In 1940s New York, the ongoing war means that Dory and her two brothers must learn to manage while their father is overseas. With friendly neighbors and an opposite-of-friendly landlord, the three siblings face the adventures and problems of life during WWII in New York.

Like A Place the Hang the Moon, I loved the sweet, loving (while not having to be perfect) sibling relationships in this book. Dory’s determined spirit and problem-solving attitude made her a great character. And the NYC setting added to the fun with all the mentions of different foods and shops in their neighborhood.

If you love A Place to Hang the Moon and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Nothing Else But Miracles will be a great addition to your reading list.

Sweet and inspiring story of three siblings making it on their own in NYC during WWII. This is one you won't want to miss.

Nothing Else But Miracles is the story of a fiercely brave 12-year-old named Dory Byrne. Dory's dad is off fighting in WWII and she has been left in New York with her 2 brothers, one older and one younger. While trying to take care of themselves, they also need to lay low so that no one knows they are living alone. The last thing they need is a visit from social services. They're not too worried because their father has always told them, “the neighborhood will give you what you need.” This turns out to be true in the most wonderful ways. This story is so charming and heartwarming. The characters are delightful!

Thanks to Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink, Margaret Ferguson Books, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.

This book was a perfect mix of emotions and made me feel like I was with the kids in their journey and feelings.

When their father is called upon to fight in World War II, Dory and her brothers are left behind in their apartment in NYC’s lower east side. With not quite yet adult oldest brother Fish left in charge, the siblings must use their skills and work together to survive in the face of financial challenges and a spiteful landlord who threatens to reveal that they lack parental supervision, all while they worry about whether their father will return.

While the story unfolds from Dory’s perspective, each of the siblings is a well-developed character with their own personality and strengths that are called on during the story. The sibling relationships are authentic and engaging. A variety of characters from their neighborhood who help and support the siblings add depth to the story and show readers the importance of community, especially during times of hardship.

With its inclusion of famous NYC landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Coney Island and its portrayal of the neighborhood where the family resides, the city setting itself plays an important role in the action. A beautiful piece of historical fiction, Nothing Else But Miracles is a must read for middle grade fans of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

I've decided that Kate Albus is an author I'll read whenever she has a new book out because she combines two of my favourite genres-middle trade and historical fiction- in the best way possible!

In her latest book, the protagonist Dory is dealing with some big challenges. Thier father has left to fight in the war and she, along with her brothers, must pretend he's still around to avoid the wrath of their landlord. But they are found out, but luckily Dory finds a secret hotel they can hide out in.

The entire story is delightful and is written in Albus's signature style of endearing warmth reminiscent of your favourite childhood books. The ending is unpredictable but as with most MG books, it's a sweet one although you are kept guessing. I also love how the fourth wall is broken in places and the fact that Dory is such a well-written character with so many specific character traits.

Recommended! Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for the eArc.

This is an ARC review and these are my honest thoughts and opinions. This is a fictional story that takes place within the lower east side of New York City during WW2 ,The main characters are 3 children (ages 17 Fish, 12 Dory, and 8 Pike)who's father has shipped out to war. They are left to fend for themselves while he's away, and things get a bit chaotic as they try and hold the family together. My heart broke for the children, living in fear not knowing when or if their dad would ever make it home to them. However all in all this book was a good read that
I will definitely recommend to others!
I want to say thank you to Kate Altus and Netgalley for my ARC to read and review. As always ,please check the TW!

Another heartwarming book by the very talented author, Kate Albus!

Although I loved the domestic English village details of the first book a lot more, I really enjoyed this story of three NYC siblings waiting for their father to come home from the war.

This middle grade book was much more plot-driven than her first book, but the characters were all interesting, well rounded and likable. There were a lot of twists and turns, surprises and disappointments, sadness and happiness in this story.

I think I was most interested in the Author’s Note at the end that showed a photo of one of the actual places in NYC that inspired the story. Reading the history of this particular area of the city during war time was riveting!

