Indies Introduce

Middle Grade

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  Breaking Into Sunlight, John Cochran
  Algonquin Young Readers, 9781523527298, June 18, 2024 (Middle Grade)
  

  “This moving story of a family dealing with the complexities of addiction is told with incredible sensitivity, compassion, and hope. These wonderful young characters — Reese, Meg, and Charlie — and the rich friendship they develop will stay with you long after the last page is turned. A book that is heartbreaking and heart-filling.” 

  —Holly Weinkauf, The Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
  
  

  “Rarely have I read a book that deals with parental substance abuse and how it affects children with such grace and nuance as in this wonderful debut. Cochran does an incredible job of humanizing everyone in the story, from the father struggling to overcome his vices, to the mother desperate to keep her son safe, to the boy who just wants his family to stay together. Compassionately written, and ultimately healing, this book is a must-read.”

  —Donna Liu, Kepler’s Books, Menlo Park, CA
  

  “After Reese’s dad overdoses again, his mother moves them to a trailer on the outskirts of town. Enveloped by nature, Reese sorts through his conflicting, shifting emotions, including rage and disappointment at the adults he depends on. With a steady, easy pace that allows its main character (and readers) time to reflect, this nuanced middle grade does an exceptional job of handling a tough topic with empathy and without feeling despairing.”

  —Emmy Widener, Changing Hands, Tempe, AZ