A remarkable story of the relationship between brothers and what can happen when promises are broken. Will forgiveness save the relationship? Great read for students experiencing making decisions that impact their lives after high school.

While some elements of this novel won't be relevant to the average reader, this is a solid read. It's an artfully written picture of a middle grade kid already shouldering a fair amount of responsibility. His sense of guilt and his brother's accident cause the situation to spiral nearly out of control. This becomes a story of a kid trying to do too much, to "fix" a tragedy all on his own. His efforts follow a believable pattern. The characters are strong and believable. And most importantly, the resolution is realistic. There are no miracle cures, just a sense of hope as the family adjusts to their new normal.

Crystal Allen has such a gift for developing characters that feel like people you know. This book, Between Two Brothers, features two very close and loving brothers who end up supporting each other in many ways. There are big themes of courage and conviction and finding your path, commitment to service and community. There is also a boatload of information about traumatic brain injuries that is super interesting. I thought this was terrific and I think the kids are going to like this one too.

"Between Two Brothers" is an emotionally resonant tale that weaves a poignant narrative around family, forgiveness, and the unwavering strength of sibling bonds. Inspired by real events, this middle-grade gem stands out as a testament to the power of love and resilience.
Isaiah "Ice" Abernathy's admiration for his older brother, Seth, forms the beating heart of the story. The duo share a special bond, transitioning seamlessly from brothers to best friends. As Seth embarks on his senior year, Ice eagerly anticipates making lasting memories before his brother leaves for college. However, an unexpected turn of events propels the narrative into an exploration of regret, forgiveness, and the unpredictable nature of life.
The plot takes a poignant twist when Seth, in a rush to leave, misses a crucial event, leading to a heated argument with Ice. The tension between the brothers sets the stage for a rollercoaster of emotions, compelling the reader to delve into the complexities of their relationship. When Seth meets with an accident, the story takes a heart-wrenching turn, leaving him hospitalized and facing an uncertain recovery. Ice, gripped by fear and guilt, emerges as the unlikely hero, choosing to defy medical expectations and guide his brother through the challenging journey of rehabilitation.
The author masterfully navigates the delicate balance between realistic fiction and heartwarming inspiration, creating a narrative that resonates with readers of all ages. The themes of forgiveness and unconditional love are delicately threaded throughout the story,
The characters are authentically portrayed, and their emotional journey adds depth to the narrative. Ice's determination to help Seth recover becomes a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The writing is engaging, with a perfect blend of sensitivity and relatability, capturing the essence of the middle-grade genre.
"Between Two Brothers" is a must-read for anyone seeking a touching and uplifting story that explores the transformative power of familial love. This book is a five-star masterpiece that will leave readers with a renewed appreciation for the strength found in the bonds between siblings.

Isaiah “Ice” worships his brother Seth. Ice is quiet and unsure of himself. Seth is always there to encourage & support Isaiah. Seth is a senior and preparing for college. Isaiah is trying to make all his time with his brother count. Suddenly Seth announces that he got is leaving earlier to go to college. Then a Seth is in a horrible accident and the family is turned upside down. Isaiah never gives up on his brother.

I couldn’t put this one down. It made me smile & cry. I can’t wait to share this one with others!

Isaiah (aka Ice) and his older brother have always been extremely close despite their 5-year age difference. Seth is a star cross-country runner about to graduate and head to nearby Texas A&M University on a scholarship. 13-year-old Ice is already fretting about his brother leaving so he plans to make their last year at home together one to remember.

When Ice finds out that Seth plans to accept early college admission, he's devastated. Now he and Seth have even less time together before Seth has to leave for school! Just when Ice thinks things can't get any worse, Seth is involved in a life-changing car accident. Ice is determined to bring his best friend/brother back from the new world he's living in, trapped inside his own body.

This story is sweet and touching. I needed several tissues while reading it. Highly recommended for middle-grade readers and everyone who loves middle-grade fiction!

Huge thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this wonderful book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book! It was a beautiful and heartfelt story that really showcased the love between Isaiah and his older brother Sean.

The story, while ultimately about perseverance and hope, is a sad one. Sean is in a terrible car accident and the lives of the Abernathy family is altered forever. Although Sean is a high school senior and star athlete, and Isaiah is in middle school, the two brothers have always been close.

Isaiah believes in Seth’s recovery even when the odds are against him. His brother has always been there for him, so he decides to return the favor and work extra hard to help Seth despite the difficult path ahead.

Recommend for young readers. Appreciated the heartfelt note from the author at the end including her family’s personal connection to this story. A must for disability literature month!

Between Two Brothers will require much tissue throughout this story of two brothers, Isaiah and Seth, who have always been close. Tragedy will challenge everything about their relationship as well as those between friends and family. Crystal Allen calls upon real life experiences with physicians, therapists and family to bring an honesty to the interactions between main characters such as high school cross country star’s best friend Juan Carlos, 8th grader Isaiah and his best friend Zurie and interesting secondary characters Rhino and Unc. Several of those display significant changes over time and the catalysts of that change provide ample material for ELA teachers. Feelings of joy, anger, hopelessness abound giving writing coaches great examples of how authors can convey those emotions with the turn of a phrase, a setting and more. While all this literary merit is present, readers are unlikely to muse about their presence as they will be too drawn into the story and eager to reach its satisfying, if not perfect, conclusion. Hope is present throughout giving those same readers a chance to see some light at the end of their own dark tunnels. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is limited to one traffic accident that is not described in any grotesque way. Representation: Main characters are Black and Dominican; a church congregation and people of faith are presented in a positive way.

Isaiah is in Middle School and his athletic brother Seth is a senior in High School making plans to go to college. The brothers live on a small farm and the family is very close. Their father has worked at the BMP meat packing plant for many years to supplement the family's income. Although he was an excellent worker, he is laid off after a BMP speeding truck struck Seth and left him brain damaged and paralyzed. <p>How Isaiah, his friends, and family reacted to this tragedy is compelling. Together with Seth's therapists, his parents' lawyer. and the community as a whole, they set on a path to try to make Seth whole again. I liked this story, and I think you will too.

60/100 or 3.00 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think the author did a good job of balancing the topics that is still appropriate for the target audience. I did enjoy the story, but it took a while to get into the plot and there were sections that dragged on a little too long for me. Overall, it is a good story about the power of family and the strength to heal.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray, and Netgalley for an e-arc for an exchange for an honest review. Between Two Brothers was such a great book. This book showed the joy of the love between the brothers and how much their relationship matters.

This story was a beautiful tribute on how the love between siblings can create miracles. It made me laugh at times and others had tears pouring down my face. And I’m just a little insulted “Walk It Out” was called a golden oldie.