Ebb and Flow by Heather Smith, published by Kids Can Press is a beautiful new middle grade novel written in verse.

Jett’s spending the summer with Grandma Jo on the island because Mom thinks he needs a change of scenery.  He’s had a terrible year and done some pretty awful things.  He’s not ready to talk about it.  While Grandma Jo tells him Joanna stories and takes him to some of her favourite places and on her errands we slowly find out why Jett has had a terrible year and how he finds a way to take ownership of his actions and seek forgiveness.

I really love a good novel in verse.  They are so powerful and there is so much beauty in the simplicity of the words.  So much is said in short little poems.  Heather Smith takes such good care, with the subject matter, the perfect choice was to write Jett’s story in verse.  Grandma Jo is the grandma we all want to have.  One that is zany and marches to the beat of her own drummer and who is also filled with so much kindness and so much caring.  Her treatment of Jett is the way we all hope we can treat another who has made a regretful mistake.  Her forgiveness is all encompassing.  She never let’s Jett off the hook and never pushes his to tell her his story.  She simply waits and allows him the space to come to her in his time, when he’s ready.   It’s a beautiful story for avid and reluctant readers alike.  Peppered with themes of compassion, resilience, empathy, and courage, there is so many layers to this novel and so much to explore and take away.