Life in the Balance

by Jen Petro-Roy

Overview

Veronica struggles to balance softball, friends, and family turmoil in this new honest and heartfelt middle grade novel by Jen Petro-Roy, Life in the Balance.

Veronica Conway has been looking forward to trying out for the All-Star softball team for years. She's practically been playing the game since she was a baby. She should have this tryout on lock.

Except right before tryouts, Veronica’s mom announces that she’s entering rehab for alcoholism, and her dad tells her that they may not be able to afford the fees needed to be on the team.

Veronica decides to enter the town talent show in an effort to make her own money, but along the way discovers a new hobby that leads her to doubt her feelings for the game she thought she loved so much.

Is her mom the only one learning balance, or can Veronica find a way to discover what she really wants to do with her life?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250619730
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	02/16/2021
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jen Petro-Roy is a former teen librarian, an obsessive reader, and a trivia fanatic. She lives with her husband and two young daughters in Massachusetts. She is the author of P.S. I Miss You, Good Enough, and You Are Enough: Your Guide to Body Image and Eating Disorder Recovery. Jen is an eating disorder survivor and an advocate for recovery.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/01/2021

Gr 3–7—A young white girl struggles to deal with her mother's alcohol addiction. Only weeks before the All-Stars Softball Team tryouts, Veronica's parents announce that her mom will be going to rehab for two months. Not only will her mom be unable to help her prepare, but their financial situation means Veronica might not even be able to play. When her teammate Libby reaches out, the two new friends hatch a plan to enter a local talent show, hoping that the first place prize money will allow her to pay for the All-Star team. This marvelous middle grade novel provides an honest depiction of alcoholism and addiction. Petro-Roy's description of Veronica's anxiety will be relatable to many readers, as will her hope upon finding people with whom she can share her concerns. The author deftly describes Veronica's mounting responsibility and frustration as a result of her mother's addiction. As the child of an addict, she feels compelled to take on more and more responsibility to help her mother recover. Eventually, she expresses these feelings to her family in a gut-wrenching, powerful display of her growth. Veronica's internal dialogue is authentic, and though adults and friends offer compassion and wisdom, Veronica ultimately chooses her own path toward happiness. VERDICT A first purchase. Hand this to readers who don't mind a few tears on their way to a happy ending.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Lib.

School Library Journal

"Marvelous...Hand this to readers who don’t mind a few tears on their way to a happy ending." —School Library Journal, starred

"Petro-Roy...writes with clarity and avoids suggesting that alcoholism is easy to manage or to live with. Given that Veronica’s a sixth-grader whose family is in distress, it seems natural that friendship lies at the heart of this very readable story." —Booklist

"Heartfelt...Plenty of honesty here...and much to cheer for as Veronica settles into understanding her family challenge and how to meet it." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

"A vitally important story about the gold and light we find in the broken places...Whatever your family dynamics, whether your interests lie on the ball field or the stage, you'll find compassion singing through every page of this beautiful book." —Sarah Allen, author of What Stars are Made Of

Praise for Jen Petro-Roy:

"Every library needs Good Enough on its shelves. Lyrical, funny, honest and brave, this is a book that will save lives." —Katherine Applegate, New York Times-bestselling author of Wishtree and Crenshaw, on Good Enough

"Petro-Roy, an eating disorder survivor, offers an intimate and realistic portrayal of Riley’s destructive thinking patterns as well as her victories and setbacks. A powerful, well-told, and authentic story." —Publishers Weekly on Good Enough

"[A] supportive, honest, and empowering novel about mental health." —Booklist on Good Enough

"P.S. I Miss You is so moving! Evie's quiet strength and fierce determination are an inspiration. " —Ann M. Martin, author of Rain Reign and the Baby-Sitters Club

"A heartbreaking but empowering story that’s impossible to forget. . . . Readers will love Evie’s smart, funny voice and will recognize themselves in her worries, her questions, and her hopes." —Kate Messner, author of The Seventh Wish on P.S. I Miss You

“A touching story of sisterly devotion and self-discovery. Readers will cheer on Jen Petro-Roy’s sweet, strong protagonist as she overcomes challenging family circumstances to embrace her own identity.” — Barbara Dee, author of Star-Crossed, on P.S. I Miss You

"Jen Petro-Roy has created a character with the potential to be as iconic as Judy Blume's Margaret." —Erin Dionne, author of Notes from an Accidental Band Geek on P.S. I Miss You

From the Publisher