(2) 4-6 When Nadine moves to Centralia, Illinois, to live with her grandmother while her mom goes to rehab for drug addiction, her goal is to keep her head down, stay out of middle school drama, and get back to Chicago as soon as possible. That becomes impossible when she and sixth-grade outcast Francis Pepper are paired together on a local history project. They decide to research the F4 tornado that destroyed half the town and killed Francis's mother -- a choice of topic that raises eyebrows and puts them on the wrong side of the city's mayor. As Nadine and Francis dive into Centralia's history, they uncover secrets and outcomes that make their project a threat to the mayor's interests. Nadine is an engaging protagonist, cautious and jaded after growing up with her mother's addiction, but not entirely cynical. Francis is intriguing, largely unbothered by his outcast status but also hungry for Nadine's friendship. The novel's weather-related magical elements, which are not hinted at in the first third of the book, feel almost secondary, but everything is brought to a satisfying and heartfelt resolution. Mayor Trev's role as antagonist is obvious from his first appearance on the page, but the extent of his villainy comes as a surprise. Throughout, Foley balances deep topics with tween drama and handles both with aplomb.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2025

(2) 4-6 Breda didn't believe her single mother would really send her from Chicago to Ireland's Dingle Peninsula for the summer if she got caught stealing again, but her theft of a classmate's gym shorts earns Breda a visit to the grandfather she's never met. Granda is the epitome of the elderly taciturn farmer, and although he at first seems as unenthused as Breda is about the arrangement, he slowly warms up to her. Breda settles in, exploring the village and finding friends on a Gaelic football team, and she wonders if she might also meet the father who's never been part of her life. When a health crisis waylays Granda, Breda is able to both take charge and rely on the community she's developed, putting her newfound confidence to work and expanding her definition of family. She also develops a new appreciation for her mother, an undocumented immigrant who has spent years working for others and is finally able to start her own business. Foley does an excellent job of building the Irish setting--with the help of Granda's role as a traditional storyteller. Foley's forthright approach to puberty and periods, which are among Breda's experiences, is refreshing. This is a quiet book, with an emotionally charged conflict that often simmers beneath the surface of the page, made possible by the authentic and fully realized characters.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) YA Sixteen-year-old Pup Flanagan struggles with schoolwork and feels haunted by what his sprawling, high-achieving Chicago family won't speak of: one brother who died of meningitis and another whose drinking is spiraling out of control. When Pup takes up photography to boost his art-class grade, photos of his family's unguarded moments propel him to a statewide competition. Endearingly vulnerable Pup is easy to root for in this affirming, delicately told coming-of-age story.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) YA High-school junior Wendy realizes her friendship with brash queen bee Kenzie has turned toxic. Kenzie's bullying of a classmate is escalating cruelly, and Wendy grapples with her own choices in light of her convicted policeman father's crimes. This is a thoughtful, moving portrait of a girl on the verge of finding her own moral compass, set against a strong backdrop of a dynamic working-class Chicago neighborhood.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018