I adored this middle grade novel by Cindy Baldwin! The main character, Penny Rooney, is a young girl living with cystic fibrosis. As school ends for spring break, Penny is tasked with writing a poem about who she is. That question proves surprisingly difficult to answer. She is a friend, a daughter, a sister, and a girl living with a disease, but she's not sure these are the things she wants to define her. Penny has a beautiful heart and readers will find her descriptions of her friends and her family tell a lot about Penny herself.

When an unexpected animal makes an appearance in Penny's backyard creek, Penny learns about herself as she gets to know a sick dolphin who has been separated from her pod. I appreciate that Baldwin has given Penny a loving and supportive, if slightly smothering, family and still allows her to struggle with things many children will relate to - a friend moving away, physical limitations, being afraid to take chances.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this book is Penny's observations of the difficulties of living with CF, even though her disease is more easily controlled than what many CF patients experience. Being told over and over again how lucky she is, given her diagnosis, wears on her over time. Just because it could be worse, doesn't mean it isn't difficult. I expect many readers will relate to this statement in one way or another.

It is important to note that the author, herself, is living with CF.

This AMAZING Novel in Verse, also known as "65 Roses" was a testament to the sheer determination of the author to live life to the fullest. Through friendship, family & a new friend, Rose the Dolphin, Penny is able to discover who she is, as she lives with Cystic Fibrosis. The connection that Rose and Penny have defies everything. Rose is lost, needs help finding her way back to her pod. Penny is lost, trying to figure out how to write a poem about who she is. Together, the two form a bond that helps both of them: Rose, back to her pod and Penny, to discover that she won't always be identified as the girl with "65 Roses". She shows the reader and world that nothing can stop her. I cannot WAIT to get this book on my library shelves.

Penny and her sister emerge from an afternoon swim in the creek and spot the impossible, a dolphin in their own backyard! Penny spends her spring break looking for evidence that what she saw was real, while figuring out what it means to be herself.
Such an adorable story, I read it it one sitting. I love the family dynamic with Penny, her sister, mother and father. Cindy Baldwin does a wonderful job of taking a relatable situation and adding just a touch of magic to entice the readers. Animal lover or not, this is a wonderful quick read for middle schoolers.

I am a huge fan of Cindy Baldwin, and No Matter the Distance did not disappoint for me! I loved the character development and the connection she had with the trapped dolphin. I kept picturing myself teaching this book in one of my middle school small groups. They would love it. It’s a story when a teen overcomes their illness and helps and animal.

I really enjoyed this book! The story was really good and I loved the characters! I hope to read more by this author in the future. The poems were beautiful!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and to the author for the ARC!

Major book hangover after reading this beautiful book!
Cindy Baldwin has taken her own experiences of growing up with “65 Roses” and woven them into to an adventure tale that anyone would want to experience! Becoming friends with a wild dolphin! Kayaking miles down a river! For a person who has Cystic Fibrosis, such an experience would most likely not be possible. Through the eyes of young Penny, and the wonderful writing of the author, anyone who wants to can go on that journey with her, however!
Thank you, Cindy, for this wonderful story; for being the first person with C.F. to write a novel about it. I teared up when Penny was enduring her medical treatments, and cheered for her when her wishes were granted!
Highly recommended; this book should be in every classroom.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

No Matter the Distance is a beautiful story in verse of one girl's special summer in which a dolphin swims into the river by her Florida home. It's about family (I LOVE the sister relationship in this!), friendship, and change, as the best middle grade stories are. It's about a girl who *has* cystic fibrosis, but it's not *about* cystic fibrosis-- I was so impressed by the author's ability to make sure the plot stood on its own while the details about CF rounded out her character --as she herself has CF, I wonder if this made it easier or harder for her! At the same time, I appreciated that my eyes were opened to what it would be like to live with CF.
A lovely book for fans of contemporary verse novels with lots of heart.

This book was so special. I absolutely loved the cystic fibrosis rep, I have a best friend with cf and it is so important seeing her represented in this novel while also educating others. from the very beginning, I was immediately interested and finished this book so incredibly quickly. I loved how close penny and her family were as well as how magic her relationship with rose (the dolphin) was. I loved seeing penny's character development, especially how she came to know herself throughout.

People’s relationships with animals can be so powerful and this book, about a girl with cystic fibrosis and a sick dolphin who has traveled away from her family, is no exception. Penny has dealt her whole life with her medical treatments that she can’t escape. Her best friend gives her heartbreaking news and the only thing that gives her comfort is the dolphin, Rose, that wandered to her creek away from her pod. Penny works with scientists to help save it, even when her own health worsens. The two have a magical bond that gives both of them comfort. How much sadness can Penny take? Knowing the author herself has cystic fibrosis made this book even more emotional and sincere. I was choked up several times and found myself rereading lines to let the words soak in. It gave me insight into what life is like with a condition that affects every minute of a person’s life, not only the medical part, but into the myriad emotions one experiences in dealing with it. It was a beautifully written novel in verse.

