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A review by thephdivabooks
The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman
4.0
Tearfully beautiful and filled with a certain sort of magic that only an inspiring story can deliver, Alyson Richman’s The Secret of Clouds is a book I encourage everyone to open their heaart to. I’m still a bit choked up over this story in a wonderful way. It spoke to the child in me who still remembers that one teacher that really changed my life, and it spoke to the adult in me who knows how special the imaginations of youth are. And it also is just an incredible story about the love of a family, all wrapped up in the connection between teacher and students. Wonderful!
About the Book
When Maggie Topper is first assigned to work with Yuri, achild suffering from a congenital heart defect that prevents him from attendingschool with his peers, she is hesitant to accept. Maggie remembers a friendfrom childhood Ellie who passed away one summer, and she has never reallyrecovered from that heart ache.
But from the moment Maggie meets Yuri, it is so clear that thereis something special about him. I loved seeing Maggie and Yuri get to know oneanother. At first, Maggie doesn’t know how to engage this frail, despondent child. But eventually her friend and colleague Suzy suggests that kids are perceptive—they know when you are putting on a brave face. Yuri is a child who has never been treated like a real kid due to his condition. As they bond over a shared love of baseball, pizza, and writing, I fell in love with their story.
Reflection
I was captivated by the story of Yuri’s parents Katya and Sasha, who fled Ukraine for a better life in America. Katya was a ballet dancer, and her quiet grace as a person shined through the pages. She had such fierce love for Yuri. She was so afraid to let him live, because of her fear of losing him. Sasha is also a wonderful character. I think readers will be mesmerized by their story, and what they had to go through to get an opportunity to provide medical care for Yuri. Heart-warming!
Maggie also has a storyline outside of just her work with Yuri that I really enjoyed. I won’t say too much, but I found it to beincredibly authentic and showcased the ups and downs we go through in life, as well as how our passions can make tough times bearable.
One other thing I loved about this book was the importance of food. Maggie’s family is Italian and they show love and caring through food. I found my mouth watering often hearing what Maggie or her mother were cooking, and I loved reading about the meaning of the small acts of preparing a meal. Food is also the first thing that really bonds Maggie and Katya, as Katya explains her own Ukarainian dishes that hold meaning and provide comfort. I found these food traditions to be so wonderful, and they helped these two women connect in a way that words alone could not.
About the Book
When Maggie Topper is first assigned to work with Yuri, achild suffering from a congenital heart defect that prevents him from attendingschool with his peers, she is hesitant to accept. Maggie remembers a friendfrom childhood Ellie who passed away one summer, and she has never reallyrecovered from that heart ache.
But from the moment Maggie meets Yuri, it is so clear that thereis something special about him. I loved seeing Maggie and Yuri get to know oneanother. At first, Maggie doesn’t know how to engage this frail, despondent child. But eventually her friend and colleague Suzy suggests that kids are perceptive—they know when you are putting on a brave face. Yuri is a child who has never been treated like a real kid due to his condition. As they bond over a shared love of baseball, pizza, and writing, I fell in love with their story.
Reflection
I was captivated by the story of Yuri’s parents Katya and Sasha, who fled Ukraine for a better life in America. Katya was a ballet dancer, and her quiet grace as a person shined through the pages. She had such fierce love for Yuri. She was so afraid to let him live, because of her fear of losing him. Sasha is also a wonderful character. I think readers will be mesmerized by their story, and what they had to go through to get an opportunity to provide medical care for Yuri. Heart-warming!
Maggie also has a storyline outside of just her work with Yuri that I really enjoyed. I won’t say too much, but I found it to beincredibly authentic and showcased the ups and downs we go through in life, as well as how our passions can make tough times bearable.
One other thing I loved about this book was the importance of food. Maggie’s family is Italian and they show love and caring through food. I found my mouth watering often hearing what Maggie or her mother were cooking, and I loved reading about the meaning of the small acts of preparing a meal. Food is also the first thing that really bonds Maggie and Katya, as Katya explains her own Ukarainian dishes that hold meaning and provide comfort. I found these food traditions to be so wonderful, and they helped these two women connect in a way that words alone could not.