I loved the setting of the story. Kate Albus did a great job of making you think you were in Manhattan in the 1940’s-50’s. Dory is quite the character! She has spunk and lots of determination.. I really enjoyed this book:

Nothing Else But Miracles reminds us the vitality of community in a world marked with the cruelty of war. As we find ourselves following a small family of four in the large city of New York’s Lower East Side we come to understand the value of small and necessary kindnesses.

Nothing Else But Miracles has an omniscient narrator who occasionally steps aside so one of the Byrnes might share their (third-person) thoughts. Middle-child Dory is our primary character, but the story allows us a beautiful opportunity to take a moment with her father, Hurley, before he goes off to war. It is one of the earliest kindnesses of the novel to see Hurley Byrnes’ decision-making process when a second conscription notice lands in his mailbox. There is a certain cruelty in a situation that would leave three motherless children also fatherless in a call to arms. We observe another cruelty in how the father is perceived as an able-bodied male staying behind when all others have gone off to war. Ultimately, though, we are left with the breath-taking generosity of a father hoping to spare the eldest son “he sees as going places.”
“He didn’t mean places like Germany and Japan, either, places where there was ‘wholesale murder’ afoot. ‘You’re gonna build ships one day. Not fight wars on them’ (12).”

Hurley places an incredible amount of faith in his community; and they prove him right. But there are circumstances no one could foresee—except maybe Dory, kinda (14-15). Mr. Bergen dies and their apartment building comes under new (and uncharitable) management months into their father’s deployment.

The Byrnes children are: Fisher, 17, Junior into Senior year, (unpaid) apprenticing, and working to be an emotionally and physically present father-figure. Dory, 12, Sixth into Seventh, and the Ramona Quimby of historical fiction. Pike, a young 8, who lives at (and for) the Library and is quick with the math. He’s the book-ish counterpart to Dory’s more hands-on approach. By no means think Dory isn’t smart—the use of those sacks of potatoes was really smart regardless of the context.

The sibling dynamic is one of the primary reasons to read the novel. Albus nails it. The characterization of each is endearing enough, but the relational aspect is the heart of the novel. Expand outward, as she does with the setting/world, and we get the generative depth of neighbors, classmates, shop keepers, teachers, restauranteurs. Albus will even give us a heart-warming relationship with a statue.

Dory is our central figure—and what a fantastically compelling one. Eschewing dresses when she can but donning lipstick when she has to, Dory is a practical girl with daring schemes. She is stubborn and soft-hearted. Her courage often crossing into foolishness. She is the art of mischief, and the very heart of an adventurer. I adore her completely—even when she is grief-screaming at the easy-to-love Fisher.

The novel opens with Dory failing to do what was expected of her, failing to contribute to the household of siblings. The entire household is still trying to adjust to their father’s incredibly fraught absence (spoilers, they won’t ever actually “adjust”). It isn’t as if Dory isn’t trying. She has feelings about the situation in which they (and others) find themselves thanks to the war (and other things), but she will do what needs doing. Doring is nothing if not practical—daringly so. It’s Dory’s daring that comes round to rescue them when faced with a problematic new landlord.

Of course, the daring happened before the Byrnes siblings knew they needed it. Albus is good about establishing those resources whether they’re needed or not (see Diamond earring). Many of the community members who help are relationships established over time and are now coming through with food, supplies, watchful eyes, and some clutch eavesdropping. But some are the resources are within the children themselves by them being themselves.

It's a marvelous aspect of Nothing Else But Miracles that we get such beautiful glimpses of childhood despite the painful reality of war: the school dance; the deli run; the pool; Coney Island; the painting prank pulled on Fisher… I adore the sensitive, kind expressions of the boys and men in the novel and I love the sheer physicality and assertive natures in the girls and women.

