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“[An] affecting, elegantly
burnished middle-grade book about a girl with autism…The
deftness with which Martin renders Rose’s life is admirable…And yet the book isn’t
actually about autism, or even any coming-of-age theme. It’s about love and
fealty, fear, hope, the release from burdens, and what kids—all kids—need but
often don’t get…don’t take this book anywhere you wouldn’t want to have a
sudden burst of tears. Or, for that matter, a wash of warm recognition that we
all—the poor and neurologically challenged, too—can find a way to the sunlight.”
- New York Times Book Review
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“Rose Howard is a high-functioning autistic fifth-grader, and her
preoccupation with homophones, her insistence on rules being followed to
the letter of the law, and her difficulties reading social cues and
understanding emotions are giving her trouble at school and frustrating
her impatient and often angry single father…Newbery Honor author Martin is extremely
successful in capturing Rose’s perspective and personality…Filled with integrity and
determination, Rose overcomes significant obstacles in order to do what
is right.”
- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Though Rose’s story is often heartbreaking, her matter-of-face narration provides moments of humor. Readers will empathize with Rose, who finds strength and empowerment through her unique way of looking at the world.”
- School Library Journal (starred review)
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“A story about honorable living in
the autistic-narrator genre that sets the bar high…Through touching and funny
scenes at school…readers come to understand how Rose’s close relationship to
Rain anchors her…Martin has penned a riveting, seamless narrative in which each
word sings and each scene counts. There is no fluff here, just sophisticated,
emotionally honest storytelling.”
- Kirkus
Reviews (starred review)
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“Rose is a character we root for every step of the way. She is resilient, honest, and, in her own odd way, very perceptive.”
- Horn Book (starred review)
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“Simplicity, clarity, and emotional resonance are hallmarks of Rose’s first-person narrative, which offers an unflinching view of her world from her perspective…A strong story told in a nuanced, highly accessible way.”
- Booklist (starred review)
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“There’s an old-fashioned quality to the story, especially the family elements, that makes the book sturdily accessible.”
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
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“Rose narrates this story, thus
allowing the reader to live in her black and white world, to struggle with her
when the impact of the storm upsets all her routines and robs her of her
anchor, and to smile when she makes some small gains in relating to some
classmates…Readers will root for this resilient child, who is stronger and more perceptive
than she realizes.”
- Children’s Literature
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“Narrator
Laura Hamilton gives listeners insight into the bond between a girl with autism
and her dog…Hamilton’s narration
adds the right amount of emotion to each scene in this powerful story of love
and loss. To ensure that listeners can appreciate Rose’s love of homonyms, the
audiobook is specially formatted: The narrator spells out each word pair.”
- AudioFile