  | Other side of perfect Author: Florence, Melanie | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship. Cody's home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family. One night Autumn comes across Cody face down in a laneway behind her house. She agrees to let him hide in her dad's studio. There, their stories come out.
| Added Entry - Personal Name: | Scrimger, Richard |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 3.90 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 551334 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (02/15/24)
School Library Journal (00/04/24)
Booklist (09/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 04/01/2024 Gr 4 Up—Previously published in 2022 in Canada as Autumn Bird and the Runaway, this middle grade novel is the heartrending and hope-filled story of Cody, a victim of domestic abuse by his alcoholic father, and Autumn, the victim of bullying by her wealthy and popular friends. Coauthors Florence and Scrimger unfold the hidden stories of both tweens after their lives intersect one fateful evening. Autumn Bird, whose family is of Cree descent, has been raised by her physician mother and artist father to honor their heritage and to help others through community service. White Cody Stouffer, whose mother is incarcerated and whose father is an abusive, racist alcoholic, has been raised to humiliate others and think only of himself. Cody decides to run away after experiencing more physical abuse from his father. On her way to meet a friend, Autumn stumbles across someone who has collapsed and realizes it is her classmate Cody. Autumn brings Cody home and hides him for the night. Their unlikely friendship grows as Autumn's parents take Cody in and help him flourish in a safe and encouraging family environment. Both children struggle to fit in and sometimes lose themselves in the process, but they ultimately find their true selves. Through this poignant coming-of-age story, readers will rally behind Autumn and Cody as they stand up for themselves, open their hearts, and share them with the world. VERDICT This realistic fiction novel touches on tough topics with aplomb; a worthy addition to middle grade library collections.—Melissa King - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/01/2024 Two dissimilar tweens are thrust together when an act of violence leaves one of them sleeping in a bush in this didactic tale with a heart of gold. Autumn Bird is popular and lives in a nice part of town, which is where Cody ends up after his dad's physical violence against him spurs Cody to run away. Even though she’s late for a party, Autumn decides to sneak Cody into her dad’s art studio to stay the night. Autumn’s act of kindness—and her family’s response when they discover Cody—highlights the dichotomy between their two lives. As Cody and Autumn learn about each other and themselves, the community center prepares for an anniversary celebration that will crash the story to a close. While the dual-authored POVs allow the reader to get a better look at each character’s life as it unfolds—including Autumn’s experiences as an Indigenous person—the prose is a bit too tight for eighth graders, and the moral of the story drives the novel rather than the plot. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
