Right as Rain

Right as Rain by Lindsey StoddardHeartfelt, emotional, and powerfully-written!Right as Rain, by Lindsey Stoddard, is one of my favorite books of 2019 that I have had the pleasure to read and review. It is absolutely a book that I would recommend to all avid readers, but beware, this one tugs hard at the heartstrings.The story opens up with Rain’s life in complete chaos. Here family has suffered the sudden loss of her older brother, Guthrie, and no one in her family seems to know how to move forward from their tragedy.Rain is going through the motions and trying to find the old normal of her life that she craves to have back. Her father is an emotionless shell of a man that never leaves his room, and her mother never stops. She acts like life must now be a list of things that must be done, and she never takes the time for her family anymore.To complicate her grief, Rain's mother announces one day that the family will be moving to an apartment in New York City, immediately.Within a blink, all of her life is gone, and Rain is now at living in a new town, in a new apartment, and attending a new school. She craves to find someone who understands as secretly deals with the guilt she carries from what she feels was her role in her brother's untimely death.Your heart will grieve right along with Rain and her family as they do their best to keep living. Rain is an unlikely character that has to find her inner strength to deal with her brother’s death, hold her broken family together, and try to start her new life over in the business of New York.

Oh I loved this book. I feel like the other reviewers have talked about the plot, so I want to talk about the emotions. Middle grade readers FEEL so much. Their emotions are heightened and everything seems HUGE.Rain is trying to cope emotionally with a lot and like many of us thinks that maybe life would be easier if she just didn't feel/didn't think/didn't talk about what has hurt her. It's not until she starts opening up to the possibility of a new life, that she allows herself to let go of the pain that has its hold on her, keeping her from flourishing.I loved the descriptions of the Washington Heights setting. The restaurants, the school, the gentrification, the sounds, the smells, the personalities.I also loved the Rain finds her way back to herself through serving her community, both at the food shelter at the neighborhood church and at the kids' community center.

This was a great little story, really highlighting the differences in culture when someone emigrates and how it’s the small things that are the hardest to learn. Lottie could manage very well with the language in most situations, but found it difficult to express her emotions in English, and finding the right words when her children were sick, and colloquialisms. It was interesting to note the family dynamics in those days, and how the husband had all the power in the family, and control of the family finances. I couldn’t imagine a marriage in modern day New Zealand where one partner didn’t even know how much the other earned, or buying property without consent or knowledge of the other. Tom certainly wouldn’t have got away with his behaviour these days. Being from New Zealand myself, it was a good to read about a bit of history of my own country in a novel setting (I am not good at reading non-fiction!). And it made me feel good about my home country when reading how much Lottie felt we had here compared with Europe- the land available, the work, the food, the relaxed attitudes and friendliness. Even though it has changed a lot since then, I still feel that way about my country, especially highlighted when I travel abroad, I still feel I live in the lucky country. This was a very interesting story, easy to read, and I identified greatly with the characters. A really good read.

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes for an award. All opinions are my own.]I loved this! I was captivated by the whole story - the grieving pieces as well as the poetry and the hot chocolate and the soup kitchen and the running. Fantastic characters. A story I just wanted to hug. A happy tearful ending as Rain finally shares her story. Beautiful!

Readers of many ages will enjoy this book due to the skillfully crafted plot and character development. It is told through the eyes of a young person whose life is deeply interwoven with characters of all ages, which makes this story relevant for all. The reader quickly cares for these characters and is significantly moved throughout their journeys. The story takes us through their lives and allows us to experience common, real life struggles. This journey with these characters profoundly portrays the value of working together. This story is insightful and uplifting. Readers will have many opportunities for deep discussions on a variety of relevant topics.

I couldn’t put this down. Fantastic story that I cheered and cried through, then cheered and cried through, then cheered and smiled through! Wonderful telling of loss and growth and love and support. Just know that you should have a box of tissues nearby for the happy and sad tears that are sure to appear as you read. And that’s a fact.

Excellent book. Rain’s like is uprooted when her family decides to relocate from VT to NYC. ( I won’t polio it with why.) Rain experiences all the things that go w moving- new neighborhood, a girl who seems to dislike her, a school where you wear uniforms. Once she gets used to walking around the neighborhood and meeting and helping people she begins to love it. Rain becomes friends a girl in school who stutters and eventually w the girl who seemed to dislike her. They all join the track team and become closer.

I absolutely loved this book! You will root for the characters and for their wishes the whole way through. The book is full of heart, love for other books like One and Only Ivan and The Crossover, and the strength that comes from being a part of a team and a community. This book brings both smiles and tears, and speaks volumes of truth about the hard parts of life as well as the hope that can help us endure.