This is the darkest middle grade book I have ever read. It shattered my heart and it’s not even written to be a tear jerker. The 12-year-old protagonist, Olivia, tells the story in such an innocent, aloof way that is really kind of chilling when you realize the drama that’s going on behind the scenes. As a teacher who has mentored kids like Olivia and who has had to call DHR on behalf of kids like Olivia, I was just horrified while reading this book.

Olivia and her younger sister Berkley have been abandoned by their dad who tells them that he’s moving to be a park ranger in Bryce Canyon. This leaves them living with their mom who who asks Olivia to skip school to care for Berkley during the day. Olivia plays caretaker, teacher, cook, and entertainer for Berkley as well as handy-woman who fixes up the trailer their family lives in. She also spends her time applying to online sweepstakes, which she loves because they tell her that “You May Already Be a Winner!” and this is the kind of hope Olivia thrives on. When she and Berkley meet a new boy named Bart, Olivia is thrilled to have a new friend and confidant. As the truth about her dad's absence and her mom's neglect are unveiled, Olivia has to learn how to cope.

I had the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This middle grade novel taps into the stress that so many young people have placed on their shoulders by the inability of their families to manage their households. When money issues, jobs, and daycare problems become the responsibility of adolescent children, it affects every aspect of their lives - especially school. Unfortunately, many kids are placed in these circumstances, where they are forced to take care of themselves and younger siblings and become the “adults” of the family far too soon. I believe that many of these kids will definitely be able to relate to this story.

The plot and style of this book reminds me a lot of the book Death By Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart. In Gephart’s book, Benjamin is a seventh grader who’s coping with the death of his father, his mother’s financial problems, and his ailing grandfather. Benjamin is constantly entering contests and sweepstakes with hopes of winning a big prize that would help his family be able to stay in their apartment.

In You May Already Be a Winner, Olivia is a sixth grader dealing with a multitude of problems caused by the adults in her life, and their inability to get their act together. Her father left the family in the past year, her mother works long hours as a maid, and Olivia frequently is called upon to stay home from school to take care of her younger sister, Berkeley. Olivia enters as many online contests as she can, with hopes of winning big and lifting her family out of their circumstances.

The characters certainly grabbed a hold of me and my heart just ached as I read this story. Through the years, I’ve worked with many kids that have to grow up way too quickly. Kids should be able to be kids and focus on school, friends, and fun and not have to spend their time worrying about whether their families will have food or a home. I think that this will be a book that will resonate with lots of readers. I think it's a great book to have in upper elementary and middle school classroom libraries.

This was a novel that was hard to read. It was depressing because as a teacher, I am sure I have students in dire straights like Olivia and her family and I just don't know. I think the heart of the novel is learning it is important to learn to trust and rely on others, just as Olivia did. I am appreciative to NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review. I hope that in reading I will be more cognizant of the "secret" lives of my students.

#Wrong number 1
So at first I thought this book would be easy and fun. A kids' read. Just what I need right now.

#Wrong number 2
Then I thought it would be a three star read.

#Wrong number 3
I thought it would be pretty forgettable. And that it would probably have typical tropes.
Well, guess again.

So let's get down to the facts.

As you might have surmised, it's a pretty emotionally loaded book. It took me through a rollercoaster of #feels , and although it took a while for it to really get serious, by the end it didn't just make me angry at (some) adults and their horrible decisions, it also made me almost cry. It's definitely a 4 star read, and I loved it.

What is the book about?
We start by meeting Olivia, who is a 13 year old girl living in a trailer park. It's just the three of them - her, her little sister and their mom. Olivia is every bit as responsible as her parents aren't, so she misses school because there's no one to watch over her little sister. She is actually very cute about it, giving her sister creative lessons she finds on the internet. It's not that her mom is irresponsible, but she's stressed because Olivia's dad left, overworked because she has to care for two children alone and she is just not handling it. Olivia ends up having to make all the hard decisions for her mother, and take on way too much responsibility, basically bringing up her little sister and believing everything is actually her fault.

We see the journey of Olivia's family straight into crash and ruin , and we see Olivia break up because it's too heavy for her. It all makes you feel so angry, that it's so unfair, and you can't help thinking there ARE so many children who don't have lunch money, who have to lie for their parents, who have to try to enter as many lotteries that they can so they could maybe survive (hence the name "You May Already Be A Winner").

And the end is just so touching. It's not a bad ending at all, although it seems like there's no way it could end well.

I liked this book. I loved seeing such a responsible, loving, kind teen who would do so much for her family. And no heroics - do so much by just doing all the nasty little things most of us don't have to do, like cook, clean, miss school because you're a 13 year old adult raising someone else's child, trying to protect your family from the authorities finding out and not ever exposing your feelings because you're protecting someone else's. Also: no instalove. Just loneliness vs friendship and playing with the cards you're dealt.
I have to admit though, I'll have an emotional hangover after this book. It was a ride. If you like reading about teens in tough situations, about growing and maturing, but without the typical self-pitying voice and deep dramatism, this is what you want to read. It's a really down-to-earth story about growth and, well, life. I recommend it to any of my friends who like reading YA and middle grade contemporary.