When I was sketching out thoughts on Dory Byrnes, I wrote that she “challenges the boundaries of traditional normativity/expectation and epitomizes the very spirit of childhood.” But I could say that of any of the Byrnes children, and even the novel itself.

Once you find the rhythm of the narrator, Nothing Else But Miracles is an effortless, well-paced read. The transitions between characters are smooth. The tensions rise and fall. Albus artfully measures out the sorrow and levity; the carefree and the weighty reality; the cruel and the kind (some of these solely to/for the readership). Albus leaves some minor things to the reader’s imaginations (cigars, hotels), but she delivers the most important kindness: a well-timed and satisfying conclusion.

Nothing Else But Miracles is a marvelous addition to historical fiction and to the shelves who remind us of the importance of community. It’s also an engaging read for those who enjoy touches of romance, and/or daring adventure. It’ll be an accessible read of a really dark, tumultuous time for those who could use a capable storyteller and heroine to carry you through. And if you love the appearance of lists (like I do), welcome.

Other authors who come to mind: Erin Entrada Kelly and Tae Keller.

What a wonderful, heartfelt story. I loved Dory's character. And be sure to have tissue at hand for the very-satisfying ending!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley. I really loved Albus' first book, A Place to Hang the Moon, so I was excited to read this one. While I didn't find it quite as good as it's predecessor, Nothing Else but Miracles was still a great read. I liked that it offered the perspective of WWII from an American family, as well as the sense of community and love the neighborhood offered the Byrnes.

I really enjoyed Kate Albus' "Nothing Else but Miracles" but am not sure I would want my own middle grader to read it without me. The book is a story about three siblings left on their own in New York while their father goes off to war. Their mother is already dead and the father thinks the oldest at seventeen the neighbors can keep the kids in check. The middle child is our protagonist and though fun to follow, she lies and steals quite a bit with little to no remorse. The siblings have very believable relationships, and the friendships are sweet too. As an adult I give this one five stars, but as a middle grade more like three. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy to review.

World War II was in full-force when Dory Byrne's father left to fight. Now Dory and her two brothers are on their own, with their father's assurance that the community will help them while he's gone. Nothing Else but Miracles by Kate Albus (Margaret Ferguson Books, September 2023) tells the story of this spunky tween as she finds the everyday miracles around her. I personally was disappointed in the story (especially after Albus' A Place to Hang the Moon, which I loved), mostly because Dory's success was built around lying to those around her.

Nothing Else But Miracles is a well-written and clever middle grade novel of World War II. It has a unique setting and independent characters and provides a memorable look at families left behind during World War II. For me it falls very short of the majesty of other novels of the about this historical era. The blatant dishonesty seriously brings the book down in my esteem as a worthwhile novel for middle grade readers. I personally wouldn't recommend it for that reason.

[In order to avoid spoilers here, I've put my full review on my blog.}

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sweet, humorous story with a gentle yet engaging plot! I loved the heartwarming ending and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the eARC of this book.
So anyone who knows me, knows I love historical fiction. Often, the time period does not matter, but I am especially partial to books about World War 2.
I was able to “meet” Kate because of World Read Aloud Day. She was so gracious and worked with the crazy schedule at my school. In one of the classes, she talked about her upcoming released called Nothing Else but Miracles. She gave the background of the story and I was enthralled. After finishing the book, meeting the characters, and living in New York for a short time, I love it even more. This is a story with great heart, letting readers know about how the rest who were left behind when soldiers went across the pond managed and survived.
Please share this book widely and to as many readers as you can. As to me I know nothing else but miracles.

Kate Albus knows how to write wholesome sibling dynamics. I couldn’t help but love and care for these young characters. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for what historical middle grade she comes out with next.

Will read anything Kate Albus writes. Truly.

Kate's A PLACE TO HANG THE MOON became one of my favorite books of all time, so I was *very* excited to read what she put out next. And let me say: Kate is one of the greats, because NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES was just as stunning.

