Lisa has done it again! This book is spectacular and gives insight into the lives of so many precious youth who struggle with the and then booms of life. This book, like Starfish, is sure to grace state book award lists in the coming future. I can't wait until I can have this book in my library and in the hands of my students who need to read it.

Joe lives with his beloved Grandmum and has done ever since his mom walked out on him. She comes back sometimes but Joe can never rely on her sticking around. Any day, she could get The Itch and be gone. Joe's life with Grandmum isn't easy. Grandmum works two jobs but they still don't have enough food to eat or money for bills. By the time Joe's friend Nick tells them about a mobile home available in the park where he lives, Joe and Grandmum have been living in the car.

Joe's whole life is full of trauma and adversity but the common theme throughout is one of kindness and compassion. There are so many characters who want to help Joe and it takes him a while to get used to this.

I loved this book. Joe's life is unbelievably difficult and what stood out for me as key to this story is the importance of kindness

Joe must navigate losing his grandmother who was his main caregiver and trying to handle his neglectful mother with keeping a roof over his head and food in the cabinets. This book was hard to read at times when Joe's situation becomes dire, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Lisa Fipps does it again! This novel-in-verse will help build empathy with students- but without being pedantic. Wholeheartedly recommend.

Another powerful novel in verse, full of heartbreak and hope from Lisa Fipps. Joe, his family and his friends are realistic and relatable while also offering a deeper look into a life that many kids may not have experienced personally. Hunger, homelessness, loss and more are explored from Joe's eyes and his resiliency, acceptance of the need for help and openness with his friends can connect with readers when they come across their next and then, boom moments. Can't wait to share this one in the library with my readers and excited to see what Lisa Fipps comes out with next!

This is one of the major kidlit releases, Lisa Fipps' follow-up to Starfish (which I liked a lot!)...and I was disappointed...

At some point early on I realized there was no external conflict, like it is just all bad things happening to our main character. I suppose there is a little lesson in there about "asking for help," but then he ends up in the most perfect foster care situation. And that is just...very rare. It does not handle that aspect complexly and instead it's like a magic ending fixing everything. This is not a book about the larger systematic issue of child poverty and abuse but a fairy tale. The only helpers are individual actors on their own good will.

There is also an increasing number of intense all the way to very unlikely scenarios and a lot of it starts to feel like it's asking to be held up by an audience of middle class white teacher talking about how inspirational it all is, which I'm pretty sure has happened. Meanwhile, the kid literally eats dog food. It feels gratuitous. There are multiple parts that aren't necessary additions to how bad of a situation it is.

And the kid just can't be saved, he has to be an inspiration and give back by installing little free pantries!

This was a wonderful novel in verse. Perfect for upper elementary and middle school students. Lisa Fipps really knows how to pull at your heartstrings.

Cover: The cover is appealing for elementary and middle school students. I see students looking at this cover and grabbing it to check out.

Lisa Flips ability to portray hardship that children experience in their everyday lives through poetry is extraordinary.

Once again Lisa Fipps rips out your heart and puts it back together. And Then, Boom! is a beautiful novel that teaches empathy about food insecurity, and how the unhoused might be sitting next to you in school. Joe's mom is unreliable and leaves him with his grandmother who struggles to provide financial security, but provides Joe with all the love he needs. When circumstances become dire, Joe must learn to trust his friends and other grownups who can help. I highly recommend this book for about 4th grade and up, including adults. This is a great story for all ages.

The author of the beloved novel in verse STARFISH brings the same heart and soul to her sophomore novel (also in verse) AND THEN, BOOM! Lisa Fipps is such a talented author, utilizing poetry in all the best ways to make Joe's story matter. Immediately the reader can connect with Joe and his Grandmum, who are living with poverty, food insecurity, and the daily fear of homelessness. Joe's big, honest heart make him a character to root for, especially when things go from bad to worse. Like STARFISH, this is a book that will be read and reread. Perfect for book clubs, readalouds, reluctant readers - everyone can benefit from this heartbreaking perspective on the power of kindness and resilience.

After reading (and loving) Lisa Fipps' widely acclaimed debut novel Starfish, I knew I had to read her second standalone novel in verse, And Then, Boom! I'll admit, based on the cover alone, I expected this one to have more lighthearted content than Starfish, but it was, in my opinion, even more thematically challenging. The book follows Joe, a middle grade student whose home life has always been a bit turbulent, to say the least. Dealing with abandonment, poverty, homelessness, and grief, Joe must learn to lean on and confide in his community of friends, teachers, and neighbors.

What I loved:
- The format: Lisa Fipps knows how to write an excellent middle grade novel in verse.
- The authentic portrayal of heavy themes: In the epilogue to the book, Fipps writes about how much of the novel was inspired by her own experiences, and this shows through in her writing.
- The "found family" aspect: Joe's mother is objectively terrible, but he has a wonderful and supportive community around him. These supporting characters were my favorite part of the book.

