The plot here is simple but focused. We have the standard underprivileged kids dreaming of life beyond their small town. THe constant crush of poverty and how it tears them down. They work hard and make detailed plans. So of course those plans go wrong. It's relatively innocent story. THere's no revenge or cruelty, just minor jealousy and some dehumanization of prison visits.

This kids book caught my eye because of the Paris connection (I love ALL things Paris!). I related to Cleveland with her love of Paris and enjoyed the story. She went through a lot of hard times in the book but she never gave up and she was there for those she loved and they were there for her as well. After all the hard times, things got better for Cleveland and her family and the story ended well., which was my favorite part. Fun read!

Since she was first learned of the city, while reading Madeline as a child, Cleveland dreamed of attending the American School in Paris. She hatched a plan, called the Paris Project, and saved every penny she made in an effort to achieve her dream. However, Cleveland had to worry about the future of her Parisian plans, once her father was incarcerated and she became the town outcast.

• Pro: Cleveland was absolutely wonderful! Guard your heart, because this little girl is going to steal it. I loved her enthusiasm for all things Parisian. The way she was trying to learn the language, about the food, and about the culture was admirable, but she also was willing to work really hard to make her dream come to fruition. She was moving and shaking and walking dogs in order to earn the money to finance her Parisian education. I also found her plucky and charming, and thought she had one of the biggest hearts around.

• Pro: Things were tough for the Potts family after dad was incarcerated, but these ladies didn’t let it take their spirit or their pride. They dug in, worked harder, and let their love provide the strength they needed to keep going.

• Pro: Gephart did such a beautiful job with Cleveland’s feelings regarding her father’s transgressions and gambling addictions. The battle she fought with herself over being angry, disappointed, and ashamed, while still loving and missing her father came across as very genuine, and my heart ached for her. The ideas of suffering for the sins of her father and forgiveness was well utilized, and provided some standout moments in this story.

• Pro: Though there were five years separating Cleveland and her sister, Georgia, they shared a phenomenal sisterly bond. Their love, affection, and dedication to each other brought happy tears to my eyes, and seeing them support each other just about made my heart explode.

• Pro: When everyone else abandoned her, Declan, her best friend, stood by her side. He shared many wonderful and tough moments with Cleveland, and also fully support her goal to live in Paris. I thought both him and his father were a fantastic part of Cleveland’s circle, and though Cleve and Dec went through a rough patch, they without exception, fully accepted and cared for each other.

• Pro: That ending made me mush. The family was experiencing more and more difficulties, and just when it seemed as though none of the Potts would succeed, things took a turn for the better. Yes there was some sacrifice a la the fisherman and his wife, but it was such a beautiful and touching sacrifice they were willing to make for each other.

Overall: A story of hope, healing, forgiveness, and family, which warmed my heart.

This story is about Cleveland who is having a bit of a hard time in 7th grade. Her best friend is a boy named Declan and he's enjoying is first romantic relationship (which surprises Cleveland on several levels). Her sister is working hard to get into college in Vermont, her mom is working a LOT and her dad is in jail. Cleveland dreams of being able to leave all these problems behind and go live in Paris. She's made a list of things she needs to do so she'll be ready to go and her family is very encouraging. This one touches on lots of different social issues. Cleveland has a lot of heart and kids will enjoy getting to know her.

Cleveland wants to get out of Sassafras, Florida and enjoy school in Paris. But then her father stole her savings to gamble and ended up in jail. Cleveland redoubles her efforts as she fails at number one on her list.- ballet. She also comes to terms with her former best friend hating her, her other best friend adding a new friend and her family dynamic shifting. A great story to recognize that empathy matters and not everything works out exactly like you planned.

I don't normally read a lot of middle grade books but I couldn't resist with this cover and this premise. I was not disappointed-- this was so sweet. I immediately loved Cleveland, her family and her friends. This is truly a heartfelt story for middle grade readers and the author did an excellent job!

The Paris Project comes out next month on October 8, 2019, and you can purchase HERE. Definitely recommend this for Middle Grade fans!

"I need to live somewhere more open-minded." Georgia pointed her nail file toward me. "This whole place is stifling."

"That's just the humidity."

Cleveland Rosebud Potts a 7th grader has a goal to get out of her little town of 1200 people and her trailer home to go to an American school in Paris. She is working very hard earning money through her dog walking business. She sets out to accomplish 6 things on her checklist such as attending a ballet class, learning to cook and eat at a French restaurant, experience French art culture, learn to speak French through borrowed CDs from the library, go to an American School in Paris for 8th grade.

I enjoyed reading this book very much for the subject matter; a young girl dreaming for something and really working hard to get things done, This resonated with me - remembering my own experiences at that age, and making a checklist of accomplishing a goal no matter how lofty or impossible it might seem, the checklist will make it happen. Cleveland's experiences are hilarious and we don't get everything we want in life, but certainly motivation and hard work shows we can get closer to our goals.

The book also addresses a tough issue of a struggling family when someone is dealing with addiction issues, in this case gambling. Addiction is an issue many young children experience and this book certainly explores those issues sensitively, and how it affects every person in the family. I thought that it was written with a lot of care and love that will help some young people about their own struggles, and inspire them to stay positive. This is an excellent book to recommend to some of our young readers needing some inspiration and hope,

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest and objective review.

The Paris Project was a wonderful book representing a population not often seen in middle grade literature: children of incarcerated parents. Gephart allowed the reader to understand the feelings associated with having a parent in jail and still living the community where the misdeed occurred. It was a wonderful window into a world I have never experienced and allowed me to think outside my world. It was a good reminder of how everyone is carrying their own story and every interaction, conversation and experience feeds that story. There were parts of the story that were hard to read and parts that brought absolute joy.
Another theme of this story that I loved was perseverance. Cleveland created a list to help her get to Paris and when the first item didn't go quite as planned, she wanted to give up and wasn't able to see beyond that initial failure. But she, thanks to the encouragement of her friends and family, pressed on to her goal. It was a reminder of the importance of friends and family.

The Paris Project is filled with relatable characters, an engaging plot, and writing that captures you instantly. In Cleveland Potts, Donna Gephart has created a main character that you cheer for, while also understanding her quirks and the ways in which she could grow. The storyline of an incarcerated parent is, unfortunately, all too unusual in children's literature, and I appreciated the way Gephart handled it. Cleveland is rightfully angry at her father, while still loving him, and the way she wrestles with that duality was portrayed beautifully. I also loved Cleveland's best friend, Declan, and how his budding romance with another boy was woven into the story. All in all, I'll be looking forward to putting this in the hands of many middle-grade readers.