And Then, BOOM!
By Mary Eisenhart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Harrowing, hopeful verse tale of tween dealing with poverty.
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What's the Story?
Joe Oak, 11, is dealing with a lot of adult responsibility in a world where, AND THEN, BOOM!, everything falls apart in a second and your life collapses. Over and over again. Joe has a nice, though hardly rich, life with his loving Grandmum (she's from England) in her old house; his mom, who's mostly abandoned them both, turns up in their lives only to cause trouble. When the mom's criminal history catches up with her, Grandmum loses the house, and she and Joe are soon living in her battered old car. Joe's pals Hakeem and Nick are true and solid friends, and other people are kind and willing to help -- but the trouble's only beginning.
Is It Any Good?
In this gripping, relatable verse narrative, Lisa Fipps' 11-year-old struggling superhero deals with death, abandonment, crushing poverty, and a mom whose only role in his life is to wreck it. Fortunately, like so many superheroes in their darkest hours, young Joe has a lot of friends and helpers for all those And Then, BOOM! moments when once again, everything you know and love falls apart. Which happen a lot in his life, leading him to long for "a planet in a galaxy where grown-ups act like grown-ups, and do what they're supposed to do, over and over again. The world where I want to live." You'll be glad to know this kid.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about kids who don't have dependable food and housing, and tales like And Then, BOOM! that tell their stories. Are there other stories you know that deal with this situation well -- and maybe offer ways to help?
A lot of people throw away a lot of stuff that a lot of other people could probably use. In the story, Uncle Frankie's warehouse is full of stuff he lets Joe and his Grandmum use to furnish their mobile home. What are some ways to get things people don't want to other people who could really use them?
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you'd lost everything you could count on? What happened? How did you deal?
How do characters in this story show compassion for one another? What difference does it make? How might you show compassion to someone in a way that makes them feel empowered?
Book Details
- Author: Lisa Fipps
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Middle School
- Character Strengths: Communication , Courage , Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date: May 7, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 13
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 6, 2024
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