Gideon moves with is family to Nevada. He doesn't want to be there, he doesn't want to leave his friends or life on the East Coast behind. Suddenly his outlook changes when he sees the girl next door. She's his age, and strange. She has long legs and arms, she is wearing roller skates and a bathing suit over her clothes, AND is wearing a blanket as a cape. She also ignores him when he tries to talk to her.

Soon they do meet and she, Roona, tells him that she waits on her porch every night waiting for her father who is in the military, but should be coming home soon. One day an event happens that forces Gideon to decide what he is willing to do for Roona and their friendship. Should he listen to his parents or should he keep her safe. Are there secrets he can tell or should he keep silent.

Gideon learns what he will do to keep a friend safe and what rules he is willing to break to make that possible. Roona learns what she should tell and who she can tell it to. Their parents learn to trust their children and what they can tell or keep from them.

I found myself talking to the characters and trying to guide them, all of them- the parents and Gideon and Roona. I have already recommended this to my students and a few of my friends.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful middle grade story of friendship, heartbreak and what family means. A memorable story for sure!

What a wonderful story about acceptance. Roona is so different from anyone Gideon has ever met. Gideon is so not used to having the freedom that Roona is provided by her mom. Soon Gid needs to decide how far outside of his comfort zone he is willing to go. This is a great book to express to children acceptance and embracing someone else unique-ness. Love this story!

The first half of the story was dry and boring drivel, but it picked up in the second half. However, like I always say... if kids drop a book like a hot potato in the beginning because they are disinterested, what good is it? Also, in the second half a concept was changed to accommodate two instances, but it made no sense and made the concept void, and it was a major concept. The way the author writes dialogue is awkward, too. There was also a very dangerous undertaking by the two young MCs that had only mild consequences and I always feel that is irresponsible on the part of Middle Grade authors.

A young girl, Roona, from a broken home tries to deal with emotional turmoil with the help of a new neighbor and future 7th grade classmate, Gideon who lives next door. The neighbor boy, Gideon tries to help even though he is dealing with his own over restrictive parents. In an attempt to make sense of her situation, Roona wonders if her mother is somehow mixing negative emotions into the batter when she bakes while being sad. Roona tries to take on a lot of grown up issues and repeatedly lures Gideon to break the rules to help her.

The Astonishing Maybe is Grimes’ first middle grade novel. The book blurb describes it as “Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress” — and while Pippi is funny, quirky, and light-hearted, if you’ve ever seen My Girl and Waitress, then you know to be prepared for heavy topics and an emotional experience.

12-year-old Gideon is new to Logandale, Nevada, and one of the first things he notices is his new neighbor, Roona. She is roller-skating up and down the sidewalk with rainbow-striped socks pulled up to her knees, a swimsuit on top of her clothing, and a cape on her back. Her eyes are focused somewhere down the road and never, not once, does she look over at him while his family unloads their car. He really wishes she would.

Gideon’s parents are ultra protective, not allowing him to even ride his bike across the street or to answer the home phone when they run an errand across town. On the other hand, Roona, is a free-range child who is able to travel the city freely, with little notice that she’s even gone. What Gideon also learns about Roona is that she has a heart for adventure, she still believes in magic and super powers, and she desperately wants her dad to come home because her mom really needs him.

While much of the story is devoted to Roona’s attempts to handle her mother’s depression, it also addresses issues of abuse, crime/prison, attempted suicide, and the difficult balance between obeying a parent’s firm rules while also looking out for a friend in need. Sadly, the painful childhood experiences discussed in this story are very real to non-fiction children, today, so this story will resonate with those who understand this pain all too well.

Personally, I was hooked on this story within the first few pages. Grimes absolutely nailed the 12-year-old voice through a fast-paced storyline with just a touch of magical realism. There were moments of laughter, a few tears, and some very believable flashes of anger — including one mention of “shit” (at least in the advanced copy), which I note only because it is a bit unusual for a middle grade novel (realistically, though, this word was used in my kindergarten classroom). Overall, I found The Astonishing Maybe to be a meaningful story that I enjoyed and would happily recommend. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for approving an e-ARC so that I could provide an honest review of this book.