Attention Schneider Family Book Award committee: keep this one on your radar!
Cindy Baldwin gives us all a glimpse into the lives of cystic fibrosis patients with her newest novel in verse, No Matter The Distance (Feb 2023).
“Lucky” Penny is a CF patient but that’s not all she is. First of all, she’s not the kind of patient you usually hear about. She is able to mostly manage symptoms out of the hospital but even “mild” CF is no walk in the park.
Secondly, Penny is a poet. When her teacher announces a poetry slam contest she gets really excited but flails a bit when she can’t quite answer the prompt, “Who you really are.”
She finds a kindred spirit when a lost dolphin finds its way into the brackish creek that runs past her home. Penny bonds with this creature just as both of their health issues take center stage. A best friend’s impending move and having to help the dolphin find its way back to the ocean mean big changes for Penny and a lot of letting go, not to mention this poetry contest.
I love how this book tackles the daily drudgery of chronic illness and shows how even with all the nebulizers and coughing fits, Penny is a kid first and foremost. But don’t think this is one of those “plucky kid with a chronic illness warms your heart” stories. She gets real with moments of self pity and even a little noncompliance (a huge no-no in the medical world!) I also love how Baldwin calls out how some medical professionals screw it up with things like toxic positivity and “I knew a girl who died” stories.
I highly recommend this book for ages 8 and up. I think even middle schoolers would enjoy this story and the medical jargon alone could make for some interesting vocabulary lessons.
Five dolphins, leaping high! 🐬 🐬🐬🐬🐬

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book.

I'm not really a fan of books in verse but I was interested in a story about a girl with cystic fibrosis. The author also has cystic fibrosis so learning about this genetic condition and the treatments was the most interesting part of this book for me. The story was cute, but I think I would have enjoyed it better if it was majority prose with added poems that Penny was writing for school.

If you enjoy books in verse and dolphins you'll like it.

No Matter the Distance
Cindy Baldwin
Middle grade
Novel-in-verse

Penny is an 11yo girl living with cystic fibrosis. On the first day of spring break she and her sister encounter an unlikely being in the creek behind their home, a dolphin. Penny feels a connection with this dolphin and how they communicate and understand each other. A marine biology team determines the dolphin is sick and will need help getting back to her pod. Penny is an honest character who allows us to see what it's like to live with chronic illness without being heavy handed. She is a regular kid with regular kid insecurities with an extra layer of something. Cindy does a great job creating stories that make you want to know people.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the e-ARC of this book.

Knowing two sisters who grew up with CF (and are now at or nearing 40!), I know this is the book they needed when they were middle grader readers. I enjoyed this one, and hope it finds its audience!

No Matter the Distance is the story of Penny, a girl who has cystic fibrosis (CF). On the first day of spring break, Penny and her sister take a swim in their backyard creek. When they do, they see a dolphin. A dolphin sighting there is very unlikely. Penny starts to think it is all in her head until she sees the dolphin again. Penny and the dolphin bond immediately, and she ends up swimming with the dolphin. That leads to a medical relapse with her CF. While this is going on, her dad contacted a scientist to learn more about the dolphin. Penny's best friend is also moving away at the end of the school year.

Representation in books matter. I haven't read too many books with a character who has CF. I feel like books should also be mirrors so the reader can sneak a peek at a life different than their own. I am so thankful that the author was vulnerable enough to create the character of Penny who is very similar to herself. Readers will learn what life is like for someone who has CF.

This book is a beautiful verse novel about bravery and overcoming obstacles that readers will enjoy.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The fact that this author was able to tie cystic fibrosis and dolphins together in one novel is pretty remarkable. Young readers will likely be fascinated by both. What I'm not sure about is how well they will take to the verse format. It's fairly long for a verse novel. I have a nagging sense that this one would have been more successful in regular prose narration.

Penny has the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, which causes a mucus build-up in the lungs which can be life threatening. As people often say, she is doing much better than most. Some would even call her lucky. On the first day of spring break she and her sister decide to take a swim in their backyard creek, a distant tributary of Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. They can't believe their luck when a dolphin shows up unexpectedly on their inaugural swim. Penny feels a connection with the dolphin and finds the water irresistible. Unfortunately, too much swimming in the cold water sends her into a dangerous medical relapse.

Meanwhile, the marine biologist has her eye on the dolphin. Careful observation indicates that she has her own lung problem. She has contracted pneumonia from being in water with low salinity. She must receive antibiotic treatments and then be led back to Pamlico. Although Penny doesn't want to lose her special friend, she knows she must do what she can to lead her animal friend back to her family.

At times, Penny sounds more advanced than her age, too introspective for a middle schooler. Still, I learned a lot about both cystic fibrosis and the plight of sea mammals far from home. I hope this one gets noticed.