Wow! Do I really need to say anything more than, wow! It breaks my heart that any kid ever has to go through something like a parent with an addiction, add in the estranged family awkwardness and you have a riveting story. The characters are relatable, including those we wouldn’t initially consider by ‘wearing the shoes’ of someone we don’t immediately agree with. Dunlap weaves an emotional tale that is captivating and enjoyable to read. Even if this is a world that you would never find yourself in, it is a book that provides enjoyment and delivers a level of increased empathy for others.

Racing the Clouds was a surprising middle grade book -- I enjoyed the "fish out of water" scenes as Sage meets her grandparents and learns more about her mother's childhood, and I thought the author did a great job surprising the readers again and again, really reinforcing the don't judge people until you know them theme of the book.

I think my kids will enjoy this one!

Her grandparents have ignored Sage for thirteen years. And now they want to meet her. Sage has enough other stuff going on that she doesn't need one more thing. But this could be the letter that changes everything. Or not. As in it happened on Saturday, Dunlap's characters are spot on, from Sage's best friend Alejandro to her snooty grandmother. The truth about Sage is revealed slowly, one morsel at a time, and you want to read on to get more. It is a beautifully woven story of a young girl navigating a very difficult situation. It's a story that youngsters can turn to when they need to find solace and understanding.

Racing the Clouds was a story about a young girl navigating her place within a family with many unknowns. Sydney does a great job weaving big topics into an overall positive story. Should you choose to read this, and you should, work through the slow start. The story, and character development comes in strong after the halfway point.

Thank you NetGalley, Sydney Dunlap and North Star Editions for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions shared are my own.

While this has been the publishing cycle of addicted parent novels, I appreciated Dunlap's approach of highlighting the parent's descent into addiction rather than just highlighting the aftermath. It showed that the mom hadn't always been this way and that this is the sort of thing that could happen to anyone which helped humanize her character and struggles. Sage clearly has some PTSD, dealing with the guilt and concerns around her mother's addiction, as well as a lot of confusion about family relationships. Overall, Dunlap did a good job highlighting the complexities of these family relationships as well as forgiving oneself and others. A recommendation for fans of Kyra, Just for Today and other reads that look at how addiction impacts children.

Racing the Clouds is full of emotion and turmoil, but also hope. Sage feels guilt after an accident that greatly affected her family. She wonders, if only things were differnet that one night. When her grandparents reach out and want to meet her for the first time, she agrees, hoping this could be the thing that fixes her family.

I love how Sage perseveres through her struggles and does not give up , even when times get tough.

Sydney Dunlap’s Racing the Clouds is an emotionally powerful novel that explores trauma, resilience, and the complexities of family relationships through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Sage. From the very beginning, Sage’s inner turmoil is palpable, making her a relatable and deeply human protagonist. Her story is one of loss, guilt, and the difficult process of healing—an experience that will resonate with many readers, especially those who have faced hardship within their own families.
Sage’s life is upended by a tragic car accident involving her mother, an event that forces her and her father to relocate to a trailer park in rural Virginia. The story unfolds in a way that slowly reveals the depths of Sage’s pain, particularly her feelings of responsibility for what happened. Through fragmented memories and interactions with her father, we begin to understand that her mother’s struggles with drug abuse played a significant role in their family’s instability. The weight of this trauma is evident in Sage’s attempts to reconnect with her estranged maternal grandparents, hoping that by doing so, she can mend what has been broken.
Dunlap handles the topic of addiction with incredible sensitivity, highlighting its far-reaching impact—especially on children. Too often, the effects of substance abuse on young people are overlooked, but Racing the Clouds offers an unflinching yet compassionate look at how deeply it can shape a child’s sense of self and family. Sage’s journey toward understanding that she is not to blame, and that healing is possible, is both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Despite the heavy themes, the novel is not without hope. Sage’s newfound friendship and the bond she forms with a stray dog provide moments of warmth and connection. These relationships serve as a reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it requires support, kindness, and the courage to face painful truths.
Once again, Sydney Dunlap proves her ability to tackle difficult subjects with grace, making them accessible for young readers while never diminishing their significance. Racing the Clouds is a beautifully written, thought-provoking story that sheds light on an important issue, offering solace to those who need it and awareness to those who have yet to understand it. A must-read for anyone looking for a heartfelt, realistic portrayal of resilience in the face of adversity.

