Renee Watson is so able to pack a lot of meaning into a few words and this short, middle grades book is no exception. It's not until you're finished that you realize just how much has happened in 200 pages. Amara's discovery of her family history is great and relatable in how she suddenly realizes that her parents had lives before she arrived. I wish the book had gotten her to NYC more quickly than it did because the time in Oregon didn't add anywhere near as much to her story as her exploration of Harlem did.

This middle grade fiction book is about 12 year old Amara who really wants to go to NYC to get to know her dad's family. Amara and her parents live in Portland, the only place worth living, according to Amara's mother. Amara's mom is pregnant and Amara is happy to become a big sister, but her mom has had several miscarriages and seems to have the whole protection thing WAY OUT of control. Amara is assigned a family history project at school and her dad has to take a business trip to NY and decides to take Amara with him. Amara is plunged into the drama of family-why her dad and her grandfather aren't speaking to one another, her aunt and her cousins and how they view Amara and her family, as well as trying to learn about NYC and the history and cultural highlights there. I really liked this one and I think the kids will like it too.

Yet another Renee Watson story that tugs at and fills your heart. As with all her others, really enjoyed this one.

Really well-done story about finding out where you come from and discovering who you are in the process. Amara is persistent, just like her father. Her persistence pays off when she is able to travel with her father to Harlem to meet his side of the family in person for the first time. Secrets are unraveled, feelings are expressed, and history comes alive for Amara through the eyes of her grandfather, aunt, and cousins. Watson does a great job not only expressing Amara's voice, but revealing the cultural history of Harlem and provides the reader with a nice armchair tour of the area. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with Amara!

I found that i haven't read a middle grade book in a while and this book was such a great book to get me back into the age group. This book centres around Amara and her journey to New York to meet her grandfather (who her father doesn't talk to), and explore the places that her father grew up, but never talks about.
This is a very fun book about a girl exploring New York, her own independence, and getting to know her family. It is about growing up and learning history and it was very easy to connect to.
I felt a part of this story from page one and really connected to some of Amara's feelings and I feel like many kids will be able to as well.
This was a great book and one that explores family and history in a way that many people will love.

I received an electronic ARC from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books through NetGalley.
Family dynamics can be complicated and this story brings that out right away. All Amara wants for her birthday is to see where her dad grew up in Harlem and to meet his extended family. After closed door discussions and arguments, her dad agrees to take her along on his work trip to New York City. She interacts with her grandfather, aunt, cousins, etc. and explores the city with them.
Learning about her heritage opens her mind and challenges her to rethink her current life on the other coast.
Watson brings the characters to life - their wants, needs, gamut of emotions. Readers will relate to them and recognize pieces of themselves and their own families. She also weaves in historical information about Harlem.
Will be a powerful emotional punch to some readers coping with their own family situations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an eARC of this book.

Wow. I'm really blown away by how much story is packed into a little over 200 pages. This is the kind of book I want to see more of in #mglit, but it takes a very talented author to do it as well as Renee Watson has in SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS.

I've heard a number of people say that we need more stories that focus on the lives of Black characters that aren't rooted in slavery, pain, and stereotypes. This is the story of a young girl who wants to know where she came from, where her dad came from, where her family is from and how she fits into it. It takes us to Harlem where he meets her grandfather and cousins in person for the first time, and she experiences New York with the intention of learning about her history. It's powerful without being heavy, and addresses so much about family, history and culture. I'd love to see a sequel and watch the development of these new relationships.

Highly recommended, and one of the most unique and important books I've read this year.

It’s very unfortunate that books that are only available in PDF expire. Although I downloaded it, I can no longer access this title even though it hadn’t been archived. May I respectfully request that you make your titles available for a Kindle download so they don’t expire? Thank you.

This is a lovely story about getting to know your roots. Realizing that "You come from greatness. You come from strength." Of repairing old wounds and undertaking new adventures. About being loved for exactly who you are. My students will love this book.

I am grateful for the powerful talent of Renee Watson and how she continues to provide us with beautifully nuanced and complex stories that keep the heart of the narrator at the center. Cannot wait for this middle-grade book to come out in September

I love how much Renee Watson makes me care about her characters, even as an adult reading a middle grade novel.

This is a wonderful story of finding out where we come from and how that history shapes our present and future. Amara is struggling to find her place in her growing family, especially since she doesn't know much about her parents' pasts. When she is finally able to visit her father's family in Harlem, she is able to get some answers.

