A Duet For Home by Karina Yan Glaser

 

2022 | 368 pages | Grades 3-7

June and Maybelle and their mother used to live in New York City's Chinatown until they were evicted one day. It happened because her father was killed in a car accident and her mother just shut down and stopped talking and existing. June has been trying to keep everything together until she couldn't. The family is sent to a homeless center called The Huey House. She is told right away that. musical instruments are not allowed and June is a viola player who needs her music. Fortunately, someone helps her out and sneaks her instrument into the center. She finds lots of friends in her new home.

The center has all kinds of interesting characters including a grumpy director, a loving social worker, a couple of trickster boys, and lots of families trying to figure out to get back on their feet. Not all parents in the center have the means or ability to get out of the center and so some kids have been there for a while including a boy named Tyrell who has been part of Huey House for over three years. 

Tyrell has a daily appointment to listen to a neighbor play her violin each evening. He sits in a window and soaks in the beautiful music. When He discovers that June plays, he helps her find a safe place to practice. Music plays a big part in this story. The author has given you a list of music mentioned in the book at the end. Make sure you listen to some of the music. 

The city has decided that they need to get people out of the center and into other housing more quickly. However, the new housing is in dangerous neighborhoods, too far from transportation, or in terrible condition. Some leaders are ready to make this happen while others are concerned but no one is listening. Of course, in any great middle-grade book, the kids get involved in getting changes to happen. 

This is a very hopeful and perhaps even joyful "homeless" story. I know that all homeless situations are different but this story is about music, grief, found family, and hope. I think this is a great story.