SO moving, I had to read it twice. Joe Oak does not have an easy life for an eleven year old. He lives with his grandmum and his mom (occasionally) until his grandmother loses the house when his mom skips out on bail. They live in the car briefly until they find a spot in a mobile home park near Joe's friend. Uncle Frankie, the park manager is a go to guy who helps them get things furnished. Just as Joe is beginning to feel his feet under him, BOOM! another major life event throws him into a spiral. Joe's resilience makes him a hero to cheer for until he finally finds a safe place. Lisa Fipps tells a remarkable story.

If you've also read Fipps' Starfish book, you'll know the author tells it like it is. This novel in verse doesn't hold back on the challenges Joe endures. Have your tissues at the ready. I would hesitate to use this one as a class read aloud because the dumpster diving comes from a place of desperation but might read (or be interpreted by students) as funny when read aloud. It would make for a good book club discussion book because there is a lot to discuss!

Books in verse are increasingly popular with middle grade readers. The author has a knack for approaching sensitive topics children are facing and creating fun, entertaining books that many students can relate too.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy! Another important and well crafted novel by Lisa Fipps that will help kids feel seen and cared for.

Another homerun novel in verse by Lisa Fipps (author of Starfish) that will open your heart and your soul. It tackles kids living in poverty, disengaged parents, and the unsung hero adults who help when needed. I highly recommend this for kids who like empathy-building realistic fiction AND for any kid who has experienced food stamps, shopping at Goodwill, inactive parents, trailer home living, etc.

Life has thrown a lot of curve balls Joe's way. Once he gets used things, life throws him a "and then boom" moment. Joe's mom isn't someone he can rely on. He and his grandmum loose their home and have to live their car. Food is scarce and he has dirty old clothes to get by. Luckily there are some superheroes in his life: Grandmum, Ms Swan, his 5th grade teacher, Uncle Frankie, the trailer park caretaker, and his best friends, Hakeem and Nick. When things get really bad, these people help Joe finally feel safe. Recommend to fans of The War That Saved My Life and The Benefits of Being an Octopus.

I could not put this book down. I loved Lisa Fipps's Starfish, and I was looking forward to this novel in verse as well. It did not disappoint. It's a beautiful story of loyal friends who sacrifice and look out for each other. Joe has not had an easy life, and there were times when it was tough to read the hardships he went through because of a misguided parent. This is definitely going on my seventh-grade classroom's bookshelves.

This wonderful story is told in free verse. It's told by Joe, a boy who's mom struggles with commitment. He lives with his grandmother because his mom disappears for long periods of time. When his grandmother dies, Joe is forced to figure things out on his own until a cataclysmic event makes that impossible. This is a story with a lot of heart and I hope lots of readers get a chance to read it.

Joe Oak lives with his grandmum, who acts more like his mom than his actual mom who always seems to have "the itch" to go away and leave Joe behind. Life hits Joe hard and he finds himself trying to fend for himself and his three dogs he found along the way. He learns through the story that it's okay to ask for help and that he has people who care about him.

This novel is so good, but so sad. Poor Joe is trying to do his best and keep everything together in the middle of his grief with his grandmum passing and his mom not being there and not caring. He does the best he can, but he's only eleven and doesn't have any income without grandmum or mom. This book is very similar to Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston.

AND THEN, BOOM! is a novel-in-verse about the challenges of being a child living in poverty. We meet Joe Oak when he and his Grandmum have things mostly under control. Sure, the bills are piling up, and there's never enough money or food around, but at least they have each other. As Joe navigates this life of never enough, he slowly learns that he can rely on the people around him, from Uncle Frank, the mobile home park manager, to his best friends, Nick and Hakeem.
Lisa Fipps's storytelling is engaging and heart-wrenching, as the reader is instantly invested in the safety and well-being of Joe & Grandmum. Readers who have experienced poverty and absentee parents will instantly relate with Joe, and those who haven't will build empathy & compassion for those around them. In my opinion, this is a must-purchase for school libraries & classrooms.

An absolutely captivating read from Lisa Fipps! Joe Oak is one resilient kid. Already living on the brink of disaster due an absentee mother who had gotten in legal trouble, the rug is pulled out from under Joe when his beloved grandmother dies suddenly. Afraid of ending up in the foster system, Joe goes to extremes to keep his situation a secret, even resorting to dumpster diving when he runs out of money for food. Joe's circumstances may help readers understand how someone could work hard and still need food assistance, and how the supports in place often do not cover the full spectrum of human need. Buoyed by caring friends and supportive adults in his community, Joe eventually gets the help he needs and his harrowing tale ends on a hopeful note. This book is sure to cultivate empathy in the hearts of readers, opening their eyes to situations their own classmates may be facing. The pacing of this novel-in-verse is superb. Fipps has a knack for tackling difficult subjects in a way that is both heartbreaking and uplifting.