Racing the Clouds is a poignant insight into the struggle of a child processing trauma. Dunlap has crafted a middle grade read that teeters between what feels like both reality and fiction, it was clear from the first chapter that Dunlap had experience with a loved one with addiction. Addiction is a complex and difficult topic which was approached with immense care. Sage, our main character, is thirteen years old and has been struggling to cope with the sudden big change that happened last fall. When her mothers parents, her grandparents, whom she has never met sends a letter inviting her to their home she immediately agrees. Of course, this complicated by the fact that her grandparents weren't on speaking terms with their Sage's mother or father and they live all the way in Ohio. This story follows Sage as she tries to re-write the night it all changed and fix all the things she felt went wrong leading up to it. Dunlap truly nailed a childs perspective of trauma throughout this story as Sage's inner dialogue was very realistic for her age. I really appreciated how the story focused on Sage's processing of the events through her re-writes of the night without us as the readers being recounted the actual events of that night until much later in the story. Sage leans on her support system often throughout this story which is so very important to see in middle grade literature as Alejandro and Marla are both wonderful friends to her. Of course, sometimes we may need a professional's help to process what we went through and this comes up a few times throughout the story. I think the most important thing this story reminds kids of is that they are not alone. Sometimes events happen that we won't fully understand but that doesn't mean our feelings about them aren't very real and valid. This is truly a gem of a story and one that I think will be a wonderful tool in providing kids comfort who may be processing their feelings regarding a loved one with addiction or may know someone who is. Would highly recommend for any school, classroom, or home library!

80/100 or 4.0 stars

This book deals with difficult topics so well and it is done in a genuine way. There are some conveniences in the plot you have to look past, but this was a good time even with the subject matter. It does a good job as well of still being appropriate for the traget auidence but not holding back on the topics of addiciton. Solid overall and it is a good recommendation for young readers.

Racing the Clouds was a compelling story of a young girl who is trying to make sense of family dynamics and the story of estranged family members. She is a typical child, but she is dealing with adult issues in middle school. Her family connections and friendships will be relatable for middle schoolers and adults alike. Sydney Dunlap wrote this novel in a way that you really wanted to know what had happened in the past in a way that felt a bit like a mystery novel. This was my first of her novels and look forward to reading more as her character development was well done.
This would be a perfect addition to any public, school or personal library.

Thank you NetGalley, Sydney Dunlap and North Star Editions for the opportunity to preview this novel and the opinions shared are my own.
Racing the Clouds is expected to be released Feb. 18, 2025.

Wow! After Sydney Dunlop's phenomenal IT HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY, I was very much looking forward to RACING THE CLOUDS, and it didn't disappoint. Dunlop has a knack for portraying the inner workings of a young teen mind dealing with complex problems. Something bad has happened to thirteen-year-old Sage's mother, forcing Sage and her father to move to a trailer park several states away from the only home she's ever known. Then her mother's parents, the grandparents who have never once contacted her, invite her to visit, Sage goes, hoping to forge a relationship with them and yearning to learn about her mother's childhood.. But past events, current emotions, and conflicting personalities cause seemingly unsurmountable conflict.. All the characters, including Sage's protective, struggling father and her old-school, secretive grandparents are well-drawn and believable.. Realistic, suspenseful, and ultimately satisfying, Dunlop's latest book is another page-turner about challenging issues that many young readers face today.

Sydney Dunlap did it again, folks, tackling a difficult topic in a way that not only made it accessible and poignant to kids but to adults as well.

The subject of addiction is handled with great care, empathy, and sensitivity. Dunlap showcases a diverse and relatable ensemble of characters, and I appreciated the way she tackled how addiction affects our loved ones, regardless of the season of their lives.

Sage is spirited, determined, and also vulnerable — a relatable trifecta for a main character any middle-grade reader can and will root for. Sage finds and heals herself with every run and risk she takes, and I wished I could run along with her (and Nicky, of course!). I loved her complex relationship with her father and their shared love of music, and I teared up more than once watching her form a lasting and memorable relationship with her grandparents.

Alejandro and Marla were a delight to read as well, bringing me back to some of my first best friends and the ups and downs we traversed together.

RACING THE CLOUDS is a must-read and buy for any middle grade library and home. We librarians, teachers, and parents owe it to our children to read and keep books like this on our shelves, ones that help them feel less alone if or when they come face to face with hard times.

Because, as Sage concluded, “no matter how much you care about someone, they’re going to make their own decisions. And you can try really hard to help, but you can’t control what they do.” 💛

Much like Sydney's debut book, her second middle-grade novel "Racing the clouds" takes on a big, heavy topic and makes it relatable and approachable to y0ung readers. Sage is a thoughtful young girl who feels responsible for her mother's addiction. Her mom is away at rehab and as their reunion approaches, Sage is invited to spend time with her maternal grandparents who she has never met. What follows is journey of revisiting the past and trying to rebuild all the broken relationships, while also shining a light on how easily misunderstandings and fear can prevent us from being there for each other.

