After fraudulent use of my Amazon account, it had to be closed and with it my kindle email which I used to download Netgalley arcs; therefore, I am unable to access this title. Thank you for the opportunity.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm generally not a fan of free verse because I tend to get too distracted and not follow well. I didn't have a problem with this book. The story of well written and had depth. The topics are a bit dark for younger kids, so for a more mature middle grade audience.

Ebb and Flow is a really beautiful book. The poetry is accessible to a wide range of audiences and the art matches the story so well. This graphic work would be a great introduction to poetry for younger readers or it would work well to get students interested in longer poems.

A novel in verse. Jett deals with his father's imprisonment and his own poor choices during a summer spent with his grandmother. The premise was good. Although Smith's writing is lyrical, I found the actual telling, with multiple timelines and story lines, somewhat confusing. I think this would have worked better as a straight narrative.

This book got me right in the gut. I loved the poetry form in which the story was told and Jett the main character. He struggled while going through some major life changes, and makes bad choices.

The story takes place with Jett spending the summer with his loving grandma. She constantly encourages him to look for the good parts of himself and to become more of those things.

Jett is loveable because he is a flawed 11-year-old and every reader can relate to that kid inside of themselves.

Trigger warning: drunk driving, death, abuse


I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

1. a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going or decline and regrowth

Of coming and going, or decline and regrowth, Jett is stuck in a crisis on where to stand; running along the currents of his life after a 'rotten bad year.' Ebb and Flow is a story of redemption — of coming after going, going after a decline, towards regrowth. It is about healing and forgiveness that does not only cater to young individuals but targets a larger audience, as well. Jett teaches us the power of acceptance; acceptance of the self. In a free-verse cosmos, Heather Smith takes us to the journey of becoming, from a rotten bad year toward sunshine.

The style of this oeuvre matches the rhythm of the story. The lack of direction, similar to Jett's life: "One minute, you're fine and the next, you're the Hulk." Where do we go from here? It depends. Everything depends on how we realize our true self. That's Jett. Our dear Jett Plane. His rotten bad year teaches us a myriad lessons in life.

That a single spontaneous decision might become a destruction. Spontaneity comes in a package with luck, it may work or worse. There are decisions in life that involve contemplation, especially when it primarily entails annihilation. These are mostly the things that can't be restored no matter how much you iron it — trust.

That there are always people most willing to help without expecting anything in exchange but your sanity. A presence of someone who understands you when you cannot simply understand yourself. Someone who drives you into finding yourself by yourself — healing.

That sometimes we need the pressure of a paperweight to push us into the limit, into digging deeper our soul. That sometimes, the people we imperil are the kindest of their kind. Alf and Smelly Nelly may be 'insane' but their minds are not tarnished with hatred against those who harm them; the purest minds breed the purest hearts — forgiveness.

Ebb and Flow is written to inculcate the sense that we are always in the process of becoming. We are an open book that anything can happen at a flip of a page, and all it takes is for us to take control in unveiling who we are, what we want to be, and how we want it to happen.

I am giving this five shining stars. It may be short but it is filled with punches that pierce through our hearts. I will not explain it any further because I would like for you to read it and see for yourself. Walk the journey with Jett and you will come back stronger. I promise!

I greatly enjoyed the themes of healing and forgiveness in this book. I will be ordering it for my library and promoting it in my booktalks when I visit classrooms this upcoming school year.

While I'm on board with seeing everyone as complex people with motivations we don't always understand, books like this one can occasionally take an overly sympathetic tone. There's a fine line between understanding and excusing behavior and these plots can dip over that line.

THis is a slow, meandering story. It might be interesting to explore the details in a group setting.

Ebb and Flow is a verse novel that follows Jett, a young boy who has had a terrible year, and his "cotton candy" grandma (so named due to the color of her hair). The story goes back and forth from the present day summer on the island Jett used to live on and the past school year on the mainland where Jett did something terrible. Although I found the writing beautiful, the characters came off a little thin. I wish there had been a little more time spent on the backstory of Jett and his mother. All in all, this is a solid book with timely issues for middle grade students as well as adults.