I highly recommend this one for middle grade libraries and lit circles.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy!

Lisa Fipps does it again with her book “And Then, Boom!” As a novel written in verse, it packs a powerful punch on the topics of poverty, hunger, found family, and asking for help.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Fipps as it is, but if I wasn’t already, this book would win me over. Our main character, a male, is living with his grandmother because his absent mother is nowhere to be found. Even though his grandmother does her best, they still live in poverty, and only through the help of his friends are they able to find a stable home. When something forces his mother to come home, our main character is unable to come to terms with all he needs. Can his friends continue to help him? Read to find out.

Lisa Fipp's And The Boom bursts onto the page full of life and longing. Joe Oak and his grandmother are clawing their way out of poverty after his mother's abandonment of the family and his mother's misuse of his grandmother's savings. Watching Joe slowly open up about living in their car, and finding food, and finally a trailer to share is heart wrenching, but after his grandmother's sudden loss and another abandonment, Joe is on his own, and desperate to stay that way. The author has crafted a story that keeps her readers turning page after page, long after they should be going to bed. Highly recommend.

And Then, Boom! is one of those books that my middle school students call an Important Issue book. It isn't full of carefree days, but it does have a protagonist you can root for while you are wincing at just how bad life has gotten for Joe. Joe's mom is irresponsible and neglectful, taking off to leave him with his grandmother (Grandmum). Life goes from bad to worse in the "banana," their home in the trailer park as Joe deals with a level of food insecurity that none of my students could imagine. Putting yourself in Joe's shoes isn't easy, yet it's eye-opening. But this book is not as heavy as it sounds: the verse novel format makes it easier to digest and the onomatopoeia keeps it light and engaging. Joe's friends -- whose small kindnesses make huge differences -- give the average reader behaviors to aspire to. Once the dogs enter the scene, you can't help but root for all of them to make it. My only quibble? The foreshadowed climax was a little too fantastical for my liking, though my students might love it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy! Another important and well crafted novel by Lisa Fipps Joe has to face many obstacles in this heart wrenching story written in verse.

A decent representation of the lengths a kid will go to in order to protect their family. Half emotional journey half survival story with a good bit of realization of the helpers in his life. A quick but harrowing read.

Joe’s life has become more unstable, with an uncaring mom who has taken off again and a beloved grandmum who is doing her best to keep them housed and fed. Joe tries to put on a good face at school, but it’s obvious to his classmates and teacher that something has changed. When an unexpected, tragic “Boom!” happens, Joe is forced to make decisions for himself he never expected, putting himself and his newly adopted pups in a precarious position. After a fateful storm wreaks havoc, Joe’s life turns upside down. With a little support with his friends and caring adults, he eventually remembers that even superheroes need help sometimes.

Lisa Fipps has once again written a book featuring a character facing challenges most of us will never experience. Joe's story highlights the importance of supportive friends and teachers, while also focusing on the ways we as readers can notice and help those who may be struggling. It is a realistic and authentic look into a tough subject, and Joe's story will make an impact on your heart.

I was blown away by Lisa Fipps yet again. And Then, Boom is the story of a young boy Joe Oak whose life blows up. Joe somehow manages to ride out the storm of his life. No child should have to experience these hardships, but so many do have stories like Joe's. This is a poignant well written novel that is for the middle school crowd. I have some 5th grade students that are ready for this book, but it isn't likely to be read by most or fully understood. I highly recommend this book.

And Then, Boom is a beautifully written novel in verse about a very difficult topic. The struggles the main character, Joe, goes through are very real and realistic. Fipps does a wonderful job of balancing honesty with hope and sensitivity. While his struggles were heartbreaking I found myself cheering for him the entire time. I loved this book!!

And then, BOOM! by Lisa Fipps is a novel-in-verse that captures the resilience and spirit of a young boy navigating the rotten hands that life has doled out to him. Joe's life is a series of "and then, boom" moments—unexpected crises that threaten to topple him but ultimately see him land on his feet, much like the superheroes he admires. The onomatopoeia throughout the book brilliantly mirrors the chaos and sudden changes Joe experiences. Despite the instability caused by his mom's erratic presence and the loss of his beloved grandmother, Joe's journey is marked by the heartwarming support he finds in his community. These relationships are a testament to the power of found family and the kindness of strangers.

Joe's superhero-like resilience shines through as he navigates the dire circumstances of being left alone, facing hunger, and the threat of foster care. Joe's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of community. Joe is a true superhero, not because of superpowers, but because of his unwavering determination and the love he finds in unexpected places. This novel is a touching and inspiring read that will resonate with readers of all ages.