Maybelle has one dream- to meet her daddy one day. When she hears his voice on the radio, she realizes he's a DJ in Nashville. She decides to enter the singing contest he's a judge for and introduce herself. What could go wrong? Maybelle convinces Mrs. Boggs the teacher next door to take her on a road trip, where they soon find Tommy, a boy from their trailer park, has stowed away. This is a sweet story about friendship, the meaning of family, and following your heart. This is one I'll be recommending to my 4th and 5th graders.

This story grabbed my heart from page one and never let go! Three unlikely characters set off on the trip of a lifetime, and all of their lives are changed because of it. I recommend everyone read this book!!

Eleven-year-old Maybelle Lane collects sounds. She records the Louisiana crickets chirping, Momma strumming her guitar, their broken trailer door squeaking. But the crown jewel of her collection is a sound she didn't collect herself: an old recording of her daddy's warm-sunshine laugh, saved on an old phone's voicemail. It's the only thing she has of his, and the only thing she knows about him.

This book hit me with all the feelings! I didn't except to cry? It was an absolutely lovely read. I felt so much for the characters, and the writing was wonderful! Highly recommend this one.

The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane is a fantastic summer vacation story. Throughout Maybelle's life, it has only been Maybelle and her hardworking mom. When her mom takes a much-needed job on a cruise ship, Maybelle stays with a neighbor, and begins an unexpected journey to find the family she has always longed for. She soon learns that people are not always what they seem on the outside, and families are not always what we expect. I loved the subtle ties to The Wizard of Oz, which were just enough to be clever and to allow the reader to connect the dots. With lovable characters and Maybelle's honest, relatable narration, this book will definitely be a favorite. Readers who loved Gemeinhart's The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, or Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic will also enjoy Maybelle and her new friends.

It seems the trend in children's literature this year is kids dealing with some kind of loss. The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane is a beautiful story about a girl's quest to find her dad. This book introduces several themes, like violence and racism, that kids at this age are starting to notice and question, and I think it was well done. Maybelle seemed very mature for her age, and I think kids need to read more characters with that maturity.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I couldn't read this book fast enough! Maybelle has all the right stuff of an everyday hero. The theme of friendship and caring for one another was so strong in this story. I loved the friendship between Maybelle and Tommy and the fact that it surprised Maybelle. Her and Tommy's adventure with their (also surprisingly) NOT grouchy neighbor Mrs. Bogg's took them on a wild ride. Maybelle was so focused on the destination and her plan for when they got to where they were going that she wasn't realizing that the true adventure was happening along the way.

I loved everything about this book from the characters, to the story line, pacing, and overall themes. I will be sure to recommend this to bot my Middle Grade readers and Adult readers.

This is a cute middle grade story about a little girl trying to meet her father. The writing reminded me of the The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. In that story a young girl can feel emotions while eating food, in this story Maybelle has a similar connection to sounds. There is no magical element but the communication of the emotions and connections Maybelle feels are so much deeper than those around her.

The story follows her journey to find her father with a ragtag bunch of acquaintances while her mom is away working on a cruise ship. The journey finds them discovering themselves along the way. There are some heavy issues dealt with along the way but they are explored with tact and are age appropriate for middle grade. The story did not underestimate the ability for a middle grader to understand complex emotions or enjoy beautiful writing.

The central focus of this book is pain: pain that drives us or forces us into inaction. It's resolved, unsurprisingly, through a road trip. An unlikely trio all trapped together in an rv as they experience new places. They are confronted by cruelty and prejudice and learn how to deal with unfairness in the world. Each character is dealing with emotional issues and their journey helps them to deal with the trouble.

I really enjoyed Maybelle's journey to discover her own power and courage through anxiety. Finding family in unlikely places is something many of us have discovered along our own paths and is often some of our best relationships.

This was sweet! Road trip story with a chance to meet a previously unknown parent. It's something I feel has been done before, but the trio of travelers (quartet if you count the dog) at the center of this were a delight. While this is mostly Maybelle's story, Mrs Boggs and Tommy both get to grow and change because of the journey. I loved the epilogue that gives a glimpse of what happens over the year after the trip. Touches on anxiety struggles and panic attacks.

I am utterly in love with this book. I can immediately read it over and over. This is a Middle Grade story of a young girl on a search for her father. Please just go read it.

I enjoyed Maybelle's journey throughout this book. Both physically and mentally, Maybelle goes through a lot in the course of it. She's trying to meet her dad and along the way, she learns about herself.

