Where the Heart Is

Where the Heart is
Jo Knowles
Candlewick, April, 2019 304 pages
Grades 5-8
Realistic Fiction

Summer is here and thirteen-year-old Rachel can't wait to hang out at the beach with her best friend Micah, only things have been weird with him lately. He seems to like her as more than a friend and their social group consider them a couple, only Rachel doesn't feel romantic about him at all. Life gets more complicated as a new girl moves in and starts hosting pool parties, drawing Micah’s interest and making Rachel feel awkward and shabby. Her parents are constantly fighting and are having financial problems with the possibility of losing the family farm. Rachel accepts a job with a neighbor feeding their animals and she and her little sister get attached to a pig who is being raised for slaughter. Tension both at home and with Micah escalates and both fronts finally come to a head. Meanwhile, Rachel starts to develop a crush on one of her female acquaintances, which further contributes to her confusion. The summer draws to a close with some important changes, yet her family is still intact and she realizes that home really is where the heart is.

Jo Knowles offers another heartfelt novel about coming of age and the confusion of growing up. I loved her previous title See You at Harry's and was excited for this new story. Although not as heart-wrenching as See You at Harry's, this new novel also features contemporary family life with all of its complications. Rachel’s family is going through a very difficult time and both Rachel and the reader are not sure if they will make it. They do make it, although not without sacrifice, and the reader is left with the message that people and relationships matter, not things. Rachel has her first romantic stirrings and although the intricacies of middle school drama are explored, it never goes beyond the crush stage, although she does share a kiss with a male school mate to see what it is like. Young people will find much to relate to here and will be reassured that they are not alone. This story is a quiet slice of life, yet contains enough of a plot to hold the readers interest. It is sure to find an audience and is a great addition to the summer reading shelf.