I had the opportunity to read a NetGalley digital ARC of this middle grade novel in exchange for a review. The description of the book that was provided – “Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress” – led me to believe that this book was going to be a lighter story about a quirky adolescent girl. And while I liked it all right, the story was a bit heavier than what I thought it was going to be.
Gideon and his family have moved across the country from New Jersey to a small town in Nevada. It’s the summer before seventh grade for him and he doesn’t have any friends. Roona, a plucky, peculiar girl from next door, becomes friends with him quickly. Roona and her mother, Mrs. Mulroney, are fun-loving folks who sing at the top of their lungs during animated kids’ movies at the movie theater. Gideon loves that they are so different from his uptight, overprotective parents.
But it doesn’t take long to realize that there is a serious backstory to Roona and Mrs. Mulroney. Roona has never really known her father, believing he’s in the military. She talks Gideon into taking a long-distance bus trip to Las Vegas to try to find her father at Nellis Air Force Base. But when they get there, all of Roona’s family’s secrets start unraveling. Gideon has some tough decisions to make as he realizes that Roona’s not living in safe circumstances, but he has promised to keep all of her secrets from his parents.
I think that middle grade students will be able to relate to these characters. Unfortunately, there are many kids who have unstable circumstances at home that involve parents that are suffering from mental illness and addiction. And oftentimes, kids think they’re helping one another by keeping secrets about abuse and other dangerous situations. The tension in the plot events keeps the reader turning pages. I like that Gideon finally figures out how to confide in a trusted adult and find help for Roona.
Roona’s discovery of her parents’ deceit about her fathers’ true circumstances at Nellis Air Force Base reminds me of Macy Hollinquest’s discovery of her father’s “important” secret work for the Marines in Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney. And Roona’s insistence that Gideon not tell his parents her secret about what’s happened in her family kind of reminds me of Sean’s insistence that Owen keep his abusive situation a secret in The Summer of Owen Todd by Tony Abbott.

This fast-paced read explores friendship through tough situations. These kids (Gideon and Roona) experience so much in a short period of time. But their friendship is one to root for. This book was unputdownable as Grimes packed so much into this memorable story.

What I Liked
Gideon and his family felt very, very authentic to me. The conversations between Gideon and his mom were especially realistic and made me laugh a couple of times! Roona and her mom are fun to read about, but after a couple of chapters, the reader starts to notice something is not quite right (which is intentional!). Gideon's growth and his quick friendship with Roona is sweet and fun to read, and the sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking story throws some things at you that you are NOT expecting.

What I Would Have Liked to See
The thing I'd like to see would be a little spoilery, so I won't say it. No spoilers!

My Favorite!
Roona's mom's (alleged) magic ability to bake emotions into her cookies and cakes! So cool!

TL;DR
When Gideon moves to Nevada, he quickly befriends his next door neighbor and is rapidly pulled into her desperate quest to find her missing father before her mom's sadness can seep into her magical baked goods and make the entire town cry.

Gideon was not happy about relocating from the Jersey Shore to the Nevada desert. He thought this move would equal disaster, but then he saw a girl, his age, wearing a cape and roller skating. He was immediately drawn to her. She was vivacious, adventurous, and imaginative. Essentially, the opposite of him, but Gideon soon discovered that Roona was dealing with a lot of grown up issues.

Like Gideon, I was immediately drawn to Roona. I saw an early description for this book that described it was Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl, and I thought that was a pretty fair comparison. Roona came across larger than life, and she had a way of convincing Gideon to do things, which he normally wouldn't do. But, she was also generous and loving, and most of her schemes were for the benefit of others, not herself.

