Even though the synopsis alluded to the heartbreak and the narrative is so short, Langley still took me by surprise. I love how Langley built this completely unconventional family that changed drastically due to the aforementioned event. I also loved how Langley showed tremendous character growth in April as she struggles with these family and friendship changes.

"The Order of Things" by Kaija Langley is a beautifully written novel-in-verse that delves into themes of friendship, grief, and the journey toward healing. I was deeply moved by this poignant story that explores the profound impact of loss and the resilience of the human spirit.

At the heart of the narrative is April Jackson, an eleven-year-old girl who shares a deep bond with her best friend, Zee, a talented violinist. Their dreams of becoming professional musicians are shattered when Zee tragically passes away, leaving April grappling with overwhelming grief and a sense of emptiness.

Langley's writing is both lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into April's world and capturing the complexity of her emotions. Through April's journey, the novel explores the consequences of keeping secrets, the importance of found families, and the healing power of friendship.

I particularly appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation in the story, with April's mother and her girlfriend providing a heartwarming portrayal of love and acceptance. However, as a parent of a young child, I found the portrayal of Zee's death to be realistic yet difficult to read, underscoring the harsh realities of loss.

Despite the heartbreaking moments, "The Order of Things" ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience. April's determination to help others and find solace in music is both inspiring and relatable, making her journey a compelling one for readers of all ages.

Overall, "The Order of Things" is a poignant and powerful novel that will resonate with teens and adults alike. Langley's masterful storytelling and the novel's rich themes make it a must-read for anyone seeking a deeply moving and unforgettable literary experience.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy of The Order of Things by Kaija Langley. This novel in verse is beautifully written with heart and intensity.

The only issue I have with it is that the synopsis talks about April having to deal with the death of her best friend. However, Zee doesn't pass away until halfway through the book. Normally, I don't think that something that happens after 50% of the book should be in the synopsis - although I also appreciate the heads up that a child is going to die, so I can prepare. In other words, I am conflicted by this.

I would certainly recommend this book to a student looking for a book that will pack a punch.

This middle grade novel in verse tells the story of April, her love for drums and her best friend, Zee. This novel does a great job discussing difficult topics such as sudden death, loss, grief, family struggles, and the danger of keeping secrets.

What an emotional rollercoaster – in the most beautiful way! Really beautifully written, talking about the experience and fear in the most accessible way. The whole book is written in verse which makes it lyrical.
You can truly feel the emotions of the characters which I sometimes find rare in books written for children. April Jackson is a brilliant main character who is a talented musician and kind friend, with the loss of Zee, April finds it hard to manage her guilt and grief.
Kaija Langley writes about really important topics with care and tact. Themes include dealing with loss, new and difficult changes as well as empathy.
Highly recommend for Year 6 onwards

A beautiful story in verse that centers grief and the death of a friend. The author has taken on some very heavy subjects and made them child friendly, which isn't an easy task. I also found the family and living dynamics of the characters different and interesting.

April is starting to learn the drums, trying to keep up with her best friend Zee, who is an excellent violinist. They live in neighboring apartments and are practically family. Zee is accepted into a music program, and he starts stressing about being the best. When Zee dies unexpectedly, April’s whole world changes. Her mom has a new, serious relationship, Zee’s dad needs help making it through the day, and a new friend at school might be struggling. This novel in verse deals with dreams, friendship, and coping with loss. The lyrical language lends itself well to the musical focus in the story.

April and Zee are best friends. April longs to learn to play the drums and Zee is a talented violinist, who is moving to a new school where he can focus more on his music. Both are wary of being apart but embrace the change and April, inspired by Zee's determination, finally begins her drum lessons with Zee's dad. When Zee dies and April struggles to cope, she finds it hard to continue her drum lessons and notices that Zee's dad is struggling too, in particular, with his workload as a postman. April tries to help him by delivering some of his post and ends up discovering something about a new friend who is clearly in need of help too.

A brilliant story about things not always being quite what they seem and how everyone, no matter who or how old you are, can help and will need help at some point and that this is OK.

Written in verse, this tells the story of two friends who share a love of music but also share a personal secret. April is learning to be a drummer, and her family friends, Uncle Zee and his son Zander Jr. who also goes by Zee are master drummers who plan to teach her. Unfortunately, Zee has a heart condition and he asks April to keep it a secret. When the secrets begin piling up, April learns that she has to trust in the adults who care about her and Uncle Zee and forgive herself for things beyond her control.

I thought this was a hard book to read, but I recognize the importance of the issues and the connections the characters have for each other. The book was well written and readers will relate to April's struggles.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel in verse. This is truly moving book about grief and all its branches. I think it's going to be heavy for many, but will be the salve for those who need it.

An interesting combination of details here. As an adult reader, I could peer through the text to the subtext, to understand what this was saying about fear and reluctance, and the stresses we put on ourselves. I could grasp that, but I wonder if a young reader will. Will they flounder through the events of this book to understand the context? Or maybe I'm not giving kids enough credit. Either way, it's an emotionally intense and introspective read.

Deep.

Kaija Langley's, The Order Of Things is an incredible novel-in-verse story about loss, grief, and ultimately overcoming it. It is about the changes and adjustments that one faces when they lose a loved one, even at a tender young age. Equally as important, it is about resilience and learning to continue to navigate life when your world has been shaken at its core. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

April Jackson is your typical 11 year old who has dreams of one day of becoming a professional musician like her best friend Zee, a violinist with incredible talent. After watching and supporting him play since forever, April is ready to pursue her dream and passion for playing the drums. When the school year starts and Zee begins at a different school that will hone his musical talents, April remains his biggest fan and supporter and begins to take lesson with Zee's dad.

