story, readers will discover Austin's toolbox of methods to get through each day, illustrating just how clever he is. This tale tugs heartstrings and brings a deeper understanding of differently abled students.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2022
Fourth grader Austin, who has dyslexia, is used to starting at new schools, due to his single mother's frequent moves, but his first day at this one is a surprise. His teacher, Ms. G., is especially welcoming; he doesn't have to do the dreaded "introduction" for his classmates; and he's immediately taken under the wing of the extremely talkative Bertie. Austin tentatively reciprocates her friendship but remains concerned that his mother will decide to relocate at any moment, especially if the school takes note of his learning difficulties. As he settles in, Austin hopes to become a Safety, one of the yellow-vested fifth graders who act as crossing guards and hallway monitors -- but first he has to pass the Safety test, which requires him to do some reading. The characters drive this story more than the plot does. Austin is a fully realized protagonist, and Swender gives readers many paths into his thoughts -- his conversations with his phone's voice-activated assistant, his discovery of Bridge to Terabithia, his tendency to identify colors by the exact names of the crayons in his box. The story will appeal to fans of quiet books who appreciate moments of growth and realistically happy endings. Sarah Rettger
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2022
Fourth grader Austin, who has dyslexia, is used to starting at new schools, due to his single mother's frequent moves, but his first day at this one is a surprise. His teacher, Ms. G., is especially welcoming; he doesn't have to do the dreaded "introduction" for his classmates; and he's immediately taken under the wing of the extremely talkative Bertie. Austin tentatively reciprocates her friendship but remains concerned that his mother will decide to relocate at any moment, especially if the school takes note of his learning difficulties. As he settles in, Austin hopes to become a Safety, one of the yellow-vested fifth graders who act as crossing guards and hallway monitors -- but first he has to pass the Safety test, which requires him to do some reading. The characters drive this story more than the plot does. Austin is a fully realized protagonist, and Swender gives readers many paths into his thoughts -- his conversations with his phone's voice-activated assistant, his discovery of Bridge to Terabithia, his tendency to identify colors by the exact names of the crayons in his box. The story will appeal to fans of quiet books who appreciate moments of growth and realistically happy endings.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)