I thought Gideon was enamored with Roona, because she seemed so free, whereas Gideon lived under the very overprotective watch of his mother, being normal and Quinton-ish. I could totally understand this pre-teen wanting to explore beyond his boundaries, and who better to go on Tookish adventures with, then someone with an alter ego called Super Roo.

But, this wasn't the only way Gideon grew over the summer. I watched him become a better friend and a better brother. He learned to appreciate his family a little more, while still trying to do some un-Quinton-like things, such as getting involved in Roona's life, when she really needed some support. He also had to makes some big decisions about keeping secrets, and he learned the difference between when it's ok to keep a secret for your friend, and when you need to ask an adult for help.

Though Roona came across as a free spirit, she actually had to worry about many grownup things due to her absent father and depressed mother. I thought the author handled these issues, and other that arose, beautifully, and reading them from Gideon's perspective softened the blow a little too. I won't lie, watching the demise of Super Roo was tough for me. It's always heartbreaking to see someone so young have to deal with these issues, but what's more heartbreaking is that I know there are non-fictional kids with similar struggles. I can only hope they are lucky enough to have a friend like Gideon, who worked so hard to try and resurrect Super Roo.

Overall: A charming and moving story of friendship and finding those people you know you can count on in your time of need, which tugged on my heartstrings and put a smile on my face.

If you’re looking for the perfect book for a middle-grade boy, let me tell you about the Astonishing Maybe. When Gideon, his little sister, mom, and dad pack up and move from New Jersey to Nevada the summer before he starts middle school, he worries that he’ll never make friends.

When he arrives in the very brown Nevada (which he’s determined to hate), he discovers a mystery lives next door. A girl about his age who skates around her porch while wearing cutoff jeans, a T-shirt, rainbow-striped socks, and a one-piece swimming suit. Weird. She wouldn’t even look at him as he got out of the car and walked back and forth, helping his parents unpack.

The next morning, Gideon discovers the consequences of lying around in his pjs all morning when the odd girl shows up at his front door and invites him over to go swimming. Not at all what he expected. Of course, nothing about his new next-door neighbor turns out like he expected.

Maybe he’ll end up with a best friend before the summer ends. If his mom will let him cross the street. Or ride his bicycle. Compared to Roona’s mom, his mom has overprotection issues. But Roona’s mom can bake magical food that can make people cry or laugh or fight.

When Roona hatches a plan to help her mom and break her mom’s baking spell, Gideon decides he’d better go along—even if his mom gets angry.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: March 26, 2019

Genre: Upper Middle Grade Contemporary

Recommended Age: 13+ (slight language like one or two bad words, TW for mentions of suicide, TW for mentions of abuse and domestic violence, definitely an upper middle grade book)

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 240

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Pitched as Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress, the book tells the story of the unlikely friendship between 12-year-old Gideon, who has just moved across the country to Nevada, and Roona, the adventurous girl next door who rollerskates everywhere, isn't afraid of anything, and can transform herself into Wonder Roo, a superhero version of herself. The book will publish in 2019.

Review: I DEVOURED this cute book in like less than two hours. It was adorable and amazing. It was fantastical and wonderful. I felt so connected to Roo and Gideon. I felt that the book handled sensitive topics well and it showed how kids shouldn’t be afraid to confide in adults when things are going wrong. I feel that’s something that’s missed in a lot of middle grade and younger YA books. A lot of them revolve around what the kids can do, but adults are needed for certain things, especially if it involves abuse. I also felt that the book showed a realistic view of how a child reacts to trauma. I think this book would be a great family read and a great read for parents to discuss certain elements of the book with your growing middle graders.

My only concern is that the book might be a bit tough on some middle graders. The book is fairly discreet, but you can catch what’s going on behind the scenes. I’d say that if you know your kid can handle the tough stuff then this is for them.

Verdict: A great MG read!