P. S. Just look at that lovely cover.

I totally picked this book on Netgalley because of the cover. Although the the synopsis did seal the deal. It sounded like a good contemporary story about family and hope. I enjoyed it thoroughly although there were some times when it moved a little slowly for me.

I loved the relationship between Olivia and Berkeley. They were very sweet with one another and very close. They also supported each other when no one else was able to. Olivia was forced to take on the roll of parent to Berkeley most days, but she took it in stride and didn’t resent Berkeley for it. Her interactions with her mother were sad for the most part. Their mom was definitely a single parent in over her head and at a loss as to how to fix things for the better. Olivia would write letters to her absent dad, which were silent pleas for help, but her dad never answered. When he does finally show up there is a scene between him and Olivia where he tries to explain where he has been, but Olivia tunes him out. I would have liked hearing more of what he said just because I wanted a better explanation of why he left. There are lots of other adults in the trailer park who try to help the girls, but not always successfully. Bart was the only character I didn’t really care for and that was mostly because of the way he acted around Olivia. He just didn’t seem to care about her, but wanted her to approve of him.

Parts of the story were a little far fetched, but overall a very pleasant story that I enjoyed reading.

I really enjoyed this book. Olivia is a strong character who doesn't have an easy life but she is strong, brave and devoted her family. I think this is a book that will resonate with many of my students and I look forward to introducing it to them in my classroom.

I was torn on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars...so I'll say it's a 3.5. Great voice and characters here, but certain scenes seem rushed or shifting too fast and other scenes have numerous names dropped, adding confusion to the story. This will not prevent me from reading more from the author. NetGalley and the publisher provided a review copy.

You May Already Be A Winner by Ann Dee Ellis is a heart-wrenching tale about a young girl, Olivia, who feels the responsibility of everything. Her father left a year ago and her mother is struggling to hold their lives in the trailer park together, so Olivia takes on more and more responsibility, especially of her younger sister, Berkeley. Olivia also obsessively enters contests, determined to win... just about anything.

You May Already Be A Winner is a good novel for highlighting some of the struggles around poverty, broken homes, and growing up. An important book when considering diverse characters - not everyone's lives are all rosey and rich.

Olivia disappears into her own headspace frequently throughout the novel and while I can somewhat appreciate those moments for developing her mental state in the novel, I found them slightly annoying and found myself rushing to finish those parts, so I could carry on reading the actual storyline, which I found more interesting.

Olivia has a lot of responsibility in her young life. Her mom is trying to single parent while her dad is away and she isn't the best parent to begin with so Olivia is shouldering much of the care of her younger sister, Berkley. Berk is happy to stay with Olivia so she can get out of day care and that means Olivia stays home and misses school - a lot. The pair fill their days entering contests, hanging out at the library and the trailer park where they live and writing to her absent dad. Despite all the negative influences and hurtles in Olivia's life, she remains positive and hopeful. She deals with problems head on and is a great character - one that can see the pinprick of light at the end of the long tunnel. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Olivia is a character that is full of life, which is a funny thing since she begins her story with, "One day I sunk to the bottom of the pool and died." It turns out that she did not die, but she does have very vivid daydreams. The daydreams are a way to escape from the unpleasant parts of her life, things like having to stay home from school and watch Berk, cleaning the trailer and fixing dinner because her mom comes home too tired to do it, or writing emails to her father that are never answered. Olivia, her mother, and her sister Berkeley live in Sunny Pines, "a trailer park attached to a KOA." Olivia becomes determined to offer Berk something better, so she enters online contests, as many as she can find. The sweepstakes entries are another coping mechanism to deal with missing her father, the loss of her best friend, having to stay home from school, and all the other negative circumstances in her life.

Along with Olivia, we see her neighbors and learn their stories, too. We also meet her eccentric friend, Bart. Can he really be an agent for the FBI doing surveillance in Sunny Pines? That is only one question we try to find the answer to as the story unfolds. We also wonder if her father is really off helping the rangers in Bryce Canyon and when child & family services will intervene in their lives. Sixth graders can't just stop coming to school without local agencies getting involved. And we wonder, just as Olivia does, what will happen when their situation is discovered.

The setting and characters are full of realistic details, and we can recognize how easily a family could wind up in the same condition as Olivia's. We laugh at her daydreams of heroically fighting fires or receiving the kiss of life from the life guard, but we also understand that we are laughing to keep from crying over her life. This is a strong piece of realistic fiction that showcases a memorable character. Fans of See You in the Cosmos might enjoy Olivia's tale.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twelve year old Olivia has the responsibility of someone much older. With her mom working overtime to make ends meet and her dad “away” in Bryce Canyon, Liv tries to keep her little sister Berkeley entertained. Since Berk can’t go to daycare anymore, Liv stays home from school and looks after her, making sure they take time to practice various subjects in their workbooks.

