A coming-of-age novel as feisty, funny, and forthright as its protagonist. Robinson overcomes obstacles with wit, grit, and a growing compassion for others, showing us that families are what we make them and happiness is found in the simple gifts we take for granted. A rich, rewarding read.
I was truly moved by this refreshing story about a scrappy young heroine and her struggle to protect her family.
Debut author Stoddard crafts a winning narrator in Robinson. A beautiful story about the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt.
Debut author Stoddard crafts a winning narrator in Robinson. A beautiful story about the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt.
★ 12/18/2017
Stoddard’s gently powerful debut introduces a tough-as-nails fifth-grader coping with her grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer’s disease. Eleven-year-old Robinson “Robbie” Hart tries to emulate her cheek-turning namesake, Jackie Robinson, but her anger often explodes at school, threatening to expose her guardian grandfather’s failing memory. A family tree project brings Robbie’s anxiety to the forefront—she doesn’t even know her deceased mother’s name. Stoddard movingly contrasts Robbie’s anger (such as when she’s questioned about why she’s white and her grandfather is black) with the places she feels safe, including her grandfather’s garage, the baseball field, and the Vermont woods where she helps make maple syrup. The stakes increase as her grandfather’s memory lapses turn dangerous, resulting in an accident while boiling sap. An in-school therapy group helps Robbie recognize that some of her classmates are also struggling with the family tree project, as well as divorce, illness, and other problems. This emotionally honest, sensitively written novel confronts a range of difficult topics and offers an inclusive view of what family can look like. Ages 8–12. Agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. (Jan.)
“I was truly moved by this refreshing story about a scrappy young heroine and her struggle to protect her family.” — Sara Pennypacker, New York Times bestselling author of Pax
“A story about scratching the surface (and welcoming what you find below). It’s also a lovely story of acceptance - about what makes a family and how we make our own families, and about embracing our differences.” — Ann M. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Rain, Reign
“As close to perfect as a book for middle-grade children can get! Readers will cheer for Robbie as she comes to terms with the family she has and finds the family she needs.” — Cammie McGovern, author of Just My Luck
“A coming-of-age novel as feisty, funny, and forthright as its protagonist. Robinson overcomes obstacles with wit, grit, and a growing compassion for others, showing us that families are what we make them and happiness is found in the simple gifts we take for granted. A rich, rewarding read.” — John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day
“Stoddard debuts with a quiet but powerful narrative that gently unpacks Alzheimer’s, centers mental health, and moves through the intimate and intense emotional landscape of family—what seems to break one and what can remake it. Validating, heart-rending, and a deft blend of suffering and inspiration.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“This emotionally honest, sensitively written novel confronts a range of difficult topics and offers an inclusive view of what family can look like.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A home-run story that will resonate with all who feel they might not fit into the perfect definition of a family.” — School Library Journal
“Debut author Stoddard crafts a winning narrator in Robinson. A beautiful story about the true meaning of family, perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt.” — Booklist
Selected as a Top Ten Kids’ Indie Next title —
As close to perfect as a book for middle-grade children can get! Readers will cheer for Robbie as she comes to terms with the family she has and finds the family she needs.
10/01/2017
Gr 5–8—Eleven-year-old Robbie wishes she could be more like her namesake, the great Robbie Robinson. She wishes she could let things roll off her shoulders, but she has a short fuse which keeps getting her in trouble at school. Alex, a classmate, teases Robbie for not having a mother and she winds up punching him right in the nose. This necessitates her Grandpa coming to school, which is Robbie's worst fear—she knows Grandpa is getting more forgetful with his words and actions, and she is afraid others will figure it out and take her away from the only family she has. Robbie has the weight of the world on her shoulders as she tries to take care of Grandpa without letting others know their secret—he is at his best when fixing cars and tapping the maple trees for syrup, but lately he's even having trouble doing those things. When a class project is assigned to complete a family tree, Robbie worries that it's already too late to tap Grandpa's memories and find out anything about her deceased mom. The school tries different tactics and Robbie is put into group guidance, which helps her realize even those who look like they have perfect lives may also be hiding problems. When Robbie is able to grow emotionally enough to realize family may not just be those you are related to by blood, she finally begins to open up. VERDICT A home-run story that will resonate with all who feel they might not fit into the perfect definition of a family.—Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA
Fifth grader Robinson Hart is angry, and narrator Cassandra Morris does an excellent job of portraying the fear and sadness fueling that anger. Robbie has never known any other family beyond her beloved grandfather, and now his memory is “getting tired.” Worrying about Grandpa and what might happen if grown-ups discover he’s no longer able to take care of her, Robbie loses her temper and lands herself in group guidance, which opens her up to the troubles of other students. Morris conveys Robbie’s frustration, creating a fully realized depiction of this conflicted girl through her expert use of inflection and pacing. Other characters are not as distinctly rendered, but this is still a heartfelt story well told. S.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Fifth grader Robinson Hart is angry, and narrator Cassandra Morris does an excellent job of portraying the fear and sadness fueling that anger. Robbie has never known any other family beyond her beloved grandfather, and now his memory is “getting tired.” Worrying about Grandpa and what might happen if grown-ups discover he’s no longer able to take care of her, Robbie loses her temper and lands herself in group guidance, which opens her up to the troubles of other students. Morris conveys Robbie’s frustration, creating a fully realized depiction of this conflicted girl through her expert use of inflection and pacing. Other characters are not as distinctly rendered, but this is still a heartfelt story well told. S.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
★ 2017-10-10
A young, aspiring mechanic tries to get a grip on her anger at school before it reveals her worries at home.Eleven-year-old Robinson Hart can handle just about anything on her own, whether it's fixing cars, boiling Vermont maple sap into syrup, or playing baseball. The only thing she can't seem to get a handle on is her temper. She tries to do as her grandpa asks and be calm like her namesake, Jackie Robinson, under pressure, and she tries to do as the school guidance counselor has suggested and run through her favorite baseball stats in hot moments. But some moments push Robbie over the edge, like when the school bully calls her a "motherless Robin" or when adults question her family just because her grandpa is black and she is white-presenting. Family is a sore spot for Robbie in general, not only because she knows so little about hers, but because she doesn't want anyone to know that her grandpa—the only person who does know her family history—seems to be losing himself, forgetting which key opens the door or the end of his sentences or even Robbie's name. Stoddard debuts with a quiet but powerful narrative that gently unpacks Alzheimer's, centers mental health, and moves through the intimate and intense emotional landscape of family—what seems to break one and what can remake it.Validating, heart-rending, and a deft blend of suffering and inspiration. (Fiction. 9-12)