Although the story is about the effect of addiction on loved ones, it's also about moving past preconceptions and prejudices. A multi-layered story and an engaging read!

Racing the Clouds is a beautifully gripping book about a middle school girl , Sage, who deals with a heavy burden. Through intricate storytelling, and "what-if" scenarios, the author, Sydney Dunlap, details the precise thoughts and emotional baggage a child deals with when it comes to having a parent with an addiction problem. The story is told through Sage's eyes and her relationship with her Dad, Mom and estranged grandparents. When her grandparents, whom she has never met, send her a letter to visit them for a week, she grapples with the feelings of not knowing her family and a self imposed responsibility to "fix" everything. The story unfolds in her decision to visit the grandparents she has never met, in efforts for her to know her past and help their family be a real family again. I audibly gasped a little over halfway through the book, as the author shared more and more about the realities of Sage's life, and the complexities of family relationships burdened by addiction. The bright and realistic hope at the end of the story is one that will reach the heart of every reader who devours this story's pages. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for an early copy of this story, it was beautifully told, and heartwarming to finish.

I was lucky enough to read an eARC of RACING THE CLOUDS and my heart is currently filled to the brim with warmth after finishing such a beautiful story about difficult family topics. Sage was an easy protagonist to root for and so real in the way she desperately wanted to “save” her family while never knowing the perfect way to go about it (because she’s a KID after all!) I especially adored her relationships with Alejandro, Marla, and (of course) Nicky. I am always a sucker for a story with a rescue dog plot!

The overall message really hit home of how important it is to step inside someone else’s shoes to understand where they’re coming from and how it’s never too late to try to take accountability and fix things. I appreciated that in the end it was clear that no one person was at fault for the family issues, but that they must all work together to create a better future. RACING
THE CLOUDS is incredibly poignant and masterfully written. Sydney Dunlap is a must-read in the middle great space!

I loved this book! Sage's journey was compelling from the very first page. She is such a likable, relatable character. Her situation gives readers important insights into the realities facing families struggling with addiction. The story is told with compassion and the pace is just right. I couldn't put this book down and recommend it highly for middle grade readers as well as adults!

Excellent read! This is the story of Sage, whose life has been turned upside down since her mother's accident--an accident for which Sage blames herself. When she gets a letter from her estranged grandparents requesting that she come for a visit, Sage decides to go for it, hoping she can repair all the damage that her family has been through. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, making it an intriguing read that will keep young readers turning the pages as the details emerge--a great way to tackle the tough topic of a loved one's addiction and treatment. Sage finds allies in unexpected places, and she, as well as many of the other characters, learn about acceptance and forgiveness, and that sometimes no one is to blame. Hopeful, heartwarming, and realistic.

Another incredibly important book by Sydney. I think all of her books are going to be relatable must-reads.

Racing the Clouds by Sydney Dunlap is a heartfelt contemporary middle grade novel that follows thirteen-year-old Sage, who blames herself for the accident that led to her mother’s opioid addiction. When she’s invited to visit the grandparents she’s never met, Sage sees it as an opportunity to mend her fractured family. What she doesn’t expect is the complexity of her grandparents' story, the uplifting bond she forms with a new friend, and the rescue of a stray dog that brings her closer to her grandparents. In one week, Sage discovers the power of forgiveness, the intricacies of family relationships, and the courage to move forward with hope.

This novel is a delightful, engaging story that tackles heavy topics like family drama and a parent’s substance abuse in a way that is accessible and compassionate for young readers. It avoids being preachy or overly dark, instead offering a realistic and hopeful window into Sage’s life—one that many kids may recognize or relate to. The family drama, particularly with Sage’s grandparents, felt authentic and layered, and I appreciated how the story allowed space for healing and growth without forcing resolutions. Sage’s friendships with her peers added warmth and showed the importance of having a supportive circle during tough times. Sydney Dunlap has created a touching, well-balanced story that is both meaningful and empowering for middle grade readers. Five stars!

Sage's story grabbed me from the very first page. This book is beautifully crafted, with flashbacks seamlessly woven in as the main character grapples with a very tough situation and gradually allows herself to think about what she has been trying so hard to avoid remembering. There are many lighthearted moments with friends and a rescue dog, and more serious times as Sage finds her own resilience while seeking to repair an estrangement in her family that happened before she was born. The story should be helpful to any kid (or adult) going through a challenging experience. It should also help people understand a little better what it's like to have a family member with a drug addiction and enable those in that situation to potentially see some of their emotions and experiences reflected. So timely and important, and the back matter could truly prove life saving for young readers as it addresses the opioid crisis and fentanyl in a very age-appropriate manner. Would be a great community read.