Just Under the Clouds would make a discussion provoking read aloud in middle school classrooms. It would be interesting to have students compare and contrast their own lives with Cora's life. I think they might first notice the differences and then, hopefully, find the similarities.

Just Under the Clouds was about homelessness as seen through the eyes of a twelve year old, Cora Quinn. But it was also about discovery, friendships, and acceptance of life…and what you see in it for yourself and your family.This was a very moving story, especially in terms of Cora’s relationship with her special needs sister, Adare, who experienced life and all its wonder from a different and positive perspective.
Overall, this was a good read with a relevant, interesting plot.

Writing: 4.5 Characters: 5 Plot: 4.5

This is one of those books that opens your eyes to a completely fresh perspective. Cora is a 12-year-old girl who is technically homeless. Along with her mother and sister, she moves from placement to placement in South Brooklyn. Some placements are better than others, and some almost begin to feel like home, but all are temporary and none is truly theirs. They began this sojourn 6 years before, when her father died suddenly of a too large heart.

Cora is a budding naturalist. She carefully documents all the plants and trees she finds in each of the places they live, keeping note in her father’s field journal which she calls her “Tree Book.” Through her observations and records, we are exposed to aspects of nature that I wouldn’t have known existed in these urban settings. Frankly, I had never heard of the Red Hook and Gowanus sections of Brooklyn and I was fascinated reading about them from within Cora’s story.

We also see a panoply of different people through her eyes: a new friend who lives on a houseboat and was home schooled for most of her life; an artist building a giant, slightly jagged, heart in an old warehouse; an old friend of her mother’s who lives a life of relative luxury near by; and her sister, Adare, who is “special.” Cora hates that word because “when it comes to Adare, nobody can get enough of the word special.” Adare was deprived of oxygen as a baby and is certainly different, but there is more to Adare than the label implies — she has a magical way of interacting with the world.

This is a real gem — one of the best young reader books I’ve read in a long time. An honest and absorbing story about a young girl seeking to belong. As a fun aside, in the acknowledgements I found out that Sarno’s agent is none other than Rebecca Stead, one of my favorite children’s literature authors. An excellent recommendation!

This is a lovely, poignant, heartfelt MG which gives a rare view on poverty and homelessness for MG readers. It has a wonderful sense of place and a beautiful voice.

I think this is an important book. It doesn't overreach in vocabulary or characterization or realism, but it talks about youth homelessness (which is both more common and different than we would think) and intellectual disabilities in a relatable way. I do wish that the plotline about Cora's math skills had ended in a more realistic way (I understand that the teaching style of the original class was the issue, but going from understanding nothing after most of the school year to understanding the concepts in one day seemed a little far-fetched) but overall it was both an enjoyable read and a book covering important issues.