What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing

How I Came Across It... *Erin Soderberg Downing is not only an author that lives near me, but has also become a friend. She has done so much for me and my readers over the years. I downloaded her upcoming middle-grade novel on NetGalley and read it during a day while on spring break in Mexico. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Avery is a young girl heading to spend the summer on a family island.

*Her cousin, Jax, is also heading to the same island.

*They couldn't be more different, but do find they have a similar goal they would like to reach by the end of the summer.

*There is a family mystery and none of the family members seem to want to talk about it.

*Avery and Jax join forces, bring different experiences and perspectives, and bring forth the "issue" of "What happened then".

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *This middle-grade novel brought me a complete day of reading JOY!

*I could not stop reading once I started and was completely engrossed in the story.

*I have read all of Erin's books and this is truly her best work yet.  A powerful, emotional, and heart-warming journey.  

*The characters were authentic, genuine, and wove their way into my heart.

*The writing was beautiful, the plot moved forward at a perfect pace, and the mystery kept me guessing until the very end.  

Who Should Read It... *This really is the perfect novel for readers in grades four, five, and six. I also know that all middle-school readers will enjoy it just as much. I'm looking forward to using it as a class read aloud and can't wait to see what my fourth graders think of the story, the cousins, and the island mystery. Happy Reading! Rating... 5 out of 5 stars