Both April and Zee are at peak performance when he begins to prepare for a solo that's literally taking all of his time away. Sadly, in a horrible chain of events, Zee suddenly passes away and April is consumed by grief. She comes to find out firsthand how death ravages through families and ultimately changes you.

Driven to help Zee's dad cope with grief, she begins to deliver mail that he's neglected on his route. While doing so, she discovers a classmate is in trouble and finds the courage to do something about it, even at the risk of losing a potential friend.

This is a book that will pull and tug at your heart strings. I had to put it down once and share what I was reading because I was devastated by the suddenness of Zee's passing. I warn you that it can be triggering especially with the themes presented here. Yet, I definitely recommend this book, as I believe the messaging and takeaway to be necessary for all ages.

4.5 stars!

4.5 stars rounded up
Excellent novel in verse. Explores the power of friendship, the consequences of secrets and grief. Highly recommend this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This novel in verse was well-done and captured the truth of grief as a young person. That being said, I found myself wanting more at the end. I'm not sure why I felt unsatisfied but definitely would pick up a sequel to this if the author writes one.

Working with reluctant and struggling readers, my list of narrative poetry and novels in verse if steadily growing. This book is definitely going to join the others in my classroom.


Thank you Penguin Random House, Nancy Paulsen Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

For written in a genre that I don't like, I certainly loved this story.
I love a good coming of age story, and this certainly didn't disappoint.
I love April! I can relate to her, especially along the lines of her musical talent and grief.
Grief has no time limit. One can only try and move forward. That's why I admired April. It's not easy to move forward.
Music soothes soul they say but doesn't lesson the hurt.
My heart broke for Papa Zee too. .
I found myself rooting for him and April.
Change isn't easy but it's what we must do at times even when we're not ready for it. I'm like that too. I hate change.
But, sometimes it's what God is asking us to do. He's testing us.
Life's a journey of lessons, love and forgiveness. Most of all Hope.
Hope at the end of a long and sometimes dark tunnel.
I've always wanted to learn two instruments myself. The banjo and tymphanny.
I do play the Viola. It's a lovely instrument as well.
Hats off to the beautiful cover of this book. To me, I think it tells the story without reading the description itself.
First time I've heard books like these called In Verse. I always say they're written in audio or diary form.
I agreed with other readers. This book should be added to school libraries as I believe it would help anyone dealing with this kind of loss.
The author has done well with these tough subjects.
I enjoyed in getting to know April and Papa Zee. I feel like I've made some new friends. I didn't want to say goodbye. I hope that this author writes more about April in the near future.
5 stars for a heartfelt read!! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book should be in every middle school library, April is a character tweens and teens will easily relate to as she deals with loss, friendship, a single parent exploring new love, and finding her passion. This book-in-verse is well-written and an accessible read both for those who struggle to read as well as for those advanced readers who can make deeper connections to the themes and topics presented. I will definitely add this to my First Chapter Friday list,

I liked this book a lot...just a little shy of loving it. It's written in poetry, which isn't my personal favorite and can also be a hard sell to students. I wish I could tell you why middle schoolers are scared of poetry, but many of them are. When I tell them they can read it just like normal they don't believe me...ha ha. This is a story about a girl and her best friend. They are going to different schools for 6th grade, but he still lives right across the hall and their family's are intertwined so she knows it will be ok...right? And it is, until it's not. Tragedy walks it's way into her life and everything changes. Will she come out on the other side of it the same? Is that even what she wants? Because it's written in poetry I feel like it moves quickly. I was worried early on that the story was going to go the way it ultimately did and it was heartbreaking. I do think it's a great book to help readers understand the various ways grief affects us and that there is no wrong way to grieve. It also made me want to learn to play the drums.

Title: The Order of Things
By: Kaija Langley

Genre:
Narrative Poetry, Realistic Fiction

Recommended Ages:
13 and up

Red Flags:
Loss, grief, addiction, foster care, domestic disputes, depression
(*for some people- the main character's mom dates another woman.)

Summary:
April and Zee are more than the best of friends, they are family. They have attended school together their whole lives, until 6th grade when Zee has the opportunity to attend a performing arts school. Zee is an amazing violinist who spends long hours practicing. April begins to take drum lessons from Zee’s dad, but for April the musical ability takes additional hours of practice. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes even for these best of friends, and life comes to a screeching halt.

Review:
For starters, the online summary spoils the plot for this novel. DON’T READ IT! This is a beautifully written novel in verse with middle grade themes of friendship, family, and most importantly navigating life’s hard decisions. The plot leaves the reader wondering…What would I do? Second guessing the actions of the main character as she is filled with guilt. I love the talented way the author weaved the emotions of a real middle schooler in these real life situations. As an educator, I was slightly concerned about the level of guilt and emotions portrayed in the book for a middle grade read. My students are all on different levels, some could handle the climax while others may struggle with the main characters' decisions.

I am a huge advocate of narrative poetry and novels in verse. I have found this specific genre to be less intimidating for my reluctant readers. The lyrical beauty captures young readers attention and draws them into the novel. Successful narrative poetry takes talent which Kaija Langley has perfected in this novel in verse.


Thank you to Kaija Langley, Penguin Random House, Nancy Paulsen Books, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#theorderofthings
#penguinrandomhouse
#kaijalangley
#netgalley
#advancedreader

This MG novel in verse is a quick read that packs a punch. Grief is the central theme, along with families, relationships, and music.