Very heartwarming… also is an educational view to not the greed that is keeping poorer families from a better life.

I knew I had to check out Karina Yan Glaser’s book outside of the Vanderbeekers series because I am obsessed with those books! She does not disappoint.

Very tender and well done. I actually ended up doing the audio version of this, but I appreciate this copy! Would recommend to teachers and kids for sure.

I LOVED this story! It was my first time reading a book by this author and her writing is so enjoyable. Many writers can take a brilliant story from start to finish, but then there are those who carry you through the entire thing. One second you’re on page one and the next you’re halfway through the entire book. This was the latter and I loved every minute.

Peyton is a relatable character and she deals with moving away from her best friend and the inevitable jealousy when that friend begins to make new friends. Thankfully, she makes a new friend as well, Lucas, who uses a wheelchair. Lucas then works with her to decipher the message in the box as well as figure out which two girls may have made the time capsule.

I loved this book - the setting was unusual and inspired, and the characters really well drawn. I loved how the author opened up a world not often seen in children's literature. She shows homelessness and hostel life in all its brutal reality but weaves the beauty of music and friendship through the portrayal so that the reader is left buzzing with hope.

From the author of the Vanderbeeker series, Karina Yan Glaser creates a powerful, hopeful story with complex, three-dimensional characters about grief, family, community, and homelessness. When their family becomes homeless after her dad dies, June helps her little sister and non-functional mom get settled at Huey House. Despite the shock of their new situation, June finds kindness from many of the people at the shelter including a music-loving boy named Jeremiah and Abuela who helps June find viola lessons. Then, their exceptional social worker named Mrs. G gets fired for not agreeing to the city’s new homeless policies. June helps organize a protest against forcing homeless people out of the shelters without support. Through many ups and downs including helping Jeremiah get music lessons and grieving for her dad, June discovers that home isn’t a place and family isn’t always blood.

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

A beautiful book, and I can't wait to check out more of the author's works! Would definitely recommend it.

What a wonderful book that builds empathy in young readers. Themes of friendship, homelessness, music, and family....this book is a quiet heavy hitter that deserves a place and space on classroom bookshelves.

Beautiful book. Loved both viewpoints. Loved the community of Huey House. This would be a great read-aloud.

I had a feeling I would love this because I've read The Vanderbeeker series by Karina Yan Glaser and love those books so much. I was not disappointed at all! Glaser set A Duet for Home at a homeless shelter in the Bronx. We follow a few kids who live there and become close friends. Tyrell and Jeremiah have been there three years. June and her sister Maybelle have just moved in. This book gives a glimpse into some important topics surrounding homelessness, but through the eyes and perspectives of the kids. The city is soon implementing some new policies regarding housing for the homeless that will have some negative effects on those at Huey House. Tyrell and June are determined to do something about it.

Throughout the story music also plays a big part, which I love. June plays the viola and is very good. Tyrell heads up to a particular window at 8pm every day to hear the neighbor play classical music on her violin. Music is part of what brings these friends together and also gives them confidence to stand up for what they believe is right.

I thought this book had a ton of heart, some laughs, and addressed an important topic. It is my favorite kind of middle grade. I was not ready for it to be over when I finished. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing the E-ARC.

The Model Minority Myth is very much real, and I thought that this is a well-needed book that depicts what Asian-American children might go through with immigrant parents. Within the Asian community, you’re taught to stay within your own family and be silent. But I like to see the courage that June has.

The only criticisms that I have of this book is that I thought that the ending might have been too perfect. However, I do like the idea of June standing and speaking up. Additionally, I thought that some parts of the novel went a little slow. It felt a lot like slice-of-life and wished that it could’ve been more fast-paced.

This is a wonderful book. The characters are so clearly drawn that you feel like you could pick them out in a crowd. I got so involved in the book that when the duet showed up, I actually cried. My only complaint with the book is that the ending came awfully swiftly and neatly. It seemed more like the author was limited to a certain number of pages and she had tp wrap the book up in a hurry.

What a great book! I loved this heartwarming book. It shows the change that can come about when there are passionate citizens looking for change.

I loved all the characters, but especially June. I loved learning about her Chinese heritage and her family. She was such a well-rounded main character.

I hope there is a sequel soon, to address some of the loose ties at the end, such as Tyrell and Jeremiah's friendship, Ms. G's employment with Huey House, further homelessness policies in New York City, and June's changed relationship with her mother.

A Duet For Home is an interesting read and displays different experiences within the housing system while also featuring characters that you come to love and root for. While I did start off intrigued and invested, I did ultimately find my attention wandering and did resort to skim reading, however I think the book will be wonderful to give children a window into the circumstances of others.

A beautiful story about some some difficult subjects. This shows the same open-heartedness and kindness as Karina Yan Glaser showed in her Vanderbeekers series, and reads as a little more adult. This will be a perfect fit for 6-7 grade reading groups. I look forward to reading this with students next fall.

I love the Vanderbeekers and am excited for Karina's other works. I really fell in love with this book with the characters and their situations. Everyone in this book was going through a tough time, but they were working together to rise up. I am so glad Karina kept music as a part of her book and family as a central theme. Also, the activism at the end was a great addition-love books showing kids taking on challenges. Great read.

Fans of Glaser's Vanderbeekers series are in for a treat. Here Glaser tackles some serious topics (homelessness, of course, but also parental incarceration, depression, neglect, etc.), but in such a hopeful, uplifting way that is perfect for middle-grade readers.

Karina Yan Glaser, best known for her charming Vanderbeeker series, pens A Duet for Home, inspired by her years supporting those in transitional housing. The introduction by Karina Yan Glaser sets the tone for the story, and I couldn't help but smile when I read about one young resident's encounter with The Giving Tree, as it reminded me of my husband's reaction to the book, which has forever changed my perspective of it.

A Duet for Home is told in alternating chapters. Tyrell is a sixth grader who has lived at the New York City shelter for three years, long enough that he considers it home. Eleven-year-old June, viola player, older sister to Maybelle, daughter to a mother who has been all but catatonic for six months, is newly homeless. Their friendship allows them to process suppressed grief, and when the shelter's residents are going to be sent out to unsafe and unstable living environments, they must decide what, if anything, children can do to draw attention to the situation.

The cast of characters is diverse, and the story incorporates NYC's Housing Stability Plus program, a short-lived program due to its many shortcomings. It is a valuable story that children can be encouraged and inspired by.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

There is a growing trend of books that explore the reality of life for unhoused families. We see the sense of shame and helplessness, the downward spiral and the struggle to regain any ground once it begins. The point of these books, of course, is to put a face on the unhoused, on people in shelters. I like that this one shows us a couple of families at different points in their journey. We have long term families and new arrivals. We see how all of the residents together form a sort of loose extended family. Sure they don' t always get along and often antagonize each other but they also look out for one another and work together when they can. Glaser also points out how policy is often focused entirely on statistics and budgets, forgetting about the personal and emotional toll to the people involved. Some of these elements were cut short but that makes sense given that this is intended for a middle grade audience. A solid read.