Kate's second book -- another MG historical fiction story -- tells the story of three sibling on the Lower East Side of Manhattan during WWII. While waiting for their dad to come home from the fight, the Byrne siblings carry on with the help of their neighborhood. But with a grouchy landlord out to reveal their parent-less dwelling, they need a place to escape. Then twelve-year-old Dory discovers a hideout, an old hotel abandoned for decades that provides them the home -- and the miracles -- they need.

Based on a very real place in old New York and steeped in the history of the last year of World War II, NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES shows how, when things get tough, the neighborhood really will give you what you need… and may even offer up a miracle or two in the process.

Kate has a magical way of crafting stories that are so heartfelt and tender, funny and engaging, meaningful and thoughtful, so seamlessly weaved into one beautiful story. They're books you hold close to your chest. They're books you cherish.

It's one I'm going to be thinking about -- and recommending -- this book for a long time. Add Kate's books to your TBR immediately!

Thank you to Kate for the ARC (and Netgalley/Holiday House for the e-ARC) in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. NOTHING ELSE BUT MIRACLES is out 9/5/23!

Albus’ debut novel, A Place to Hang the Moon, is one of my favorite middle grade books ever, so I was very excited to get a copy of her sophomore novel. This sweet middle grade book is perfect for fans of historical fiction with scrappy heroines. Dory is a girl living with her father and brothers in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during World War II. After losing her mother years earlier, Dory takes pride in her self-sufficiency and how the neighborhood looks out for each other. When her father gets conscripted into the Navy and puts her 17 year old brother in charge, Dory is bereft, and left to her own devices, trouble soon follows. As the kids hide from the authorities in an abandoned building, they realize the true meaning of family and what it takes to make a home.

This book was so sweet and hopeful. I just adored Dory’s plucky attitude and her tenacity. Her older brother, Fish, was portrayed in such a heartfelt way - a young man on the cusp of adulthood who is thrust into an impossible situation. And their little brother, Pike, is adorable. I can’t imagine leaving three children alone, but I understood the father’s decision and loved how the community rallied around them.

I loved the cast of characters from the busybody women and reclusive man living in their apartment building to the friends Dory has at school. I thought the author did a great job at creating realistic kids who still want to be kids in the midst of war without glossing over the sad realities of war. This book is a great way to introduce your kids to the homefront issues happening during the war, which are often forgotten with the focus on battles.

I highly recommend this book!

I'm sure I wasn't the only to do a little happy dance in my mind when I found out there's a new book coming out in September from Kate Albus, author of A Place to Hang the Moon. Any of you fellow happy dancers? Kate's debut novel completely stole my heart and won an honored place on my shelf, so I couldn't wait to see what she'd write next!
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Like A Place to Hang the Moon, Kate's second book is set during the Second World War, but Nothing Else But Miracles takes place on the other side of the pond, in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Twelve-year-old Dory Byrne and her brothers Fisher and Pike have to fend for themselves while their young father is fighting overseas. They rely, as their father told them to, on their neighborhood—their community in Manhattan that has always been there for them. But when their friendly landlord suddenly dies, their security is threatened. Luckily the neighborhood steps up in an unexpected way—Dory discovers an old, abandoned hotel, accessed only through a rickety hand-operated elevator, above their friend's restaurant. Hiding away there provides them the secrecy and safety they need when their father goes missing—all the while their neighbors continue to provide them with the love and help they didn't even know they needed.

Did I really have to say more than "old, abandoned hotel" for you to know I'm obsessed about this story? I mean, HOW COOL IS THAT? (And it's based on a real place!) Add it to my list with Bag End, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Boxcar Children's boxcar, of "places books convinced me I want to live."

But beyond the evocative setting, Dory's story has a heart as big as the Big Apple itself. Her struggle to find safety in insecure times, to choose love over resentment, and to cling to hope when all seems lost are what make Nothing Else But Miracles a truly excellent book, and one that you'll want to share with everyone you know.