This book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. We meet Jett at a complicated point in his life. His current state of mind and the reasons behind it unfold at just the right pace. I'm amazed at how few words this author needed to make Jett feel real. I love his imperfection and that of this family. There is so much discussion material in this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Many short bursts of poetry convey the rough story in a manner that would engage even reluctant readers. Allows readers to fill in the threads of the story.

It always amazes me how a book told in free verse can pack such a powerful punch with such few words. A wonderful heart wrenching story, great for younger readers as it touches on many personal themes. Look forward to reading more from this author.

Ebb and Flow unfolds in waves like the sea. Jett has been sent to live with his grandmother for the summer because of a bad thing that he did the year before. In sparsely worded, free verse poems, Smith allows Jett to reveal his feelings as he must confront them. The reader can feel the ache and sorrow of a little boy who has had a rough time and understand the tragedy of some so-called "bad" kids who are that way by circumstance, anger, fear, and hurt feelings. A solid purchase, especially where novels in verse circulate well.

Ebb and Flow

by Heather T. Smith

Ebb and Flow is a sad, emotionally laden story of sins, redemption and forgiveness. It is written in free verse and as such leads to tremendous teaching opportunities. Because rhyming poetry is so easily identifiable for children, it can be difficult to explain the difference between poetry and prose when the poetry does not rhyme. Ebb and Flow is a whole book of examples to demonstrate the concept. It also is an excellent exemplar of poetry as a form of storytelling. The poems in this book demonstrate the effectiveness of well-chosen words. All of these ideas are appropriate to the intended age range of eight to twelve years (grades four to seven).

As an adult I was moved by the book which lets Jett tell his own story of a father in jail, a move to a new town intended to provide a fresh start, and a disastrous year in the new surroundings. There is hope for Jett in a summer visit to a think-outside-the-box grandmother who sees the good in Jett and provides opportunities for him to work through his issues. Although the problems addressed in the book are a reality to be endured for some children, in general they are above the maturity level of most eight year olds: child abuse, spousal abuse, incarceration, homelessness, and the maturity level of some special needs adults. While it could be helpful to some children, it could be frightening to others. Some parents would also object to the expletives found in two places in the book; personally I didn’t understand their inclusion as they did not add to the book in any way.

Thus I recommend the book with the reservation of parental guidance needed for language and content. There is little that is graphic but the overtone is emotionally charged despite the hopeful ending.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kids Can Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Children’s Fiction, Poetry

Notes: 1. warnings for domestic violence and swearing
2. Age Range: 8-12 years
3. Grade Level: 4-7

Publication: April 3, 2018—Kids Can Press

Memorable Lines:

I just wanted to say
I’m glad you are here.
And all of a sudden,
I was more than just air.


So,
you think,
when I grow up,
I can be someone?
Grandma’s face went soft.
You ARE someone, dear.
You’re my Jett.


She gave me the room in the attic,
the one with the view of the sea.
Of all the rooms
in all the world
it was the awesomest room
of them all.
It made me feel cozy
and glow-y
and warm,
like a light had turned on
in my heart.

Thanks again Netgally for granting me the privilege of reading this excellent work of young adult fiction.

After “a rotten bad year,” Jett’s mother sends him to live with his grandmother on the rocky eastern shore. The bad year began with Jett’s father becoming incarcerated for a drunken driving accident. Jett’s mother feels a summer with grandmother will give him fresh start. In flashbacks, the reader learns that Jett befriended a school bully named Junior. Jett is eleven years old and Junior is about the same age. Juniors influence subsequently turns Jett into a an unkind or might I use the word mean, boy himself. Junior, is poor and lives with his abusive father in a barely liveable shed behind his aunt’s house. One day, Junior’s mother had left to run an errand and never returned. Thinking if he could get hold of some money, he could leave and start a new life. With this in mind, he enlists Jett’s help robbing his intellectually disabled middle-aged uncle Alf of the money he keeps in a briefcase under his bed. Alf claims he is rich. One Sunday, Uncle Alf was supposed to be at church, but since church is “too loud” he stayed home and discovered the intruders. Junior brutally assaults Alf after finding the truth in the briefcase. The theft and its aftermath are what land Jett at his grandmother’s house for a “change of scenery.” Jett’s first-person narrative written in free verse mesmerised me. I felt hurt and compassion for troubled and confused Jett, abused and seemingly hopeless Junior, homeless and handicapped Nelly, and of course mentally handicapped Alf who looks very much like a man but is mentally and socially a child. The account of these folks is permeated by an intense sense of melancholy and regret. During his summer with compassionate Grandma Jo, (cotton candy granny) Jett learns to forgive and to take responsibility for his actions and finds hope for redemption. Short lines and deliberate breaks compress the emotion, increasing its power.
Heartbreaking yet but uplifting. (Fiction. 8-13)

Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith is a beautiful new middle grade novel written in verse.