Gideon is not happy. His familiar life in New Jersey with loving parents and a little sister has taken a rotten turn. The family is on their way to a small desert town in Nevada for his Dad's new job. Upon arrival, things don't look any better from Gideon's viewpoint. It's hot and there's not much to do to do except unpack and return to his umpteenth reading of The Hobbit.
Then he spots a girl his age next door. Her name is Roona. She dresses rather oddly and it's like she lives in a fantasy. Their friendship grows despite his parents being a bit worried about Roona's influence. Things spiral out of control when Gideon agrees to help Roona visit her father. A journey that provides a jolt of reality to them both.
As Roona reveals secrets, it becomes clear her mother is mentally ill and there's been abuse by another family member who lives in Idaho. Gideon comes up with a plan to save Roona from moving there.
The first person narration by Gideon is heartfelt as he struggles to make the right decisions for himself and his new best friend's family. His own family has never faced anything this bad. The story flows at a nice pace and I kept finding time to read more, finishing it in just a few days. Elements of magical realism enter the story line and I'm not convinced this side plot was needed. A sequel with a new chapter in Gideon's life would be welcome as the ending came a little too abrupt. If you like honest, modern day stories that deal with some heavy issues, this one is for you.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars. Roona gives a new meaning to the girl next door. When Gideon gets his first glimpse of her through the window of their car, he compares her to a space alien. Then he gets to know Super Roo. This book is full of heart, with some magic realism baked in and adventure, too. You will root for Gideon and Roona who share a love for the Hobbit and bring out each other's inner Bilbo.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley or a digital ARC of this debut children's book in exchange for an honest review.

The Astonishing Maybe is an excellent book for middle to high schoolers. Gideon (Giddy) Quinton is moving to Nevada with his family against his wishes. He begins not to mind so much when he sees a girl about his age skating in circles on the porch next door. What intrigues him is her outfit - bathing suit over shorts and a tshirt with a ratty blanket tied around her neck - superhero cape-style. Roona and Gidean quickly become friends, but as Gideon learns more about Roona and her family, he can see she and her mother are troubled. Roona's mother is a fabulous baker, but when she's upset and bakes her emotions into her creations, chaos ensues.

Gideon is a very nice boy who was raised well. He plays with his little sister and helps out his parents. Its hard for him to understand that anyone would live any differently. As Roona shares her secrets, Gideon wants to help. He's never met anyone like Roona before, he's not even allowed to cross the street by himself. Roona convinces Gideon to accompany her on the bus to Las Vegas to visit her father with disastrous results. Things go downhill from there until Gideon is able to find help for Roona and her mother.

I enjoyed this book - it reads very quickly. Some of the content was mature for younger kids, but in current times its probably nothing they aren't familiar with. I liked that Gideon was able to go to trusted adults for help instead of solving the problem himself. This is definitely one I will purchase for our library.

This is a tough, yet heartwarming, story about friendship, family, and the hard (and sometimes poor) choices we make to help each other out.

I enjoyed the contrast between safe and sheltered Gideon and worried and determined Roona as they developed a friendship that challenged them both.

The themes of this book are deep and sometimes troubling - but real nonetheless. Grimes does a nice job developing kid characters we can empathize with and a group of adults who really want what's best for their children even during the roughest of times.

There's lots of room for discussion here about how to be a friend and still get someone the adult help they need. A list of resources at the end would be a nice addition for kids struggling with what to do when a friend is in a harmful and scary situation.

This is a lovely story of a boy and his family that moves to Nevada. He meets the only other child in his neighborhood across the street who dresses up with a swimsuit over her clothes, striped socks, roller skates, and an old baby blanket as a cape. As they become friends, he discovers that she believes that her mother's emotions transfer to the baked items she is constantly baking. If she's having a sad day, those who eat those baked items will also be sad, etc. But when her mom starts to slide into serious depression, secrets are revealed that make the boy concerned for her welfare. Very readable, great writing, engaging characters, and a story that you can empathize with. LOVED IT!

