Another fantastic middle grade novel by Janae Mark. The story continues as her father is released from prison, but adjusting to life on the outside isn't going so smoothly. Marks' handles these difficult yet important topics with great care. I enjoyed the podcasting angle too as our students are starting to make podcasts of their own. Immediately went out and purchased for our school library once it was released. Hope there is a third!

I loved From the Desk of Zoe Washington so I was super excited when the sequel was announced and it did not disappoint! Life after prison is such a struggle for so many and, like Zoe says, it just isn't talked about enough. Marks does an excellent job of entertaining and educating, just like she did in the first book. I loved seeing Zoe come to terms with her best friends having feelings for each other and of course, I loved the baking aspect. But I also really appreciate the care that Marks took in explaining- through Zoe and Marcus' journey- how hard life after prison can be.

This book is thoughtful and made me think and it was also a lot of fun.

I loved being back in the world of Zoe Washington. I read the first book awhile ago but felt like no time had passed since I read that one, so kudos to Marks for writing the book so that the stories seemed to continue.
I really like the relationship between Marcus and Zoe. I also like how Zoe balanced her relationship with her friends and parents.
Looking forward to adding this to my elementary school libraries.

I love Zoe! This was a great read! And so much to touch on!

First, I love that you don’t have to read the first book to know what’s happening. When I received this arc, I did not realize it was the second book in the series but was able to keep up with no issue.

Second, any book that incorporates little Black girls.. I love! I love them even more when they are cooking. I love that Zoe is so passionate about baking! Reminds me of how I first started cooking 🥹

Third, I love how the book makes social injustice easier for our youth to digest. It presents the problem and biases within our justice system in just the right way!

I feel like the friend issues were an afterthought which was why I chose to give the book 4/5 stars. All in all. Great book! I can’t wait to read the first one haha

I love Zoe! The first book is a winner in my classroom, and I know this one will be just as popular. Zoe is a great role model for all students, and I love that the author made her so headstrong for her age.

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

I just finished On Air With Zoe Washington by @janaemarksbooks and it was phenomenal!
Zoe is trying to figure a lot of things out… Marcus is out of prison and an active part of her life, and she’s realizing that being exonerated isn’t the same as never going to prison. As she and Marcus are exploring ways to become restaurant owners together, they keep hitting road blocks.
And do Trevor and Maya like each other? When did that start? Is she the third wheel in their friendship now?
As Zoe is learning more about the struggles of re-entry from prison, she hesitantly realizes this applies to more than just exonerates.
I loved seeing Zoe struggle with her thinking, and grow as she learned more from Marcus and from her new friend Hannah.
#ilovetoread #kidsliterature #newrelease

My 9 year old daughter loved this book - she liked reading something "happy and realistic"! Bravo! The cover is adorable, and the topic is cute and fun. A nice, easy read for kids.

Extremely engaging middle school read. I hadn't read the first book and was unsure if I could follow this one, but it stands fine on it's own. Honestly, it surprised me as to how "deep" the issues got even though the book read young. It works extremely well. I'll love recommending this duet/series to my students.

A great middle grade novel that really brings to light how hard it is for a previously incarcerated person, Zoe's father, to become part of the world again.

I was really excited when I discovered there would be a sequel to From the Desk of Zoe Washington. This book takes place a few years after the original and focuses on Marcus's life after incarceration. Zoe wants for them to be able to open their own restaurant, but finds that no banks will give him a loan because he did not build credit during the time he was in jail. Zoe then creates a podcast to discuss the hardships exonerees face after prison. Throughout the story, Zoe is very headstrong even when the adults in her life tell her they don't think something will work out and she will need to wait. Over the course of the book, I became frustrated with Zoe's impatience and with the adults continuing to go along with all of her plans. It felt very unrealistic overall. The secondary conflict of her two best friends dating also seems to work out too easily. I appreciated how the author looked at a real life issue but felt that overall the resolution was very unrealistic.

