Racing The Clouds
- Vanessa Bettencourt
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
Book Info:
Racing the Clouds by Sydney Dunlap
Genre: Middle Grade
Publishing Date: February 18, 2025
Review
5 Stars
It is well-written and emotional. It's a wonderful story that can be read by young readers but also adults. It deals with addiction, reconciliation, and family issues and how young teens can react to these when they start having a voice and a relevant opinion. It can be relatable to those who have parents or kin in this situation, but it also is a great story to learn empathy and how to be a better friend to those living in such a sad situation. Sage does what she thinks best; she is trying to keep everyone's interests in mind and make things work, but even when trying to do good, one can make mistakes. I love the reminder of what it may be to be in someone else's shoes. There are plenty of great, valuable life lessons in this story.
After 13 years of never meeting her grandparents, she decides to accept their invitation, and those seven days will change everything.
The book includes resources and help. The Q&A with the author at the end offers a lot of good information about addiction, why, and how to act. The warnings are welcomed, and I hope this book has a lot of readers.
Synopsis:
If thirteen-year-old Sage had done one thing differently that day last November, everything would be fine. Only she didn’t, so she and her dad had to leave Philadelphia for a new life in middle-of-nowhere Virginia. Her dad has never actually said he blames her for what happened, but how could he not?
Sage is determined to push it all out of her mind, but then, just before summer vacation, she hears from the grandparents she’s never met. They want her to visit, and she realizes this could be her chance to mend the rift that’s kept everybody apart.
When she meets Grandmother Marion, though, Sage is sure her trip is headed for disaster. Except she wasn’t counting on making a new friend or rescuing a sweet stray dog. With them by her side, maybe she can find the courage to face what she’s been avoiding all along.
From the award-winning author of It Happened on Saturday comes a heartfelt and empowering story that explores the complexity of family relationships, the value of forgiveness, and how to find your way forward in a tough situation with resilience and hope.
Content warning: addiction, family member in rehab, substance abuse, parental separation, grief
Book Links:
About the Author:
Sydney Dunlap is an award-winning author and former elementary school teacher who has worked extensively with youth facing challenging circumstances. She enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful books that explore tough topics that aren’t often addressed in middle grade literature. Her 2023 debut novel, It Happened on Saturday, has received several medals and was named a 2024 OLA Masterlist selection and Crystal Kite Honor Book. Her next book, Racing the Clouds, releases 2/18/25. A lifelong animal lover, Sydney lives with her family in a home where the dogs and cats outnumber the people.
Author Links:
Website: https://sydneydunlap.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/SydneyDunlap16
Tour Schedule:
@tbrbeyondtours & @sydneydunlapwrites
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