I love found family stories and this was one great example of that. I also, really enjoy road trip books.

This was an emotional book that packed a punch with many topics that just felt so real. I connected to Maybelle, her mother, Mrs. Boggs, and Tommy in so many ways. Their stories, especially Maybelle's, were impactful. Her anxiety is something I believe is a great thing to show to younger readers. And especially, the coping mechanisms used. I believe that they will be able to connect with her in many ways, especially the children going through a similar situation.

Also, the way she collects sounds is such a cool concept and the overall message with that was incredible. This was a one of a kind book that I highly recommend.

Maybelle Dorothy Lane wants to know who her father is. Her hard-working Momma who pursues singing on the side doesn’t want May to have this information. She wants to protect her daughter from heartbreak even though May doesn’t believe her radio DJ father could ever break her heart.
When Momma takes a job on a cruise ship for a month leaving May at their trailer park she decides this is her chance to find her father. Unlike other stories with similar themes 11-year-old May doesn’t go on an unrealistic crazy cross state adventure by herself. She chooses to trust one of the adults in her life and sets out in an RV with her neighbor and her school bully. There were many times throughout this book I imagined what this ragtag team must have looked like as they drove from city to city. An African-American teacher who’s sheer presence commands respect, a blonde boy named Tommy with dirty sneakers and bruises on his face tagging along with our main character May who always has her tape recorder handy.
They all embark on a journey of discovery and get what they need to heal their own personal stories and learn what they need to let go of to be able to finally move forward. This adventure will make you question your own reclusive tendencies while you watch these three lonely characters lives get changed forever.
Children ages 8 to 13 will be asking their parents for scratch-offs by the end of this story.

This charming story of a lonely little girl and her travelling companions, on their way to a singing contest, and secretly to meet her father for the first time, is probably going to get compared to The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, and while there are some common themes, Maybelle's story is all her own. When her mother has to go away for work, Maybelle has to be watched by Mrs. Boggs, a teacher and neighbor who agreed to take Maybelle to the contest. While on the road, they discover Tommy, a classmate, stowed away and the three share adventures, not unlike The Wizard of Oz, to which there are several references. Maybelle is a sympathetic character and readers will identify with her loneliness and anxiety issues. Review from galley.

This book was a breath of fresh air. When Maybelle Lane finds out her mom is taking a job on a cruise ship, she isn’t quite sure how/where she will spend the summer. Enter...her lonely neighbor who lives in a Winnebago and an awkward boy, who picks on her endlessly. The three embark on an epic road trip to meet Maybelle’s father.

This is a story about discovering yourself. It proves that friendships often come in unexpected places and in unexpected ways.

This is a story that will resonate with young and old alike!

A story built on finding the courage to sing even when it causes you to panic; to speak even when it makes you nervous; to forgive, even if it was the most hurt you’ve ever felt.

This is a journey book, and I normally hate journey books. Except in this case, the journey made sense, and wasn't the whole purpose. It was a journey of the spirit as well as a physical journey.

Which makes it all sound maudlin, and it isn't, not in the least.

Maybelle has heard her father's voice on the radio, a father she didn't know, and she wonders what he would think if they ever met. So she enters a singing contest in a state two states away.

There is of course, one small problem. How the heck would she get there?

There are wonderful characters in here, other than Maybelle. There is the school teacher, who lives in the mobile home park. There is Tommy, who is, not a bully, but hangs out with bullies. And of course there is Maybelle, who misses her old home, and misses having enough, and not having her mother work double shifts.

Maybelle's voice is very genuine, and Tommy, the not so bad boy, is a great character, who we see grow from what she thinks he is, to what he really is.

Lovely book, even if it is a journey book. Great fun.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

The writing flowed beautifully and the characters were lovable. The plot line never disappointed and I was happy with the choices the author made.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

"Most people don't think fate has a sound. But is does. Everything has a sound if you listen carefully enough."
That quote resonates and really introduced a new way of listening to the world for me.
I was immediately drawn into Maybelle's story within the first few lines. This is a lovely middle grade novel with so much heart and hope that I think it should become a staple for all elementary and middle school libraries.

Maybelle is searching and takes an incredible trip with Mrs. Boggs and Timmy to try and find the answers she needs. Maybelle's journey, along with Mrs. Boggs and Timmy, is full of new friendships, overcoming fears and some heartache. But Maybelle learns so much along the way. This book will stay with me for a long time and I hope that others out there will enjoy it too.