Life in Sunny Pines Trailer Park isn’t always sunny and happy. Olivia’s former best friend has moved on, and Olivia begins to wonder about feelings she might have for a boy. Trying to distract Berk from their misfortune further, Olivia comes up with a circus spectacular, so they have something to plan and look forward to. As her mother’s resolve begins to crack, Liv has to take on even more responsibility. Determined to change their luck, Olivia follows a very strict routine of entering online contests, that is until their computer dies and the librarian asks questions about why the girls aren’t in school.

THOUGHTS: This is a heartbreaking look at family dynamics and being honest with oneself and each other. With Olivia’s wild imagination, there are parts of her story that are fabricated, and those may confuse young readers, but it is a beautiful story of sisterhood, hope, and not giving up on those you love.

Olivia yearns for a better life. One in which she has more money, one in which her dad will be present, one in which her mother takes more responsibility for caring for her and her sister. In spite of this, Olivia does her best to do the right thing and take care of her family. I had to read this book carefully because there are times that the story switches from what is presently happening to what is happening in Olivia's imagination. Olivia's strength and determination in the face of challenges will make you want to root for her and keep reading to find out if it all works out for her and her family. This is a sweet, hopeful story about family and community.

On the surface, it's a really cute book. Olivia is a smart, likable child who is more adult and mature than her mother (who got on my last nerve). Olivia home schools herself and her younger sister and evades people who might upset her life. She is wildly imaginative and protective of her sister. They live in a campground/trailer compound that has too many visitors and dangers.

If you leave it at that, kids will like it but what I loved about it was that Olivia, despite her bravado, was at heart a kid. A kid with a heart who wants to do right and get ahead in life. She knows living the life her mother has given her is not going to work and sets about chartering her own destiny.

Fabulous book, love the characters and felt their struggles. The writing style was a true highlight - unique and fit the main character, Olivia perfectly.

'You May Already be a Winner' is a tender, heart-wrenching book about love, family, and friendships. 12-year-old Olivia has far more responsibility than she should--caring for her younger sister, Berk, cleaning, and putting food on the table. She misses weeks and weeks of school because her mom finds it easier to leave her at home to care for her sister.

While the actions of the parents in this book are hard to fathom, I had some sympathy for the girls' mother. She was trying to keep working, keep money coming in, and keep the family together. I had no patience for the father. He disappeared, didn't bother to keep in touch and had no idea of the precarious living situation they were in. Things could have ended really badly for Olivia and Berk; Berk spent weeks hiding out all day in a closet!

Despite the heaviness of the events in the book, it is ultimately hopeful, and leaves the reader with the sense that the characters will be ok in the end. I would recommend for ages 10-14.

You May Already Be a Winner is an awesome book. Readers of all ages will be enthralled by the plight of the protagonist, Olivia, who is forced to grow up long before she should. The author uses Olivia's daydreams to cleverly convey the adolescent desire for attention and recognition. My heart ached for Olivia and her family. I was pleasantly pleased with the novel's conclusion. Even though Olivia doesn't get the ending from one of her daydreams, she does achieve a sense of belonging and has the potential to live "happily ever after."

Really enjoyed this one. Heartbreaking for a teacher to read because we see these things in our kids every day! Full review on Goodreads.

I liked the characters and the plot of this book very much. I wish there was a little more development of the themes, though.

I requested to read this book because of the interesting title and the intriguing description of the protagonist, Olivia. She is a strong 12, "pretty much almost thirteen," year old character who broke my heart and touched my soul.

The story is told from her point of view in a stream of consciousness style which accurately reflects the thought processes of an emerging young adult. While the prose can seem disjointed at times, this writing style adds to the emotional impact Olivia's story has on the reader. I not only could identify with Olivia and the other characters in her life, but I shared in her triumphs, both in fantasy and reality, and deeply felt her desperation and pain in the difficult life situations she faced.

The story is well pace, a fast read, compelling in content and very character driven. While heartbreaking at times, Olivia's story will ultimately leave the reader with a sense of renewed faith in human nature and the resilience of youth.

As someone who's spent my career working with and advocating for children, books like You May Already Be a Winner appeal to me. When I read the description of the book, it reminded me of two of Kate DiCamillo's books (Because of Winn Dixie and Raymie Nightingale-both of which I loved), and the cover is perfection. I found the narrative a bit harder to follow in this novel, however due to the "stream of consciousness" approach of the first person point of view. The MC Olivia was dealing with way more pressure than a child of 12 should ever have to handle. So, I cut her some slack for the wandering thought processes and the frequent delving into pure fantasy.
There is plenty to like about this book. If you're a teacher or work with children in any capacity, it's a reminder that we shouldn't make any assumptions about the home lives of our students. Childhood poverty is a very real issue that impacts the learning and welfare of students on a daily basis. I appreciated the moments of tenderness between Olivia and her mother, but I felt that the parental characters could have been better developed. Overall, this is a solid middle grade novel with plenty of heart.