I think Amara is a character that a lot of middle graders would be able to relate to and see some part of themselves in. She tries to be brave, but still has the fear of the unknown that so many kids her age try to hide to appear more "grown up." While there were some details that I thought would be further explored in the story because they were mentioned multiple times, they ended up being inconsequential in the overall story arc.

This would be a beautiful read for a middle grader just learning about African American history as this element is woven through the story and famous African American historical figures are pivotal in helping Amara learn more about her family...and herself.

More than anything Amara wants to go to New York and visit her dad's family there. When she finally convinces her dad to take her for her birthday, she is excited. She meets her family in New York and learns a bit more about why her dad and grandpa are estranged. She also learns a lot of history through walks around the city with her dad and grandpa. This was a fabulous family story that educates not only Amara but every reader. I loved all the historical tidbits about New York and Harlem.

Review copy courtesy of NetGalley.

This middle grade story skewed maybe a little too old for my readers, but it was an interesting story. Recommended for readers interested in New York or stories set in cities.

Some Places More Than Others was a delight to read. I enjoyed the author's writing style as Amara's story unfolded beautifully. I loved that she was on a quest to find out more about her family not only for her Suitcase Project, but for her understanding as well. I loved going on the journey with her to find her roots. This is a great story about family!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this book to read and review.

Amara lives in Beaverton, Oregon with her mother, who is a fashion designer and runs a boutique, and her father, who is an executive for Nike and travels a lot. He also gets good deals on the latest shoes, which is great for Amara, who is a bit of a sneakerhead. She doesn't appreciate her mother's clothing, preferring a more casual style. She knows that her father and grandfather, who lives in Harlem, NYC, don't talk much, but she really wants to visit the city and see something besides Oregon. Her mother is expecting a baby, after a lot of disappointments, and Amara is determined to visit before the baby comes. Eventually, her parents decide she can go as a birthday present. She is thrilled to visit her grandfather's brownstone, and enjoys traveling around the city with her slightly older cousins, who are not thrilled to have to "babysit" her. She soaks up the Black culture and takes lots of pictures for her school project, a "suitcase" of memories and family stories. There are some mishaps, like when she tries to find the Nuyorican cafe where her father read his poems, but she has a good visit connecting with her family and learning about its history.

Strengths: Family issues, such as the one that Amara's father and grandfather have (grandfather was a coach for the Knicks; father wrote poetry that wasn't appreciated) are not covered as much in middle grade literature as are more traumatic events, so this was interesting to see. My students will be thrilled to see middle class, suburban African Americans; while this is more common now, a large percantage of books with African American characters are set in the inner city, and my students want to see themselves reflected in books occasionally. Amara's grandmother died the day she was born, and this is also realistic. The big seller for this book is the description of New York City and the inclusion of so much Black history.
Weaknesses: A bit slow. I wish that Amara hadn't had to argue for so long with her parents, and that the book jumped into the New York trip more quickly.
What I really think:Watson is a popular author in my library (students particularly like This Side of Home), so I will purchase this.

I was totally engaged in this story and read it in one day. Definitely appropriate for middle grade, there is mention of some hard stuff but language and content is fine for elementary. I think readers will get a bit of wish fulfillment in Amara's story, but they will also connect with her as she navigates conflict with her parents and other family members, tries to learn about her family's past, and finds her place in her extended family.

Renee Watson is a favorite in my classroom for a reason. This is a quick read with depth that students will love.

This author is a wirting genius. I love her style and her words. This book did not disappoint. I think it is a must read for all.

This was a special story about a girl wanting to know her family, and finding out all of that and more. A wonderfully written book about stories and families and community history that every middle grade reader should have.

As soon as I saw a new title from Renee Watson, I knew I had to stop everything and read it. I was not disappointed. In Some Places More Than Others, Amara wants nothing more than to go to New York City for her birthday. Her Mom is an emphatic no, while her Dad is a little less certain. She has family in NYC, Dad has a work trip planned there and she has this really special homework about learning where you are from. At long last, Amara gets the okay to travel to NYC and learn more about her family and history.
She gets so much more than she ever imagined. Not only did she learn about her family, namely Grandma Grace and her father's upbringing, but she also learned about her own history through new eyes and understanding.
This was a story of family, history, learning, growth, change, trust and so much more. Watson makes learning and growing engaging and entertaining. This is a book I wish for all students to experience.