aliciaellen's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Harper Books for the review copy of this book by Cindy Baldwin. All opinions are my own.
Cindy Baldwin has done it again! Fans of Where the Watermelons Grow will LOVE this book! Cindy Baldwin has a gift for writing in a way that is both emotional and realistic.
Annie Lee has a lot on her shoulders. Eighty-three days ago, her father suddenly dropped dead while playing a game of basketball at church. The grief alone feels like it may crush her, and the sudden life changes are not helping. Annie Lee and her mom had to move into a tiny, cramped apartment across town. Annie Lee is also starting a new school, and her best friends from her old school have drifted away from her. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s mother had to make her part-time job cleaning houses into a full-time job, leaving Annie Lee alone for several hours after school.
With the struggles of life overwhelming her, Annie Lee has decided her new goal is to try and be invisible. She avoids talking to others or making connections to them because she’s learned that letting others in makes it hurt so much more when they leave. Despite her best efforts to remain invisible, Annie Lee befriends a skater girl at school named Mitch and an elderly pianist named Ray. However, when Ray goes missing, Annie Lee may have to risk losing her new friendship with Mitch to find him.
I absolutely loved this book for its beauty and raw emotion. Cindy Baldwin has such a gift for getting to the real and often ugly thoughts that accompany strong grief. At one point, Annie Lee wishes that it had been her mother that died instead of her father. This part felt so raw to me, and I could see a kid having this thought, and feeling so much guilt over it, just as Annie Lee does. I think some children may be able to find comfort in these raw and emotional parts of the book because it can show them that they are not alone. This book is a MUST read for anybody in grade 4 and up.
Cindy Baldwin has done it again! Fans of Where the Watermelons Grow will LOVE this book! Cindy Baldwin has a gift for writing in a way that is both emotional and realistic.
Annie Lee has a lot on her shoulders. Eighty-three days ago, her father suddenly dropped dead while playing a game of basketball at church. The grief alone feels like it may crush her, and the sudden life changes are not helping. Annie Lee and her mom had to move into a tiny, cramped apartment across town. Annie Lee is also starting a new school, and her best friends from her old school have drifted away from her. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s mother had to make her part-time job cleaning houses into a full-time job, leaving Annie Lee alone for several hours after school.
With the struggles of life overwhelming her, Annie Lee has decided her new goal is to try and be invisible. She avoids talking to others or making connections to them because she’s learned that letting others in makes it hurt so much more when they leave. Despite her best efforts to remain invisible, Annie Lee befriends a skater girl at school named Mitch and an elderly pianist named Ray. However, when Ray goes missing, Annie Lee may have to risk losing her new friendship with Mitch to find him.
I absolutely loved this book for its beauty and raw emotion. Cindy Baldwin has such a gift for getting to the real and often ugly thoughts that accompany strong grief. At one point, Annie Lee wishes that it had been her mother that died instead of her father. This part felt so raw to me, and I could see a kid having this thought, and feeling so much guilt over it, just as Annie Lee does. I think some children may be able to find comfort in these raw and emotional parts of the book because it can show them that they are not alone. This book is a MUST read for anybody in grade 4 and up.
aliciaew's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it so much!!!! Annie Lee is traveling through so much grief and loss, and she is so relatable. I really enjoy Cindy Baldwin’s writing style.
lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book for #bookportage.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
I was thrilled to read Beginner's Welcome after reading Where the Watermelons Grow. Once again, Cindy Baldwin tackles a tough emotional topic about a young girl who is left to fend for herself and learn how to cope.
Annie Lee is a young girl who loves her father and his sense of fun, and while she gets along with her mother, she connects more with her dad. When she loses her father suddenly, her world is turned upside down. Her mother now has to work constantly to try and make ends meet, as they await fingers crossed for a life insurance settlement. On top of all of that it, both Annie Lee and her mother are dealing with strange happenings in their apartment all related to her dad, shaving cream in the sink every morning, and her father's favourite records suddenly playing on an unplugged record player. Her mother is not coping spending most of her time crying and Annie Lee is left to deal with her grief on her own.
