I have found that I am having a hard time getting my thoughts together to write a review for this book. The story of Justin dealing with the loss of his father who was a war veteran is one that was very touching. I think that Emily Blejwas did a great job at finding a way to explore grief and acceptance of the sudden loss of a loved one.

However, I did find that I had a hard time connecting and getting invested in the story. But I think that has more to do with this story just not being for me rather than anything being wrong with the novel itself. So if you enjoy novels that talk about loss and grief, this very well be the story for you.

There is nothing I enjoy more than a book that makes you feel. Books are supposed to touch you, they are supposed to make you feel, whether it is happy or sad. Books are supposed to make you think, contemplate, or just question. Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened did just that.

Justin, a 7th grader, has had a tough life. As if being a 7th grader isn't hard enough, Justin's dad passed away. And Justin has a lot of questions about that. Justin's mom and brother are holding the family together, but things are hard. Money is tight and everyone is still grieving, and everyone is trying to move forward. But moving forward is hard when you feel like life has stopped. Justin is tired of people talking about him, being bullied, and not knowing how to talk to Jenni, a girl that he likes. Middle school is full of emotions, and Emily Blejwas touched every single one of them with this book. By the end of this book I had tears rolling down my face. Happy tears, sad tears and it felt like I was Justin. It takes an amazing writer to be able to grab you and make you feel like you are a part of the story.

As she writes in her Author note "Justin taught me that although life can be hard and confusing and crazy and sometimes just downright mean, there is always more to come. There will be another moment, and that one might be sweet and light and kind. He also reminded me that enchantment exists around us all the time, but it often hides in very small moments and is easy to miss if we're not paying close attention."

And this is what Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened has taught me. There was so many moments in this book that I read over and over again, just because it was that touching, that moving and that truthful! Do yourself a favor, pick up this book...read it, savor it. Don't be scared that this is about a middle school kid. This is a book for all ages, and everyone can learn from it.

Thank you is not enough... But thank you to Netgalley, Emily Blejwas and Random House Children's Publishing for the eARC of this book.

"Death does weird things to the living".

This was an excellent book - I highly recommend it to anyone who has a child or teen that has experienced the death of a loved one. Actually, in my opinion, ANYONE of any age could benefit from reading this book - grief is not linear and affects everyone differently and what may not help someone [of any age], may help the next person. My own dad died 4 years ago and I found so much in this book that helped me reconcile some of the things I was still struggling with in regard to his death.

Justin is a great MC. He is written just so well. Anyone who can remember 7th grade and just how <i>wretched</i> it can be, and if you add weirdness to the mix [and I was a total weirdo], you will completely relate to Justin and what he deals with every day. He is bullied, even more so after his father dies, he is smart and that makes him different, and he just wants to be invisible. And of course, that is almost always impossible when you are in 7th grade. Add the peripheral characters [I LOVE the connection between Justin and his brother Murphy, who has to grow up WAY to fast - even though this isn't his story, it IS in a way his story as well. If you read it, you will see what I mean] and you have such a great story - it is a story about 7th grade, about realizing that what most people see as weird and deviant just might not be that at all, that friends often come from the most unexpected sources, that war isn't always definable, and that grief is hard. Very, very, hard. And that there is never really any answers for it - no matter how hard you search.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delecorte Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To read a book that is equally heartbreaking as it is heartwarming and hopeful is to cycle through a flurry of emotions – often over the course of just one page. In Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened, Emily Blejwas tells a story that centers around a seventh grade boy whose father recently died tragically, but like in any affecting piece of literature, this story is about so much more.

From the very beginning, we know Justin (our protagonist), his brother Murphy, and their mom are still very much grieving over the loss of their father and husband. The book begins not before the tragedy, not directly after, but a few months later. This feels important, because while the family makes adjustments throughout the novel, their sadness and grief are not completely in that state of rawness that occurs directly after a loss. In a slightly more healed state, we get to know the characters for who they are, not just in the aftermath of a shared tragedy, but in general. We see how their everyday changed, and how it will continue to change, but the hopefulness and love that exudes from every page give the impression that everything will be as okay as it can be.

