The List Of Things That Will Not Change

"Reading The New York Times’ feature on what famous people read, By the Book is either instructive or irritating – and rarely in between. Often a list of doorstops that are just a touch too virtuous to be true, but occasionally you can mine for gems. Jia Tolentino recommended middle grade author Rebecca Stead last summer and truly, I cannot thank her enough. (Is this review a review of another’s review? Readers, unite!). Narrated by 12-year-old Bea, this book tells the story of life since her parents’ divorce. While Bea is funny and charming and insightful, she is, in that quirk that only the best writers can pull off, a real child, and her perspectives and emotions are authentic. But the adults in the book are real people too, and Stead also creates a family that feels familiar and warm without being sentimental or maudlin. (For ages 8 to 12)"