I didn't exactly love this one. It's gentle enough, I suppose. Nothing truly dark happens. Even for a story about a kid dealing with his parents' divorce it's fairly innocent. The problem is, I don't think the boy is truly the protagonist. A fair amount of space is given to the aging neighbor. And since she's the more likeable, more sympathetic character she feels like the protagonist.

I love everything this author writes. This one is among my favorites. The story resonates with so many people and what goes on in their lives. Great connections for students.

The Lost Boy's Gift was an incredible story of a young boy who had to leave everything behind and start over with just his mom on a new street, in a new town, in a new school with new neighbors. He's not sure how he fits in and who he connects to anymore. The story was so much more than just the boy's gift and I loved how the neighborhood told a story of it's own. I loved this book and quickly got lost in it.

Solid middle grades choice for readers of realistic fiction that leaves your heart happy and your soul satisfied. 9 year old Daniel’s parents have recently divorced and mom is moving the two of them to a small town with a unique street called While a Way Lane. People on this street paint their homes in pastels, ride on a nearly perpetually moving Ferris Wheel and talk to snails, snakes and spiders. Rowdy Daniel is positive that this new street is not, and will never be, his home. Author Kimberly Willis Holt walks us through his process of grieving over the break up of his family and arriving and at a place of healing. There are chuckles as Daniel’s young boy rambunctiousness causes disaster and tender moments when readers will both sympathize (and maybe empathize) with his sadness. Highly recommended for grades 4-6 with no reservations concerning content. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley and the signed copy from TLA, Kimberly Willis Holt!

When his parents get divorced, Daniel has to move across the country with his mom. He is hurt and angry, and has lots of negative feelings about what's happening in his life right now. Things start to look up, however, when he meets the people who live on his street - the mailman, the Lemonade Girl, and even two creatures he befriends. What a heartwarming story!

I really loved this book by Kimberly Willis Holt! This book tackles some real-world issues that many kids deal with like parental divorce and moving to a new town while mixing in enough light-hearted whimsy to make it all feel like it's going to be okay. This book gave me some "Charlotte's Web" vibes mixed with some Roald Dahl humor. On a practical note, the chapters are fairly short which tends to be helpful for more reluctant readers.

I feel like this would be a great intermediate chapter book for the kids in-between beginner and middle-grade books. I definitely will be ordering this for my elementary school library!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this for an honest review :)

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan's Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
This book is written for a younger audience than this author usually writes for. It's a tender story about a boy who has to move to a new home after his parents divorce. Through his actions, readers can see the emotions he is dealing with and the adjustments that have to be made in their lives.
Willis Holt provides enough fantasy elements to hold younger readers. Characters on While-A-Way Lane each have their own gifts. His neighbor can talk with animals. He discovers a similar gift toward the end of the story.
Great message about looking closely at life around you and listening for details easily missed.

Daniel has to move because his parents got divorced. At first he doesn't like While-A-Way lane, but soon enough magical things start happening and he sees it's appeal.
Just like Tilda's Aunt Sippy said everyone has a gift, you just have to find it.
This is a lovely younger or middle grade story. I think kids can relate especially if they have parents who have split or if they have had to move to a new place and start over. Kimberly Willis Holt has such a way with words and I wanted to make a visit to While-A-Way lane to experience all the magic for myself.