With her mother away working, and Annie Lee left alone, Annie Lee manages to become friends with Mitch, a confident tough skateboarder after her friendship with her two best friends has become awkward. Despite being friends with Mitch, she is careful not to open up too much so she cannot be hurt again.
When she comes home after school, Annie Lee has been told to stay in the apartment so her mother won't worry, but Annie Lee gets stir crazy and starts leaving the apartment, scootering to a local mall. She becomes familiar with the local shops and merchants, in particular, Queenie the warm hearted hairdresser and Ray an older gentleman who plays the piano in the mall entertaining the shoppers. After a few awkward encounters with Ray, Annie Lee gets brave enough to ask him to give her lessons and Ray agrees. Annie Lee now has to keep her lessons a secret from her mom and keep the fact that her mom isn't aware she is coming to the mall for from Queenie and Ray adding to her stress.
When Ray doesn't show up for her lessons, Annie Lee has to make a choice that could endanger her friendship with Mitch and have all the lies and sneaking out to the mall come out.
Once again Cindy Baldwin has made brought us into a world with characters that we know is sadly realistic. We care deeply for Annie Lee and the individuals she meets and becomes connected to hoping that together they can help Annie Lee move forward. The strained relationship with her mother will also connect with many readers and provide hope as they struggle to become a family missing a vital member of their family. This is a story that opens doors for discussions at home and in schools about death, grieving, family and new beginnings. Be sure to pre-order, out in January 2020.
suey's review
4.0
Our girl and her mom are struggling to deal with the death of their dad/husband. A bit of a sad story, but with lots of hope.
danyell919's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful story about loss and friendship, with a little ghostly action and magic thrown in. I enjoyed it!
jesstele's review
3.0
3.5 stars - just too repetitive, didn’t like the mom character, loved Queenie and Ray. Enjoyed the ending much more than the beginning. Found the ghost part of the story just odd.
amandarawsonhill's review against another edition
5.0
So lovely. I might like it even more than WHERE THE WATERMELONS GROW.
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to @kidlitexchange and @harperbooks for sharing Beginners Welcome by @cindybaldwinbooks. This book publishes on February 11, 2020, so go ahead and add it to your wishlist! You won’t want to miss out on this touching, inspiring story.
Annie Lee’s home life hasn’t been the same since her daddy died, and that’s not just because it seems like his spirit is still lingering in the apartment. Annie Lee’s mom works long hours, and since Annie Lee’s friends didn’t know how to relate after her dad’s death, Annie Lee finds herself alone, wrapped in her invisibility cloak. While she searches for things to keep her busy after school, she meets someone who might help her rekindle the love of music that faded after her dad died. Add into the mix a girl who reaches out to her at school, and Annie Lee finds herself wondering if she should let people in again, even if she’s worried about getting hurt again.
The magical realism aspects of this book are faint, so I wouldn’t push it into the fantasy genre, but I do think they added an interesting layer to this story.
Annie Lee’s home life hasn’t been the same since her daddy died, and that’s not just because it seems like his spirit is still lingering in the apartment. Annie Lee’s mom works long hours, and since Annie Lee’s friends didn’t know how to relate after her dad’s death, Annie Lee finds herself alone, wrapped in her invisibility cloak. While she searches for things to keep her busy after school, she meets someone who might help her rekindle the love of music that faded after her dad died. Add into the mix a girl who reaches out to her at school, and Annie Lee finds herself wondering if she should let people in again, even if she’s worried about getting hurt again.
The magical realism aspects of this book are faint, so I wouldn’t push it into the fantasy genre, but I do think they added an interesting layer to this story.
shayemiller's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a beautiful, heart strings book full of love, loss, vulnerability, and friendship. Annie Lee's daddy died just a few months ago. He was never a planner because he lived in the moment. So Annie and her mother are left with only a tiny insurance policy while they can barely make ends meet. Annie Lee makes a new friend at school and their friendship blossoms into something quite beautiful. Annie begins sneaking away to the mall across town to take private piano lessons with an elderly gentleman willing to teach for free. But as so often is the case, secrets can damage so many people in their wake. I love that this story shares so much heartache, but also offers much-needed resolution. Just lovely!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!