The hopefulness and love do not stop with the family. The supporting characters in this book, and their actions, are just as unforgettable. Justin’s best friend Phuc is always there to help with math homework and life questions (per the latter: in the way that a seventh grade best friend can help with such questions), and the quick moments with Justin’s bus driver, teachers, and librarian complete the wholesome feel of this story; it makes me tear up just thinking about them all again.

In a story like this, full of life lessons, questions, and subtly dark or ironic humor, it can be easy for conversations and encounters to sound preachy and pushy. But just as she balances heartbreak with heartwarming sentiment, Emily Blejwas incorporates an appropriate amount of both quippy scenes and nearly corny conversations. The tone of the book is serious because of the tragedy and how it has effected the children and their mother – similarly and differently. But it is also lighthearted in nature because of the author’s ability to ease that seriousness with steps in the [metaphorical] forward direction, and different methods of support from the other people in the family’s life.

And that ability is not a small task. The setting of the book and the history of the boys’ father contribute to the heaviness of the story. As a Vietnam veteran living with regret, the only thing that didn’t seem to change after he returned from war was his devotion to his family. It is clear in the way the boys remember him, and the way their mother talks about him, but also in a book of poetry he wrote after his return. This book is given to Justin by his mother, in hopes that it helps him with some of his questions – big and small. One of the bigger questions, which nobody has the answer for, is whether Justin’s father’s death was accidental, or a choice he made for himself. As one of the larger themes of the book tells us, things are not always so simple, cannot always be explained in a cut and dry fashion. What is important is to seek out and gain perspective; view a problem – whether it’s a history lesson, math problem, or more personal experience – from as many angles as possible. Doing so may lead (is likely to lead) to more questions, but in the company of the right person or people, those questions and the resulting conversations can lead to empathy, more discussion, and feeling more comfortable in the face of uncertainty.

For plot readers, this is not an action packed tale, because it is ultimately about every day life. But that is ultimately what makes the emotion and different perspectives so touching and all-encompassing. Justin’s days in school, researching the Dakota people who lived in their town and whose lives and land were violated to make the town what it is today, and then winning the district’s National History Project competition with his presentation on the history of the Dakota, are what give the book its beginning, middle, and end. But it’s what Justin learns during that process, through all his questions (about all things), and the people by his side, that give this story its life.

Just as with any book and story, this one may feel too hopeful, or not realistic, or dull, depending on your life experiences and fictional preferences (again, the plot does not have the most attention here, although it is still so fulfilling). But I think the underlying magic of this story is that if you allow yourself to be consumed by it, the characters, and the setting, you will reach the last page with slightly more optimism, joy, and wonder for all of life’s questions than you had at the beginning.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC of this story!

This follows the story of Justin and his family as they deal with the loss of his father. This deals with how we all deal with grief in our own way and all the emotions that come with it.

I loved the premise of this story but I just couldn’t connect with the story or these characters. It just felt very choppy to me.

I loved this heart-warming and touching story about a boy who’s learning to adjust to a very different life. It is touching and real and a great novel to share with middle grade and middle school readers. I got my ARC via Net Galley way back in September (thank you, Delacorte/Random House!) and have been waiting and waiting until almost Pub Day to share with you all! I think any time a child has to deal with the death of a parent it uproots their entire world. And Justin’s process of grieving and learning to live a life without his father is beautifully and sensitively portrayed in this book.

Highly recommended! One for the classroom IMHO.

Justin is struggling in middle school. His dad died suddenly last year and Justin has lots of questions. His dad was a quiet guy who struggled with PTSD but was his death and accident or suicide? Justin is also worried about his happy go lucky brother who is a gifted athlete but is working at KFC to help support the family rather than continuing with his sports, he's worried about the girl he likes, he's worried about his mom. It's a lot! But Justin has a deep inner strength, along with his supportive family and a teacher who gives him an interesting history project to pursue. This is a really great story!

A moving story involving PTSD, war, poverty, death, and love. A book for middle-grade readers and adults. It will open the eyes of adults to the questions and emotions children experience when facing death. Everything may look fine on the outside but inside there are questioning everything from could they have done something different to prevent it from why did it happen.

