Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

This was a satisfying/quick read! Very accessible to mid grade readers. I am glad it was in our store for me to recommend.

A lovely story about feeling like the odd one out. The main character is so sympathetic--you just want to give him a hug. Loved the other characters too. Great novel about first impressions, being a new kid, and how to be empathetic.

I wanted to like this one so much more than I actually did. I just felt like there was so little to the actual story, and so much left unanswered. I never really felt like I got to know Austin, or anyone else for that matter, very well. That being said, I did really like Bertie's character. I also appreciated the inclusion of Austin's difficulty with reading. I wish there would have been a better exploration of his character.

This book is perhaps too simple. The characters have little depth and the plot follows only the one line. We don't get a lot of explanation for the family's situation or the interactions at school. It meets a fairly specific need but doesn't seem like it would appeal to many young readers.

I loved this little coming of age middle grade book! Austin takes a while to figure out who he is in relation to his new classmates, but I love that he figures it out in the end with the help of a very supportive school staff.

When my mother was young, her family had to move every six months, because she grew up in the Depression, and the family would make money and move back to the home they owned, and not make enough money and have to rent out their home, and move to the beach, which was cheaper.

This went on for most of her elementary school time.

The reason I bring this up, is because, like Austin, you get to know what different schools are like, as you go to each new one. You have eiether learned it, or will learn what is being taught, and either be ahead or behind. As she used to say, she would learn up to the Romans, and then find herself back at the caveman.

Austin has an unnamed issue with reading. It is never clear exactly what the issue is, because he knows that letters are, and he can sound out words, but he has trouble reading, and often sees things in colors or as ants. He has been able to hide this disability for most of his school life, by not standing out. Suddenly, he is at a school where he is having trouble not standing out.

The whole story is sweet, and good. He makes a friend, with Bertie, and even when she is angry at him, she doesn't stop being his friend. It is all a reassuring story, of it being ok to have a learning disability, because there are ways around that.

Sort of wish there had been books like this when I was growing up. Perhaps even when my mom was as well.

The author used to be a teacher, so I think she gets it. And her voice for Austin is great.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

EArc provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review

Austin and his mom have moved, again. It's toward end of the school year and he has to be the new kid all over again. He just wants to fit in and not really be noticed. However Bertie, an overly-excited classmate, takes him under her wing. We also have some students who go to the resource room for extra help, and one of those students is extremely disruptive.

I loved that the teachers were supportive and strong. They were experienced teachers who knew how to help struggling students without making them feel bad or less than. That was a breath of fresh air!

I get what the author was trying to do. But it all seemed very forced and very rushed. There were so many things that never got answered or explained. We get bits and bites, but never a full meal.

Austin is the new kid in school. That is hard in itself but compounded by it being almost the end of school and everyone is already well set into routines with their groups and friends. Austin is a large boy and repeating second grade, didn't help in more ways than one. Austin thinks if he could pick a color to describe his life, it would be tumbleweed brown. Austin doesn’t like standing out. He’s always the new kid, and there’s no hiding his size. Plus, Austin has a secret: he struggles to read.

The feel-good, eye-opener of a story you didn’t know you needed. Fourth grader Austin’s constantly on the move to hide his learning difficulties, but finds unexpected friendship and belonging in his new school. I love the way Austin highlights colors throughout his day. Pick this one up! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Jennifer Swender, and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Austin never wants to stand out and does everything he can to fly under the radar and not get noticed. Austin likes to look at things in different colors and hide the fact that he cannot read. Austin wants to keep this a secret especially since he has a new school school. Austin then meets Bertie who opens his eyes and shows him it's okay to be himself!
I loved this book as a teacher. All of our students are unique in their own ways and they should be treated as such by their teachers and their peers. I hope this story encourages all students to be themselves.

This is a pretty quick read, because the story takes place over a short period of time. Despite that, you still get to see some nice character development among Austin, Bertie, and Dee, and root for Austin as he settles in to his new school. I thought that the author did an excellent job of capturing the feelings that come with struggling in school — and the ways that schools can either help or hurt kids, from the kids’ perspective. It’s perfect for early middle grade readers, or someone looking for a quick contemporary. I am actually really excited to read this to my own kid, who is dyslexic, and so rarely gets to see himself reflected on the page. We need more books like this!

Excellent book about Austin changing schools again and trying to hide the fact that he struggles to read. He meets Bertie who is welcoming and helpful, has a wonderful teacher, but he still flies under the radar when it comes to doing his work. As time passes, Austin realizes people will still like him once they realize he’s different from them.