This heartwarming realistic fiction story starring Zoe - a plucky and determined tween - tackles tough subjects like the impact of incarceration on families and the challenges of re-entry in a way that is approachable to kids. Book two in this beloved series follows Zoe and her dad Marcus who has now been exonerated and is trying to get back on his feet. Their shared love of cooking and baking takes center stage as Zoe's newest project is helping Marcus fulfill his dream of starting his own restaurant. We also see Zoe dealing with changes in friendships as her two besties might "like" each other as well as consider how her Dad might feel about her relationship with Marcus. Despite the heavy topics, the tone is relatively light and all the characters are super likable. Zoe's entrepreneurial spirit and get-it-done attitude are inspiring. And the descriptions of her desserts will make you very very hungry! I highly recommend this to fans of realistic stories with heart, humor, and aspirational characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy of On Air with Zoe Washington.

This book is a delightful follow up to the events in From the Desk of Zoe Washington. Since her biological father's release from prison, he has been having a difficult time assimilating back into society despite an showing of support from the community. When Marcus reveals his dream to own a restaurant, Zoe sets out to make it happen - as long as she can be pastry chef!

The book explores life after incarceration (whether guilty or not) in an approachable and empathetic way for middle grade readers. I highly recommend this duology.

I really liked this one - no surprise since I liked the original Zoe Washington so much. Zoe ages with her readers - she still loves baking but is facing things like her friends being interested in each other and feeling like the third wheel; and realizing that her dad might feel like a third wheel because of her developing relationship with Marcus. The addition of the podcast is so relevant and timely is well, not to mention that author Janae Marks smoothly works in the stigma a recent parolee faces and the idea that the debt to society has been paid yet there are still huge hurdles to face. The only "stretch of my imagination" part is how she puts together the event but it all works out in the end. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #OnAirWithZoeWashington by Janae Marks. I am looking forward to sharing it with my 8th graders!

4.5 stars

I really loved this follow-up to the first book, which charts her life after Marcus is exonerated and they continue building their relationship together. Some things I loved about this book:

1) Zoe's continued love of food and how it draws the people in her life together, but also the role it plays in motivating her to seek justice for the exonerated and later for the formerly incarcerated.

2) That Zoe had to go through a journey just like we do in learning about the challenges that both the exonerated and the formerly incarcerated folks face. I especially appreciated the discussions she had with Marcus and the speakers at her event. I liked that it wasn't just automatic that Zoe jumped on board, but that she (and her parents) talked through and came around to realizing that even those who were convicted rightfully can be good people and need a chance to change their lives and that many times, crime was a last resort that got them to where they did.

3) Speaking of those who were convicted--I really appreciated Hannah's story and her perspective and I loved that Marks took us through her pain and anger with her mom and how Zoe was able to help her open up a path to communication. I also liked that Hannah was able to work through this not just with her conversations with Zoe, but also with the help of a therapist. I really do hope we continue seeing the friendship (and something more?) between them grow and develop and that her other friends Maya and Trevor, end up becoming friends with Hannah.

4) I loved that even as she spent more time with Marcus, she realized she wanted to continue making room in her life for her dad and that they ended up having some good discussions about it. For those who have multiple parental figures that mean something to them, this was a good part of the story. I love Zoe's dad, both in the first book and in this one, and even though he doesn't have a lot of screen time in either book, the moments in which he appears are meaningful and really add to who Zoe is.

5) I loved how Zoe worked through her feelings about Maya and Trevor in a realistic way. There may have been SOME jealousy, but I think it was more about feeling like she was going to lose something. And even though she initially pulled back and didn't talk to them about it, I like that she stopped herself from doing anything rash (even if she thought about it) and took the time to process her feelings and then eventually speak to each of them alone. I love that the friendship between the three of them is one that is full of honesty and love, and they just want to find the best way to support each other.

6) I loved that instead of just saying no to something like the podcast, her mom decided to jump in and help her with the recording and the edits, to make sure that things were done in a safe way. Similarly, I loved that Marcus supported her desire to help him by making suggestions, but never telling her what she should do. I loved that her parents, Marcus, and Grandmother all did what they could to support her (and talk her down when she needed it) but never outright told her she could or couldn't do something. If they thought something was unsafe, they would tell her so, or they would point out if something might not work, but ultimately, they let her make many of the decisions.