I can see many of the kids I work with connecting with this book on many levels. Unfortunately so many have lost a parent to death. Hopefully, this book will show them questioning the whys and hows is ok but that it is also ok to cry and talk with others about what they are experiencing. Everyone experiences death differently.

I am interested in other works by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Random House Children's, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

4 🌟
this was a very touching middle-grade story about a young boy named Justin who loses his father.
Justin is struggling to reconcile with his father's passing as well as his father's past that was never given to him. His father was a veteran from the Vietnam war who suffered greatly during his service. He spoke very little and was a reserved man, who often spent most of his time thinking. Justin is not only navigating his grief but also the grief of his family and the normal occurrences of 7th grade.

I loved this book it not only touched me but also inspired me to learn more about where I live. Justin is a smart young boy who I actually related to even though I am not a boy nor am I in 7th grade. I recommend this story to everyone. It was touching and heartwarming and made me appreciate those I love to the fullest degree.

murphy is the mvp tho

tw: loss of a parent, mild bullying, grief

Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened gives readers a glimpse of one year in the life of young Justin Olson and his family following the unexpected death of his father, a veteran suffering from PTSD. The story is told through Justin's POV.

The year is 1991 in small-town Wicapi, Minnesota. Justin is in 7th grade, trying to come to terms with the loss of his dad and to understand the circumstances surrounding his death. The family is close-knit, but as can be expected, each of them is dealing with their grief in different ways. His mother spends most of her time at work or at the church, while his older brother, Murphy, a junior in high school, has given up playing the sports he loves to work part-time at KFC to help with the family's finances.

This book is so deep and rich that it is quite hard to believe it is a debut effort. It is heart-warming, heart-breaking and uplifting in turn. Justin is so authentic and real that I felt like a 7th grade boy while reading his story. AWESOME!! This is definitely an author I'm going to watch! It's one of those books that stay with you, and would bring new things to the reader's attention when reread.

I highly recommend this book. Add it to your TBR pile now. You'll be glad you did!

My thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Justin is in seventh grade when his world is turned upside down. His father died suddenly and Justin doesn’t really understand the details of his death. His dad had always been somewhat of a lost soul since Vietnam, and Justin is afraid that he ended his own life. Told over the course of a school year, Justin story echoes what so many children experience when they see a beloved parent suffering the effects of trauma. Along the way Justin meets friends and teachers, that help him understand the meaning of his dad’s life and death. This helps Justin find meaning of his own.
This book is about families, grief, trauma, and healing. There were several aspects about this book that I really enjoyed. First I love that it was set in the 90s. The absence of social media, the Internet, the constant newsreel etc. was so refreshing to read in a middle grades novel. I also loved Justin’s family. I feel they were a realistic example of a family in the aftermath of this type of death. The author did a good job matching them up together. I highly recommend this book for middle schoolers and grown ups. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Justin is trying to survive some major life changes: his father has died and his mother and brother are trying to keep the household afloat financially. A coming of age story of a boy dealing with grief.

What I Didn’t Like:
-Justin’s voice is a little hard to drop into initially. It took me maybe two chapters before I was completely comfortable with his voice and personality.
-Time jumps. There were a few points when this story takes a time jump that feels a little jarring.
-Content warnings that may bother other people: PTSD, Vietnam war, possible suicide, bullying, and death are all in this story.

What I Did Like:
-Realistic depiction of grief. Justin’s situation involves death and questions that surround that death in realistic and incredible ways. The best part about this is that this book is written for a middle grade audience, meaning it explores grief in a way that will make sense to kids.
-Friendship and loyalty. This book explores a lot of big concepts. One of those is friendship, explored not only through Justin and Phuc but also through Justin and his brother. The way they relate to each other and react to each other is wonderful and definitely causes some emotional moments for readers.
-Characters. The main characters in this story, especially Justin, are very well written. You get a sense of their personality and you absolutely root for them to succeed.

Who Should Read This One:
-Readers who like contemporary stories that realistically look at grief.

My Rating: 4 stars. I enjoyed this emotional contemporary story and all middle grade readers will as well.

