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Praise for A Soft Place to Land: " A Soft Place to Land confirms Marks'' status as one of the brightest new stars of contemporary middle grade. Whereas Zoe Washington explored injustice and systemic racism, A Soft Place to Land explores class in a story-driven way that never feels heavy-handed." -- BookPage "Blending mystery with realistic fiction, Joy''s story of how complicated life is for a kid will resonate with readers in tender and poignant ways." -- Booklist (starred review) "A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other." -- Paula Chase, author of Dough Boy s and So Done "This relatable story touches on topics such as divorce (Joy''s parents briefly separate, then reconcile), the ups and downs of having a job at a young age, and the difficulties that arise from keeping secrets from family and friends. An engaging coming-of-age story that will appeal to a wide range of readers." -- School Library Journal "Marks has a keen eye and ear for the telling particulars of the family''s struggle to forge ahead in a new setting, and the book is sensitive to everyone''s need for a space to be alone from time to time. Fans will welcome her introduction to another determined and resilient Black tween heroine." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books " A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends." -- Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp "A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love." -- Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me "With a dash of mystery, sprinkle of passion, and whole lot of heart, From the Desk of Zoe Washington has found a winning recipe." -- Coe Booth, author of Kinda Like Brothers "This poignant look at friendship, loss, and facing consequences hits all the right notes. It will squeeze your heart in such a special way. Marks tenderly blends mystery, compassion and the highs and lows of friendship in a perfect melody. A Soft Place to Land will have readers cheering for Joy and longing for a hideout of their very own." -- Lisa Moore Ramee, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say Praise for From the Desk of Zoe Washington : "How could someone innocent end up in prison? With the help of her grandmother and her friend Trevor, Zoe begins to learn about systemic racism and how black people...are more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people. This powerful debut packs both depth and sweetness, tackling a tough topic in a sensitive, compelling way. An extraordinary, timely, must-read debut about love, family, friendship, and justice." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "At turns poignant and affirmative, this novel by Marks imparts invaluable messages on growing up, being honest, and communicating feelings to loved ones." -- Publishers Weekly "A touching, tender, and absorbing read!" -- Jodi Kendall, author of The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City "A delightful confection of a novel! Zoe is a wondrous heroine who inspires a deeper love for food, family, and friends. Advocating for social justice, she creates a new recipe for a better, sweeter wo...
About the author
Janae Marks is the author of the critically acclaimed novel From the Desk of Zoe Washington, the New York Times bestselling On Air with Zoe Washington, and A Soft Place to Land. She grew up in the New York City suburbs and now lives in Connecticut with her husband and daughter. She has an MFA in writing for children from the New School. Visit Janae online at janaemarks.com.
