11yo Thyme's family moves from California to NYC because her adorable 5yo brother is accepted into a clinical trial that just might cure him from cancer. Okay, I know: that sounds super depressing. Trust me when I say that some of the best middle grade books I have read are ones that have the characters dealing with regular life--and as we all know, regular life is SO FREAKIN' COMPLICATED when you're going through all the emotional and physical changes at that age--and then a harsh reality gets mixed in.

As someone who has kids this age, I get how she reacts to all that pulls her heart in different directions, and appreciate how her story unfolds. This book is full of the kind of characters who slip into your life during that time, who leave their marks as you figure out who you are. Love and hope are always present, making even the messier moments easier for a young reader to swallow. I was thrilled to pass this one on to my kids the moment I finished it, and think you will be, too.