One thing I thought could have been done better:
I was a little bit uncomfortable with the fact that she shared something personal about herself (where she worked) and this was left in the podcast. I know it was part of the plot so that Hannah was able to find her, but still, she is a minor (not even a teen) and I would think there would be laws against revealing personal information about minors on a public broadcast.

Overall, I loved this book and I know many of my students will as well! I can't wait for the next book! I hope there will be a next book because Zoe has a lot of things to say!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely fell in love with the first book so I was very excited when I got approved for the sequel! I loved seeing the dynamic between Zoe and her father develop in this story and I love how it addresses how hard it is for those who have been incarcerated to re-enter society. Heavy themes but done in a really well thought out, kid friendly way.

This is a wonderful next chapter in the series of Zoe Washington. I love this character, her passion for being true to herself, and her grit when faced with almost impossible challenges. I would absolutely read this book in my classroom over and over!

This was a wonderful addition to the Zoe Washington series and after helping her biological father get exonerated for a crime he didn’t commit the two now work on their relationship while also pursuing their passions of cooking and baking.

Zoe is a spunky, tenacious, determined and hardworking teen who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to try new things. This book has a diverse cast of characters that help Zoe reach her goals. The writing is appealing for middle graders and adults alike.

This book deals with important and timely subjects such as navigating the justice system, how hard that can be for POC and social justice issues. It’s refreshing having a book geared toward elementary and middle graders that doesn’t gloss over how marginalized community members are treated. This series would be a great addition to a school or public library’s juvenile fiction collection.

Another fun read from Janae Marks. In book 1, Zoe learns that her birth dad, Marcus, is in prison for a crime he didn't commit. With the help of an organization called the Innocence Project, his conviction is overturned. Book 2 opens with Zoe and Marcus working together in a bakery. Both have dreams of one day opening a restaurant. Zoe wants that to happen sooner rather than later, but since Marcus has been in prison, he hasn't been able to establish credit to get a loan.

Zoe decides to create her own podcast to interview people who have been wrongly imprisoned and start a fundraiser through kickstarter. When she realizes she won't generate the necessary funds by the deadline, she decides to organize a live panel event at the Boston bandshell amphitheater to get the word out about the fundraiser. All works out in the end.

Lots of baking going on. Any kid who loves baking will be an instant fan. The story also takes a look at the challenges former inmates face when released from prison. Zoe's dad had no problem getting a job because his conviction was overturned, but for everyone else who served time, it's very difficult to find employment. Marcus wants his restaurant to employee former inmates.

The main story is augmented with two friend storylines, one between Zoe and her two best friends who begin dating, and one with a new friend who has a mom in prison. All the characters are extremely positive. It's nice, while also unrealistic. Everything works out a little too neatly. Zoe accomplishes far more than a girl her age would be able to. Securing a live event at the Boston bandshell is pretty far fetched. As an adult, these things bothered me, but not likely to cause any concern for the target audience. If you read book 1 and liked it, then certainly read book 2.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington is one of my favorite middle grade reads of all time so I was very excited to get an early copy of the sequel, On Air With Zoe Washington! Thanks NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for sharing an early copy with me!

In the first book, Zoe’s biological father, Marcus, was wrongfully imprisoned, but with the help of Zoe and the Innocence Project, he was exonerated. The sequel picks up shortly after Marcus has been released. He has big dreams that Zoe wants to help him chase, but she quickly realizes that re-entering society is harder for Marcus than she thought it would be. Determined, Zoe starts a podcast to bring light to the difficulties exonerees face and she also starts a fundraiser to help make one of Marcus’ dreams come true.

On Air with Zoe Washington is another a powerful middle grade story and one that will prompt great conversations among readers. I would say that this one is geared more toward middle schoolers because the main characters are in 8th grade and it talks quite a bit about relationships and kissing. I have read From the Desk of Zoe Washington out loud to my 4th graders, but I don't think I would recommend that they read the sequel until they're a bit older. Overall, a great book that I'm excited to promote at my school!

This was a great sequel to the first Zoe Washington book. It was nice to go back into her world and see what life was like for her, her family, and Marcus. It was very relatable and fun to follow her as she started her podcast and try to open a restaurant. At times, she did feel a little bit younger than 14, but overall this was another solid installment and I hope there is more to come.