Austin is a very relatable protagonist. He is used to moving and having people make fun of him for his size. He has trouble with dyslexia and making friends.
This is a great book for middle readers who might be struggling themselves. I liked the look into Austin's home life also and him working to find where he fits in this new place.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Austin is used to moving, and he knows the routine. Students who aren't kind and make fun of his size, teachers who don't need yet another body in the classroom, and a resource room teacher who needs to test him but can't get his mom to keep meetings. Instead, he finds that Ms. G. is glad to see him, her class has set and predictable routines, and he is quickly befriended by the very talkative Bertie (Beatrice). Bertie keeps him company, shows him the ropes, and protects him from classmates who might be unkind. It's still lonely to walk home to his apartment near the school and talk to his mother only long enough to tell her that life is fine, but school seems reasonable. He copies down the assignments in his planner and pretends to read a book the teacher let him borrow, secretly watching the video for Bridge to Terebithia at night on his mother's old phone in case anyone asks him the plot. Austin can't read. He can make out a few words, but generally just pretends, staying on each page long enough so as to not arouse suspicion. Austin is content to fly under the radar and wait things out until the end of the school year, but when he shows an interest in the safety patrol, Bertie gets him a registration packet and helps him fill it out. This brings him to the attention of the teacher, who notices that his work on the packet seems very different from his class work, and refers him to the resource room, where he can actually get some help and learns that other students are working there as well.
Strengths: There are many students who struggle in school for various reasons, and having characters in books who have various difficulties allows readers to be seen or to build empathy. It's nice to see a teacher with good classroom practices (and one who isn't new and enthusiastic or old and bitter), as well as helpful classmates. It's also interesting to see how long Austin manages to play the system and get by. Teachers will love the fact that Bridge to Terebithia is mentioned a lot.
Weaknesses: There are many questions about Austin's life that are never answered. Why does his mother move so often? What have his past struggles been that he has gotten to this point? Why does he have such an interest in colors? What is going on with Bertie and her extreme enthusiasm?
What I really think: Austin is in 4th grade, and since many of the scenes are set in school, it might appeal more to elementary readers than middle school ones. Older readers will be interested in Austin's "labels" and curious as to the nature of his difficulties.

Stuck is follows a new kid named Austin as he makes friends at his new school. This is a charming book about finding your niche that will appeal to fourth and fifth graders. Older middle schoolers will likely find the tone too young. This is also a potentially great read for reluctant readers since Austin has dyslexia and struggles to read himself, making for a relatable protagonist.

Austin is the new kid in school. That is hard in itself but compounded by it being almost the end of school and everyone is already well set into routines with their groups and friends. Austin is a large boy and repeating second grade, didn't help in more ways than one. Austin thinks if he could pick a color to describe his life, it would be tumbleweed brown. Austin doesn’t like standing out. He’s always the new kid, and there’s no hiding his size. Plus, Austin has a secret;: he struggles to read.

His personality tends toward being shy and socially awkward. This fact lends him to being quietly observant of things and people around him. Changing schools can be tough, but he’s learned what to expect, what’s expected of him, and how to handle it. His first day in his new fifth grade class he encounters Bertie, short for Beatrice. Bertie is a small girl, friendly and razzmatazz! It seems she has self appointed herself to be Austin’s guide. He is guarded but slowly warms to her and the school while hiding his inability to decode letters that wave and wobble across the page. While never stated Austin proves to be dyslexic. He has discovered and perfected ingenious workarounds including querying the “phone lady” (Siri maybe) on his mom’s old phone. She politely and better yet patiently answers his queries and gives him a link to the audiobook he’s supposed to read. The class is reading The Bridge to Terabithia referred to as a golden sticker book, Newbery. Award book

But the best part of his newest school is the Safety Squad, with their laser lemon vests. Austin is impressed by their confidence and leadership. These fifth graders stand out in the coolest way. Bertie encourages him to join. The problem is to complete the application without disclosing his disability? Austin, as many in his same situation have learned to project the stoic resignation of children who’ve learned not to depend on adults.

Home life is with his troubled mom, but what troubles her never comes into focus. How she supports them and why they move so frequently go unexplained.
It is unfortunate that Austin’s disability has gone without detection for so long, but his quiet personality and changing schools frequently make this situation a reality.
Even when things are not so vibrant and life at home makes Austin feel pacific blue., At this new school for the first time, he wants to leave a mark. And the more Austin speaks up, the more he finds he may not be that different after all.

This wonderful little book is written by an experienced teacher and is a feel good read for any student and all teachers.

A few quotes from Stuck…

This quote concerns Dee, the kid in class who seems to be the trouble maker.
Austin wisely states…
“I think there’s one thing that's exactly the same at every school. If a kid is usually bad, all they have to do is act barely normal for everyone to tell them how super-great they are. “

And this quote concerning the classroom teacher Mrs. G’s assignment…
“Now most schools will call anything a game to make you think it’s going to be fun. But this one really was