In Your Shoes

by Donna Gephart

"A unique and compelling novel from a master storyteller."—School Library Journal, starred review 

The critically acclaimed author of Lily and Dunkin delivers another heartfelt story that will remind readers you never know who needs a friend the most.

Miles is an anxious boy who loves his family's bowling center even if though he could be killed by a bolt of lightning or a wild animal that escaped from the Philadelphia Zoo on the way there. 

Amy is the new girl at school who wishes she didn't have to live above her uncle's funeral home and tries to write her way to her own happily-ever-after. 

Then Miles and Amy meet in the most unexpected way . . . and that's when it all begins. . . .

• ISBN10: 1524713740
• ISBN13: 9781524713744
• Publish Date: 30 October 2018 (first published 9 October 2018)
• Publish Status: Cancelled
• Imprint: Delacorte Press
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

What happens when the anxious bowler's shoe hits the lonely new girl on the head? They strike up a great friendship, of course.

• Pro: This book delivered so many feels! It was touching and heartwarming and just so precious and sweet. I swear my heart exploded over and over again as I read this book.

• Pro: Family was a really important part of this story, and Gephart doesn't just show the bright and shiny side of family. She also showed the imperfect side, and I like that she included some family conflict, because it gave her a chance to explore things like resolution and forgiveness.

• Pro: What an interesting group of kids. Amy was a writer, Miles was a bowling hustler, Randall was a fashionista, and Tate was a knitting weight-lifter. I absolutely adored all four of them, and their friendship was spectacular.

• Pro: Gephart really did an outstanding job thoughtfully exploring feelings of loneliness, grief, and regret. And, I loved seeing boys, who shared their emotions with each other. It's so important for young men to see that it's acceptable to be in touch with their feelings.

• Pro: I really enjoyed the way the story was told. It was alternating third person omniscient, with the addition of a third point of view, "a nosy, noisy narrator", who I really enjoyed.

• Pro: This entire book tugged at my heartstrings, but the ending totally snapped them. It was so, so sweet and unexpected, and I think it could give a lot of comfort to a tween, who had suffered a loss.

Overall: An endearing story of friendship, loss, endings, and beginnings, which touched my heart.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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