There is no doubt in my mind that And Then, Boom! will end up on a number of “best” lists or winning awards. Author Lisa Fipps (Starfish) speaks to those on the margins and makes everyone take notice.

And Then, Boom! is a heartbreaking story that makes readers think beyond themselves.

Fipps expertly addresses the shame, fear and desperation that come with poverty. And she shows how just one thing — an unexpected expense — can set off a series of events that can leave people homeless or without food or both.

Everything about And Then, Boom! rings true. And Joe is a character you desperately want to succeed. The people who support Joe — his grandmum, teacher, mobile home park owner, and his friends — help bring lightness to the dark. His two best friends are especially endearing.

And Then, Boom! is a book every older middle reader should read.

Lisa Fipps is THE voice in middle grade novel-in-verse, with prose that rips your heart out and stitches it back together. So many children reading this will feel seen and heard by Joe. He is a true superhero, taking on the Doomsdays of bills, grief, homelessness, and poverty. The onomatopoeia is a stand-out feature, an ode to comic books, and it puts sound to the otherwise-silent traumas that face children.

This book is hard to read. Just like Starfish was hard. There are moments of light, like Joe's friends helping him out in the little ways they can and sweet moments with the Luckies. There are a lot of moments of darkness, particularly in his relationship with his mother and in his week alone, so make sure to check in on your younger readers who pick this up (especially if you know they share any of these experiences).

Her sophomore novel is not to be missed.

A quick read that covers some really heavy topics. As a teacher, I love the inclusion figurative language and math!

Joe, who I took as a white character, has spent his short life being unsure of where his next meal will come from. He mostly lives with his grandma while his mom comes in and out of his life. When living with his grandma is no longer an option, he does everything that he can to avoid letting anyone know about his situation and risk foster care. Although the situation is sad, Joe has some amazing friends and a supportive teacher. A gentle but important look at food insecurity and poverty that should help 4th -7th grader readers become more aware and sensitive about the issue.

Lisa Fipps is proving herself to be a fantastic voice to share the experiences of those often relegated to the margins. In this book she shows the realities of poverty and housing insecurity on a young boy and his grandmother. She handles the subject with sensitivity and honesty. Older readers will feel the depths of both systemic and personal issues that effect the main character. Younger readers will connect to the protagonists' efforts to deal with complicated circumstances, friends, family, hunger and change. The novel in verse style is effective for any reader to dive into the story and it's a propulsive way to tell the story. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced digital copy of this title.

It publishes on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

WOW. When I say I loved Starfish, I l o v e d Starfish. I didn't think it was possible for Fipps to follow that up with the same punch for me, personally.

But she did it. She absolutely sitgen did it.

This is a middle grades realistic fiction novel in verse about a boy who suffers through situational poverty and neglect.

As a mother, my heart ached for Joe as he stood through all of his and then, BOOMs.

As a child that experienced situational poverty, although not nearly to this extent, I felt like Fipps made that part of my heart heal a bit.

As a teacher, I died a little. I've known a few Joes in my life, and I *hope* with all my heart I helped them and saw them.

Fipps' use of super heroes and relatable situations is sure to draw students into this story. Her signature wit and creativeness will keep them in a chokehold as they finish it. This is a book that needs to be on your shelf. This is one for the long haul. And then, Boom! will be prominently featured in my classroom as I feel like it will not only entertain students, but help them build empathy and understanding.

I can't wait for my copy to arrive so I can read it with my daughter.

Lisa Fipps' first book, Starfish, has been the most circulated book in my middle school library since it was published. Every student who reads it is impacted by it, and I think the her second novel, And Then, Boom!, will have a similar impact. Readers will immediately be interested in Joe and the difficult circumstances with which he deals. You immediately put yourself in his shoes and root for him throughout the novel. The story moves quickly and is written in verse, which is very appealing to middle school readers. I have already pre-ordered several copies for our library, and I know it will be very popular when the copies arrive.

A heartfelt story about friendship and kindness. This novel in verse dealt with heavy topics but did so in an approachable way. I think this novel would be great for newer middle grade readers.

At first thought, I didn't think the cartoonish cover matched the story of this book. I expected a lighter storyline but was met with heavy drama. The book written in verse was actually a heart-wrenching story of a boy who tries to be Superman, holding the weight of a troubled and dysfunctional parent and the care of an elderly grandparent. He is always waiting for the other shoe to drop, hence the title, "And Then, Boom!" When bad things happen, he tries valiantly to keep everything together.

I loved the book. I think it's perfect for middle grades and older. Because it is written in verse, it is a quick read. It quickly grabs the reader from the first page and holds on to your heartstrings to the very end.

I was given a free advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own.