A review by bkbookend
Carry Me Home by Janet Fox

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Carry Me Home is a beautiful coming of age story set in Montana focusing on our main character Lulu, as she struggles with the pressures of homelessness and poverty after her mother passes away. The book documents the decline of their living conditions as Lulu’s father fails to find adequate housing and work after their move from Texas. Lulu and her sister Serena are left alone for the larger part of the story as their father tries to keep ends met and their heads above water. 

As a middle grade fiction, this is geared more toward the younger end of this age range, as evidenced by the writing. Though written for a very young audience, the themes of this are quite heavy and open up conversation between parents and children on the reality of poverty in America and the power of asking for help. The perspective of Lulu gave incredible depth to what a middle school student experiences in such an uncertain situation and the shame and fear that come with it.

All in all, this was a short but powerful read that will sit with me for a time to come.