The Things We Miss

J.P. has a lot of hard things going on in her life. Her dad died suddenly a few years ago, her grandfather, Pop Pop, had cancer and went through chemo a couple years ago, and now it’s back. J.P.’s mother is beautiful and successful, while J.P. is, well, fat. It’s hard enough to be in seventh grade without all that, but J.P also has bullies to deal with. If it weren’t for her BFF, Kevin, it would be impossible.

What if J.P. could escape for a little while? When she finds a magic portal that allows her to “skip” three days at a time, she thinks it solves her problems, but what is she really missing?

This is a great concept for a MG book. Kids will relate to J.P. and Kevin. Author Leah Stecher clearly is in touch with her inner child. Her writing is terrific as she tells this story through J.P.’s point of view. The dialogue is perfect for the age, the situations are believable (with a nod to the magic), and the story is very compelling. This will keep young readers (and older ones!) engaged throughout.