Jett’s spending the summer with Grandma Jo on the island because Mom thinks he needs a change of scenery. He’s had a terrible year and done some pretty awful things. He’s not ready to talk about it. While Grandma Jo tells him Joanna stories and takes him to some of her favourite places and on her errands we slowly find out why Jett has had a terrible year and how he finds a way to take ownership of his actions and seek forgiveness.

I really love a good novel in verse. They are so powerful and there is so much beauty in the simplicity of the words. So much is said in short little poems. Heather Smith takes such good care, with the subject matter, the perfect choice was to write Jett’s story in verse. Grandma Jo is the grandma we all want to have. One that is zany and marches to the beat of her own drummer and who is also filled with so much kindness and so much caring. Her treatment of Jett is the way we all hope we can treat another who has made a regretful mistake. Her forgiveness is all encompassing. She never let’s Jett off the hook and never pushes his to tell her his story. She simply waits and allows him the space to come to her in his time, when he’s ready. It’s a beautiful story for avid and reluctant readers alike. Peppered with themes of compassion, resilience, empathy, and courage, there is so many layers to this novel and so much to explore and take away.

What a powerful story told in verse. Wow! I'm recommending this one to my librarian colleagues to share with kids.

Trigger warnings include domestic violence and child abuse.

First, an admission. I used to be a free verse snob, prejudging something I had no experience reading. That all changed the day I discovered Ellen Hopkins and realised that some of the most emotional and engaging books are written in this format, so I was excited to see what Ebb and Flow had in store for me. Beside the joy of appreciating the story and characters, it also had me ugly crying in the form of “This is so beautiful!” 😭. So, to all of the free verse authors out there, my sincere apologies. I’ve reformed and am converted now!

The past year of Jett’s life has gone from bad to worse. His father is in prison, his mother moved him to the mainland and Jett has allowed victimhood to define him and his behaviour. As a result he’s made some really poor decisions and he’s been sent to stay with his granny for the summer, a well needed time out for Jett and his mother.

I adored Jett’s cotton candy granny, whose hair colour coordinates with her house colour. She is one of the coolest grannies ever! Her unconditional love for Jett came across as so genuine. She loves him no matter what and she gives him the space he needs to work through the guilt and shame he’s carrying about the events of the past year, yet also gently pushes him when he needs it.

Jett’s granny reminded me of my Nan and that’s probably one reason why I instantly connected with her. My Nan and I also played board games (except she always played to win whereas Jett’s granny takes it a little easier on him), she’d take me to visit her friends (Jett’s granny takes him visiting as well) and she was my favourite person in the entire world (I expect Jett feels much the same). My Nan passed on her love of reading, her quirkiness and her ‘normal is boring’ attitude to me.

The most valuable thing Nan ever gave me, which mirrors what Jett’s granny gives him, was her unshakeable belief in my goodness and ability to do whatever I set my mind to. Even now, over a decade after she went to hold my seat at the canasta table in heaven, I can still hear her telling me, “I knew you could do it” every time I accomplish anything, big or small.

Without Jett’s granny I expect things would have turned out a lot differently for this 11 year old. I know he’s going to look back years from now and credit his granny and those experiences with her that summer with the man he becomes. Now I’m talking about him like he doesn’t live on pages but if any author can make me ugly cry at how beautiful their book is, their characters are going to become a part of me. Especially when I cry while thinking about them to write my review - that’s a first!

Jett’s summer is one of respite, of taking stock and learning to take responsibility for his actions. He has the opportunity to consider the kid he was before he went to the mainland, who he became once there and the man he wants to become. Shining a spotlight on how difficult it is to face up to the actions you regret and forgiving others as well as yourself, Jett’s journey is ultimately one of redemption and hope.

