Nothing Else But Miracles

Starred review from July 10, 2023
Three close-knit siblings rely on each other and their supportive Lower East Side community after their widowed father is called up during WWII in this suspenseful family novel from Albus (A Place to Hang the Moon). Free-thinking 12-year-old Dory Byrne lives in a fourth-floor walk-up (which she prefers to access through the fire escape) with her brothers—responsible 17-year-old Fish and wise eight-year-old Pike. From a perch on the wall of Battery Park’s half-demolished Castle Clinton, Dory shares her many worries with a secret confidante: the Statue of Liberty (“Libby” to Dory). The siblings are managing thanks to the neighborhood’s generosity, but when the Byrnes’ understanding landlord dies and his mean-spirited replacement threatens to report the underage trio to city authorities, their situation grows precarious—until Dory’s canny observations land them a perfect hideaway. Rich in New York City period detail and era-specific colloquialisms, the briskly moving telling succeeds in its well-executed combination of classic plot elements, sympathetic characters and community, and anxiety-provoking uncertainties, while parenthetical asides to readers create a deepening sense of engagement and intimacy with the Byrne family. Characters read as white. Ages 9–12.

August 1, 2023
It's 1944, and Dory, 12, and her brothers, Fish, 17, and Pike, 7, are living alone; their father has joined the Navy, and their mother is dead from tuberculosis. The Byrnes live on New York City's Lower East Side. Their neighbors assist with food, but when a new landlord finds out their dad is away, he makes trouble for the siblings. Dory, an independent risk taker, learns of a long-disused dumbwaiter inside Mr. Caputo's restaurant in the Fulton Fish Market, where he regularly treats the kids to seafood stew. She uses the dumbwaiter to explore the otherwise inaccessible floors of an old hotel and brings her brothers there to live so they can avoid being sent to an orphanage. The story is both grounded in reality and embellished with entertaining exploits, keeping readers excited about Dory's experiences as she holds her family together and they await their papa. Occasionally, the text shifts from third to second person and shares with readers knowledge that is hidden from Dory, such as a mystery about a hidden diamond. The novel develops the setting through the kids' visits to places like the Empire State Building and Coney Island. Dory is an endearing character who confides her thoughts to Libby, her nickname for the Statue of Liberty. In the author's note, the secrets behind the real hotel that inspired this story are revealed. Characters read white. An absorbing tale about urban life on the World War II homefront. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from October 1, 2023

Gr 4-6-Dori talks to the Statue of Liberty. The 12-year-old pleads with "Libby" to bring Pop home safely from the battles of World War II, as the statue was the last to see his ship leave and would be the first to see him return. After Pop was drafted five months ago, Dori's life without him (mom died from tuberculosis) has been a struggle for her and brothers Fish, 17, and Pike, 7. The siblings survive through their fierce devotion to one another and the generosity of their neighbors. The new building landlord, however, suspects Pop's absence and wants to turn the children over to a city orphanage. Dori's adventurous spirit leads her to discover a new home to keep the siblings together: rooms in an abandoned hotel, accessible only through an old hand-pulled elevator hidden in a nearby restaurant. Albus (A Place to Hang the Moon) vividly recreates the landscape of New York City's Lower East Side and the varying cultures of the families whose kindness make Dori's neighborhood a haven. Period jargon ("He's a drip!") adds authenticity. Dori prides herself on "not being especially sensible" while her spunk encourages readers to join in her escapades as coconspirators. Fully realized supporting characters leave a lasting impression. The third-person narration engages readers with witty asides and plot hints. Albus sidesteps embellishing an already upbeat ending, instead dangling two tantalizing threads for a sequel. Back matter includes fascinating facts about WWII-era New York City. VERDICT Historical fiction at its finest: a first purchase.-Marybeth Kozikowski

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2023
Grades 4-7 After Pop is drafted and sent to Europe, reassuring his kids that their Lower East Side neighborhood will provide what they need, WWII becomes challenging for 12-year-old Dory. Her 17-year-old brother takes charge of the household, looking after Dory and her younger brother in their familiar apartment, and their neighbors are kind. The owner of a nearby restaurant gives them dinner weekly, and the baker frequently provides treats. When feeling really low, Dory asks the Statue of Liberty for help. When their supportive landlord dies, and the new one threatens to report them to the child welfare authorities, Dory dares to explore and finds an unusual living space where, she hopes, no one will find them. The author of A Place to Hang the Moon (2021), Albus creates a vividly realized setting during a period when families dreaded the loss of relatives fighting in war-torn countries. Even more memorable is the portrayal of Dory, who is worried about Pop and increasingly afraid but determined to save her family. An engaging historical novel with a rewarding conclusion.

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