Kyra, Just for Today

I got Kyra, Just for Today by Sara Zarr from the library after seeing it a list somewhere and thinking it sounded like my kind of book. The book description says, "Kyra has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough. Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say 'relapse.' But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all."

This was a really great book. I was completely engaged in the story and often wanted to continue reading it. The author did a great job developing the characters, and I just loved the plot and its details (the AA family support group, her mom's job, etc.). The book was really heavy, in that Kyra was dealing with a lot the entire book and was very overwhelmed and sad, which was a little more negativity than I could fully enjoy in a book. (But she deserved to feel what she felt for sure! It was just a lot for me as the reader.) I liked that the book taught some valuable lessons and showed positive ways to handle hard things. This was a great read.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)