While this is marketed as a children’s book, it has a lot to offer adults as well. The writing is simply gorgeous and reminded me why I love this author. There’s at once a simplicity and depth to the way Heather Smith writes and as with The Agony of Bun O’Keefe I was happily motoring along, loving the book but not realising my emotional investment in her characters until the ugly cry escaped. I wound up on the final page of Ebb and Flow with a satisfied sigh and tears running down my face, and the only word I could think of was beautiful.

Heather Smith’s writing reminds me of the feeling I get reading a Billie Letts book. There’s a vulnerability, openness and loveable quirkiness in their characters, and you’re permitted access to the real person beneath the façade. As you gradually delve into Jett’s rotten year you meet Alf who is adorable and childlike and the alleged villain of the story who I really liked, and whose emotions and acts I could empathise with. Cotton candy granny will remain my favourite character in this book, but she definitely had some pretty impressive competition for that title.

Ebb and Flow is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I half want to say that I hope schools use this book as part of their English curriculum but if schools are still like they were back in the olden days when I attended, they tend to analyse the fun out of really good books, and I’d hate for that to happen to this one.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback. I can’t wait for Heather Smith’s next book!

This book is both heart wrenching and heartwarming. A great addition to any classroom or school library. Books in verse can be hit or miss but I enjoyed this one, and think it can be read by adults and children alike.

Over a summer of love and struggle, one young boy finds the courage to forgive himself.

Told through a series of picturesque free-verse vignettes, Ebb & Flow is the story of Jett, a young boy going through some tough times. After a singularly bad year, full of poor choices and disaster, Jett is sent to live with his grandmother for the summer. Over the course of the summer, Jett begins to regain the decency he had buried under those choices. He slowly shares his story with Grandma Jo. Through it, we learn not only Jett’s past, but that of Junior and Alf.

I started with mixed feelings about Jett. He's a young kid to whom something devastating has obviously happened. The reader is teased with the 'rotten bad year’ through the book, but its some time before we learn details. But he's still making bad choices, even at Grandma Jo's. How he thought poorly of Nelly, and what he did to her. He feels bad about it, though. Jett’s clearly got a conscious, and he’s been through a great deal. It's really no wonder he's acting out at times. He'd gotten mixed up with a kid named Junior, who corrupted his thinking. Jett wanted a friend, and did what he had to in order to keep Junior as a friend.

Then Alf shows up. Alf is a child trapped in a man's body. He is sweet, gentle, and naive. He also happens to be Junior’s uncle, whom Junior loathes. He thinks Alf got something rightly Junior's, from his ma. One unfortunate day Junior decides to take it 'back’, and things go horribly wrong. Junior, though? He has plenty to shape his behaviour in unsavoury ways. He was being abused, and just wanted free.

This hit home on a very personal level. My brother fell in with a bad crowd, and went from being sweet and open-minded, influenced by me and our grandmother to be tolerant of those different, to being influenced by this crowd of hoodlums. His behaviour changed for the worst.

Jett realises his behaviour has changed and that awareness is positive. It means he can gain back what he lost. First he must forgive himself though, and that's hard. Ebb & Flow was a fascinating exploration of psychology, personality development, emotional maturity, and forgiveness.

‘-----
That's the thing
about being someone new--
once you kill your old self
and bury it deep underground
it'll never come back,

no matter how hard you dig.’

*Diseased, Ebb & Flow


‘______
It spent years
caught in the ocean waves.
It was tossed around
and beaten down,
until finally
it washed up on shore.
Now look at it--
what was once a piece
of broken glass
is now something better--
it’s a gem.

Even after all that battering?

Grandma smiled.
Because of all that battering.

*All That Battering, Ebb & Flow

I felt the unusual format, telling the story through one-shot vignette poems, made it more engaging. These bite-sized morsels were worse than potato chips! I'd say I was only going to read two or three, then get work done, but they drew me forward, eager for the next. This is the power of poetry, to capture the attention in ways pure prose can't.

This is the perfect gift for poetry lovers, or as a classroom tool for writing, storytelling, or child development.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.