Justin is trying to understand so many things in his life as a middle grade student, but the one thing that won't leave the center stage is that his father left one night for a smoke and never returned. As Justin tries to come to terms with his fathers death he learns to rely on his Mother, brother, friend Phuc and others in the community he would never dreamed of.
Justin is able to come to terms with his father's death as he realizes, "in the end, we all just do the best we can with what we've got."
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy .

This story was heartbreaking and necessary all at once. Justin's dad dies in a trolley accident, his brother and Mom seem to try and move on with their lives, and it leaves him at a loss. His brother works all the time to try and help, and his Mom spends a lot of time in Church. Add in all the typical middle school stuff, and it's a tough time for Justin. I don't want to spoil the plot but, it's worth mentioning the Stranger Things Vibe. I'd hand this to any receptive kid grades maybe four through eight; it isn't an easy read, but an important one.

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

Beautiful, poignant language. This story of young Justin finding his place in love, family, and himself after the tragic death of his father. While I wasn’t on the edge of my seat with this book, I felt there were some powerful messages inside that could be very important for middle-grade readers.

As a children's librarian who does try to keep up with what's new and exciting in middle grade, I do sometimes struggle with it. Often the writing and/or content of the book doesn't grab me and I have to continually put myself in the mindset of someone much younger to enjoy the selections at all. That's not the case here! I think tweens/teens/adults could all read this book and enjoy it.The characters all felt real and fleshed out, and the way Justin dealt with his grief seemed very realistic. I enjoyed the splash of hockey and the history project subplot. Would definitely recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After nearly a year Justin Olson is still trying to understand the death of his father. So many things have changed and he is trying to figure out what it all means. His brother, Murphy, spends the majority of his time working at KFC instead of being a typical high schooler and playing his favorite sports. His mom seems to spend her time at either work or at church. Then there are all the questions he has about his father’s death. Why did he have to die? What happened the day he died? Was it really an accident? Questions he fears that may never be answered. This coming of age tale follows Justin as he tries to navigate his way through family, the loss of his father, and acceptance.

For the most part I did enjoy this book. However, there were a few things that didn’t flow very well for me. For example, I felt like much of the book were just streams of thought. Which made it somewhat difficult to read at times. Justin has several different nicknames that have no origin and just seem to come out of nowhere with no real connection. And some of the characters and plot elements aren’t developed very well.

However, having said all that I still feel like this was a good look at the grief process. That no one person goes through it the same and that is very evident amongst everyone in the Olson family. I do feel as though this would be a good choice for middle schoolers.
Recommended.

Oh, this book just gripped at my heart! I loved this story so so much. I love MG books that handle really hard topics with grace, and I thought that this story did exactly that. I loved the writing, and the family dynamics, and characters. I definitely recommend picking this one up.

This book was well done. I found it truthful to life that the main character didn’t get all his answers in the end. Life doesn’t always wrap up in a pretty bow, and we don’t often know what is going on in other people’s minds. This book does a good job of expressing that. The relationships between the characters felt genuine and I enjoyed getting to know each of them.

It's 1991, and Justin is adjusting to life without his father, who was recently killed in an odd accident with the local trolley. His father, who had fought in Vietnam, had managed to hold a job, but struggled with life after being in the war. Now, it's just Justin, his older brother, and their mother, trying to scrape by in their small Minnesota town. Justin is tired of being "the boy whose father was killed", but is having trouble moving on himself. He has a good friend in Phuc (pronounced "Fo"), and has a crush on Jenni. He is assigned a history day project on conflict, and instead of choosing a war, as his teacher wants him to, he researches the local history of the Native American tribe who inhabited the land. Over time, he manages to find out more about what happened to his father, and learns to deal with his emotions over missing him.

Strengths: There are not a lot of books set in Minnesota, and this was certainly a nice glimpse of what like is like in a small town. The family dynamics were interesting, and I also enjoyed Phuc's story. The cover is very pretty!
Weaknesses: I wish there had been a little less about dealing with Justin's grief and that he had been more involved in something else. Even more details about Jenni or history day would have helped.
What I really think: Will probably pass on purchase because this is very slow paced, something my students don't like. I can see it being successful as a class read aloud if a teacher is very passionate about it.