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    Cathy Carr’s 365 Days to Alaska is engaging MG read

    0
    By Jessica on February 1, 2021 ages 8-12, Middle Grade
    365 Days to Alaska365 DAYS TO ALASKA, by Cathy Carr, Harry N. Abrams, Jan. 19, 2021, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)

    Cathy Carr’s 365 Days to Alaska follows a girl from off-the-grid Alaska as she adapts to life in suburban Connecticut.

    Eleven-year-old Rigel Harman loves her life in off-the-grid Alaska. She hunts rabbits, takes correspondence classes through the mail, and plays dominoes with her family in their two-room cabin. She doesn’t mind not having electricity or running water—instead, she’s got tall trees, fresh streams, and endless sky.

    But then her parents divorce, and Rigel and her sisters have to move with their mom to the Connecticut suburbs to live with a grandmother they’ve never met. Rigel hates it in Connecticut. It’s noisy, and crowded, and there’s no real nature. Her only hope is a secret pact that she made with her father: If she can stick it out in Connecticut for one year, he’ll bring her back home.

    At first, surviving the year feels impossible. Middle school is nothing like the wilderness, and she doesn’t connect with anyone . . . until she befriends a crow living behind her school. And if this wild creature has made a life for itself in the suburbs, then, just maybe, Rigel can too. —Synopsis provided by Harry N. Abrams

    At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of 365 Days to Alaska, but it didn’t take long for me to get hooked. At its heart, the book is about friends, family and the true meaning of home.

    We’re all learning to adapt these days, and Rigel’s story underscores how difficult — and rewarding — navigating change can be. Hers is a story that will resonate with middle graders in any situation. Rigel is a character readers will not only understand but root for.

    As a parent, I particularly liked the juxtaposition of expected responsibility and independence in Alaska and Connecticut. It serves as a gentle reminder that children are more capable of doing hard things than grownups realize, but that gentle and loving support should always be accessible.

    365 Days to Alaska is a quiet read that middle readers and grownups alike will enjoy.

    © 2021, Cracking the Cover. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided for free by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the main reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. Prior to creating Cracking the Cover, Jessica worked as the in-house book critic for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City. Jessica also worked as a copy editor and general features writer for the paper. Following that, Jessica spent two years with an international company as a social media specialist. She is currently a freelance writer/editor. She is passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices.

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