​Interest Level: 5-8

Have you ever met someone who seems a little odd? Well that is an understatement when it come to Roona. When Gideon and his family pull up to their new house the first thing he sees is this odd girl on roller skates, wearing a bathing suit over her clothes, rainbow-striped socks, and a blanket around her neck like a cape. Gideon soon finds out that you can't judge a book by its cover. He and Roona become fast friends even though they are completely opposite. Even though Gideon is about to go into the seventh grade, he is not allowed to even walk across the street by himself. Roona on the other hand, is very adventurous and believe is magic. Gideon's conservative self does not believe this until he actually sees it for himself. Roona's mom has been so sad since her dad has been gone with the military, every time she bakes something her feelings go into whatever she is making. When Roona and Gideon race to the nursing home to keep anyone from eating a birthday cake, they are too late. Everyone is sad and crying and Gideon can not believe his eyes. Next, she makes cookies for his sister's kindergarten orientation and everyone went crazy. So when Roona said that she was going to Las Vegas to find her dad and bring him home, Gideon knows his parents would ground him for life if he went on a public bus to Las Vegas, but how can he let her go alone. When they get there they find out that Roona's dad is actually in prison, not the military. Roona is shocked and doesn't know how to process this information. As Roona's mom's mental health is declining, Roona is scared because the last time her mom was put in the hospital, she had to go live with her aunt who beat her. Gideon knows he has to help his friend but his parents do not want to get involved. Can Gideon find a way to help his friend get through this tough time in her life? Will Roona be shipped off to her abusive aunt? Can Roona help her mom get better? To find out these answers, read this incredible book!

I have to give a warning on this book - it will tug at your heartstrings! It is sad what Roona has gone through in her short life. It is also amazing what she is willing to do to save her mom and herself. Also, it is heartwarming what Gideon is willing to do for a friend that he has only known a short time. This is a must read story about family, friendship, and breaking the rules for the greater good.

When Gideon moves to Arizona, his expectations couldn't be lower. But then he meets Roona, the girl next door who won't let anything intimidate her -- not hard questions, not blistering heat, not even epic quests across the state. Roona only seems to have two fears: 1) That her mom will succumb to depression (again), and 2) That Roona will be sent to live with her aunt's family.

I really appreciated this read, though I think some of the content might be harder for younger middle grade readers. Shaunta Grimes did a good job choosing her POV character (a safe, sensible boy in a safe, sensible family), which helps create distance between the reader and the truly troubling situations Roona faces. Even so, I think I would want to read this alongside an 8-12 year old to discuss the darker parts of the story.

(I'll also admit that I'm not wholly sure how much of my reading was influenced by personal trauma. There is a point in the narrative where the author pulls back but my experience filled in the blank (which I think is canon, but rightly left out of what Gideon is told), and I do think that very much colored the last third of the book for me.)

I also rather wished there was an author's note at the end of the book. Gideon struggles to know what to do to help Roona, and whether or not he has a right to tell authorities (or his parents). There is a lot of fear and uncertainty around this complicated issue -- I think it would have been reassuring (and empowering) to young readers to be given a note at the end that perhaps demystified some of the guidelines about what you can do when your friend might be in a neglectful or abusive family situation.

All in all, a really intriguing story that pulls you through to the end. Would be good for readers who want to understand what friends in troubled circumstances are going through, and how they can help.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!)

Loved the characters, and I think my students will too! Just the right mix of sad (we're very into sad right now) with a touch of magical realism, which my firm fans of realistic fiction are enjoying! Gideon is miserable when his family moves from New Jersey to empty, hot Nevada. But the girl next door, with her roller skates and swimsuit-over-clothes aesthetic is very intriguing. Could she be the friend he needs to stave off a summer's worth of boredom and loneliness before 7th grade? Luckily for him, Roona comes over and introduces herself before he expires of curiosity. It turns out she's even more mysterious up close - from the baked goods her mom supplies, to the absence of her father. Free-spirited and way less supervised than Gideon, Roona is about to change more than the course of his summer. But will it be a good thing, or a very bad thing?