Karina Yan Glaser
HarperCollins, 2022
358 pages
Realistic Fiction
After June's father dies in an accident, her mother can't get out of bed, let alone make it to work. The two of them, along with June's little sister, are evicted from their Chinatown apartment and sent to a homeless shelter in the Bronx. Alternating chapters relate the tale of Tyrell, a longtime resident of the shelter, who's mother is also barely functional. Tyrell's best friend' Jeremiah's mother lands a job through a training program at the shelter and they move to a permanent home. Tyrell and June become friends of convenience and find that they have more in common as they both love classical music. June, a longtime viola player, is hooked up with a neighboring professional string player, who agrees to give her free lessons. The neighbor also takes on Tyrell, showing him how to play the violin and giving him a newfound confidence and something to be proud of. Just as life starts to fall into a rhythm something terrible happens. An incentive to get the homeless out of shelters by the mayor is going into effect. Both Tyrell and June's small family could be rehoused into a situation that neither mother can maintain. It is up to the young people to find a solution before it's too late.
This new story from Glaser, known for the Vanderbeekers series, is a serious look at the homeless situation for families in New York City. An author's note explains the author's connection as a former employee of a homeless shelter in her earlier days. Kids who love "problem novels" will enjoy this story and suffer from a safe distance right along with June and Tyrell. Glaser does a good job demonstrating that there are both heroes and villains within the system and that there are no easy answers. The story also highlights kids who have to serve as advocates, translators, and grown-ups for their families and the stress that brings. I love that the book features the power of music, specifically classic music, and how listening to and playing an instrument can be a transforming experience. There is a list of featured pieces at the end, which could encourage readers to dive in. I felt that the music storyline could have been a bit more developed. I also felt that the ending was a bit unrealistic and thrown on to make the story end happily. Young readers need a happy and satisfying conclusion and they will be well pleased. An almost gritty story that shows a real problem close to home.
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