Hello! I'm Afoma.
  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · August 10, 2020

Review | The Distance to Home

Book Review | The Distance to Home

Summary: The Distance to Home

The Distance to Home is Jenn Bishop’s debut middle-grade novel. I read and loved her most recent release, Things We Can’t Say about a boy dealing with parental suicide. The Distance to Home focuses on an equally sensitive subject: the death of a sibling. This summer, Quinnen isn’t playing baseball with her team — she decided to quit after her sister, Haley died the summer before. But when her family decides to host a player from a Minor League Baseball team, Quinnen starts to bond with the a couple of the players.

Her family is also reeling from her sister’s death the previous summer and trying to figure out how to be a family of three, instead of four. The book alternates between “last summer” and “this summer,” taking readers back to see Quinnen and Haley’s relationship and what happened to Haley.

The Good

First off, this book is just about the perfect length at 256 pages! More importantly, though, this is a HEART novel. Quinnen is grappling with her sister’s absence, but readers get to walk in her shoes as they experience the girls’ sisterhood. Frankly, I enjoyed the “last summer” chapters even more than I did the present. Haley and Quinnen have a sweet, realistic sisterhood. They loved each other, but bickered without being annoying to read. Bishop highlights the challenges siblings may have with a six-year age difference like Haley and Quinnen’s as both girls are in angsty phases (but for different reasons).

I also loved the portrayal of grief in this book, not as something linear that starts and then ends, but rather as forever interspersed in our lives. Quinnen’s parents have to deal with their grief while trying to make things a little less fraught for Quinnen. Another interesting angle of the book is the baseball players whose games Quinnen attends with her best friend Casey. The baseball content of this book is not overwhelming, but will certainly be enjoyable for baseball fans, complete with the hot dogs and pizza slices at the games.

Overall: The Distance to Home

The Distance to Home is a moving, realistic portrayal of grief due to the loss of a sibling. However, it is also a celebration of sisterhood, baseball, and friendships that make it easier to keep going. Jenn Bishop is a masterful storyteller, and has a way of bringing true-to-life characters with heartfelt experiences to life on the page. If you’re looking for a summer story that tackles grief without being overwhelmingly sad, this is an excellent pick!


Buy This Book

the distance to home - jenn bishop

Do you listen to audiobooks? If you do:

Get 2 FREE months when you sign up with my link! (not sponsored, but I get one free month of listening)

Books Like The Distance to Home

  • The Line Tender by Kate Allen
  • Center of Gravity by Shaunta Grimes
  • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Have you read this book or anything by Jenn Bishop? I love her stories and I’m looking forward to her next book, Where We Used to Roam. What are your favorite middle-grade books about death and grief?

Don't Forget to Share!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Related

Posted In: Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · Tagged: baseball books, friendships, middle-grade books about death, sibling death, siblings, sports, summer stories

Join My Newsletter

Like what you just read? Sign up for my Friday kidlit newsletter!

Privacy Policy

You’ll Also Love

Review | Be Real, Macy Weaver
middle grade books set in summer47 Middle-Grade Books Set in the Summer
Review | Coming Up Short

What do you think? Leave a comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

15 Young Adult Books to Read in the Second Half of 2020

About Me
Hi, I'm Afoma! Thank you for stopping by. Learn more about me here.

Get 2 Months Free on Scribd


Follow on Bloglovin’

Follow

We’re Social Too!

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Stock photos courtesy of our partners at DepositPhotos 📸
Books mentioned: I LOVE pairing middle grade fiction with non-fiction recommendations. It’s a brilliant way to get kids more interested in non-fiction and find similar threads between fiction and real life. 🏀 girls can play ball too 🏀 Previously, currently, and next in line: adult fiction edition. This doesn’t even include my audiobook lineup and my middle grade + YA stuff! 😥 living a lie is hard work 😬 🥠 Meet Maya 🥠
  • Blog
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Reading Middle Grade · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...