Another engaging novel from Rebecca Stead. When Bea's parents divorce, she starts a list that, like the title says, will not change. In a time of her life when nothing seems constant, this notebook becomes a life-line as she meets her father's finance, her new step-sister, and criticism from friends at school. A must read for fans of Judy Blume!

I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.

I was engaged by Bea from the start of the book. Rebecca Stead has a way of drawing you into her stories from the very beginning and you don't want to let go of the characters at the end. I loved the honest way she approached the changes in Bea's life and how she manages them.

Another stunning story from one of my favorite middle grade authors. Stead's writing is always so authentic to the emotional lives of children, and this one is no exception. Highly recommend.

This is a wonderful story about Bea, a girl whose parents divorce when her dad comes out. She makes a list of things that will not change which starts with the fact that both her parents will always love her. A couple of years down the road, her father and his boyfriend Jesse plan to marry. Bea loves Jesse (he gets added to her list!), his sister Sheila, who is Bea's babysitter, and she tries to forge a relationship with Jesse's reluctant daughter, Sonia. Sonia, who lives on the other side of the country, struggles to adjust to the changes in her family. Her mother is remarried and she has two little brothers. When she's with her mother, she misses her father Jesse and his life with Bea and her father and their dog Rocco. But when she is with them, she misses her mother. She envies what she perceives as Bea's easy time with all her changes, and the fact that her mother and father live in the same place. Bea's honest looks at her struggles with her life changes- two apartments, two beds, two different window views, feeling happy for her dad yet sad for her mom- make the novel quite poignant, at times.

Bea is just a wonderful character and her kind disposition is crucial in her building a bigger family that is full of love.

A beautiful middle-grade novel.


I received a digital review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So excited to read this book! It sounds cute and relatable. I will return and edit this with full and accurate rating when done!

This book was a interesting read. Was fascinating on her perspective of how her life was with her family not only being divorce, but her father remarry to a man. I liked the book overall. Very different read for me. I would recommend to people that would like to know the impact it does on kids. Then again every kid is different.

An absolutely charming story about navigating changing families and growing up. It’s refreshing to see two parents committed to putting their child front and center, and Bea’s voice is strong throughout the story. Relatable and not preachy, it tells a story to the audience (middle grade) without talking down to them. I love the storyline of Bea’s father coming out as gay and the way it is woven through.

Bea's parents are splitting up and revealing to her that her Dad is gay. The following year (?) is about her adjusting to different apartments, her father dating and marrying, going to therapy, and dealing with emotional outbursts. The book is probably very true to the emotional journey of kids that age, but as a novel I found it to be plodding and I didn't think Bea was a particularly likable character. Review from e-galley.

This book was so sweet. I love Rebecca Stead's writing, and she captured the voice of an anxious 10-year-old so perfectly. I related to Bea so much.

This story follows Bea, as she is dealing with the fact that her parents have divorced because her father is gay. She now has two homes, two bedrooms, a whole new schedule (mom days and dad days), and a list of things that will never change. I wish my parent's divorce had gone as well as Bea's parents. They were supportive and loving both to each other and to Bea. It was beautiful to see an outcome like that.

This story burrowed its way into my heart and I didn't want it to end. It was beautiful and heartwarming, and I can't wait to share it with my 11-year-old.

1. Have a box of tissues handy

Beautiful, I don’t know if there are words for the different emotions one may feel while reading. I’m not a child of divorced parents but this was so well written it helped heal little places I wasn’t aware needed attention. Isn’t that what a good book died, open you up to thinking beyond yourself. I laughed and truly cried. Should be read by everyone.

I received an e-arc from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice's parents divorced when she was eight years old because her dad didn't love her mom the same way anymore. When she was ten, her dad announced he was going to marry Jesse, his seemingly long-time boyfriend, who also had a daughter Beatrice's age. Beatrice is excited to have a new sister. The List of Things That Will Not Change goes through the months leading up to the wedding and how Beatrice's life is going to change.

I really enjoyed this novel! It was a cute middle-grade novel about parents divorcing and remarrying. While I can't relate with Beatrice, I know there are children out there who will and this novel will give them a sense of belonging. It is also a great novel about growing up and owning up to mistakes even if you don't want to.

Stead is a master, and in The List of Things That Will Not Change, she is in top form. Readers of all ages will fall in love with Bea and the rest of the cast of characters in this novel about how we define family. There is so much to love about this book, but two things that stand out are the depictions of how Bea deals with worry (anxiety), which is done so well. Kids will be able to relate to Bea and all her worries. Perhaps my favorite thing of all is how Stead normalizes apologizing in this book. Too often, we get a set up where one character is right and the other is wrong, and we have to choose sides. We see this polarization in real life, too. But as Bea learns, sometimes all it takes to repair a relationship is to admit where we went wrong and try to be a better person. I think we can all take a lesson from that.

Love this book. Rebecca Stead has a great way of writing and teaching at the same time. This story was engaging and emotional.

Rebecca Stead hits all the right notes in this character driven story about a modern family. Bea's parents call a family meeting, and announce that they are divorcing. At this point, Bea is given a green pen and a green spiral into which she can note “Things That Will Not Change”, the first items being Mom loves you and Dad loves you, and most importantly, we are still family but in a different way. As the story progresses, Bea adds to the list, and the story arc involves not only having 2 homes, but Bea's guilt over her cousin's serious fall from the loft one summer, Bea's wish for a sister, and her Dad's wedding. Told in Bea's first person voice, the reader meets her friends, family and counselor. Highly recommend.

Another solid novel from Rebecca Stead. Her characters are always quirky yet believable and navigate their worlds with unique resilience and vulnerability. This story is a testament to the staying power of love and family, even as life leads to inevitable change.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by REBECCA STEAD is a gem.
I enjoyed getting to know all of these characters, especially Bea, an optimist, who uses her green notebook to create “The List of Things That Will Not Change” in her life as she gets ready for a new “chapter”.
Bea and her extended family share a summer house and lots of family stories and the good news is that Bea will soon have a new sister.
This is a glorious read. Rebecca Stead is a favorite author, who is able to get to the heart of each person as the story unfolds. All kids struggle with friendships at times.
Bea’s divorced parents are supportive, yet now Bea needs to figure out where and how she belongs in their lives, too.
I highly recommend this book for your middle grade readers.

I was given a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bea's parents are getting a divorce, but they give her a list of "things that will not change" to help her adjust. Bea experiences a lot of change but refers back to her list frequently.

Great middle-grade book to help kids deal with divorce.

#netgalley #thelistofthingsthatwillnotchange #rebeccastead #divorce

Wow, what a great read. Kids of divorced parents will feel seen when reading this, and any child adjusting to their parent(s) being gay will also feel noticed. More literature should reflect this family dynamic that is quickly becoming prevalent , and I cannot wait to get this book into the hands of my students!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Rebecca Stead is a master at crafting authentic and extraordinary characters, and this book is yet another beautiful example of that. I loved Bea and felt like I was seeing right into her soul as I read and couldn't put this one down. I think Stead deftly handles big issues (divorce, anxiety, complicated family dynamics, to name a few), but they don't feel heavy-handed or overwrought. Perfect for middle grade readers and adults looking to better understand their own children. Fantastic book!

The List of Things That Will Not Change is the type of middle grade I look forward to reading. The story builds from a simple beginning into a well developed thoughtful engaging story. I appreciate how Bea is a flawed character who has trouble dealing with her emotions. This makes the story much more accessible to young readers who might be experiencing some of the same problems.