A marvelous, clear, bright stream of a book. As someone who was in many ways a 1980-ish version of Bea - minus the summer home, therapist, demonstrative father - I felt connected to her & cared about what happened to her more than I expected.
I’m not going to spoil this story with quotes or a synopsis: Bea’s story is built bit by bit, and as one reads, one does so without being distracted by the way the story is told, a rare trait in middle-grade fiction. Stead never talks down to her audience or sugar coats an unpleasantness.
Bea is imperfect and makes mistakes; she panics and lashes out; she is utterly believable and Stead does a brilliant job of telling her story. I can’t recommend this highly enough: it is a satisfying, emotional, flawless novel that I know I will both recommend and reread.

This copy was received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead is a wonderful children's middle-grade book. The author has won many awards in children's fiction, and I can see why. 

The List of Things That Will Not Change is told from the perspective of the main character, Bea, and what happens in her life when her parents decide to divorce. The book speaks on many levels whether it's family, the effects of divorce, new relationships, tolerance, friendships, and forgiveness.

Bea's parents give her a notebook when they tell her they are divorcing and where they have written a list of things that will not change for her. It's a great tool to use for children going through similar experiences to provide some stability and comfort.

My favorite character was Miriam. Being a counselor myself, I could identify with her strategies and her ability to nudge Bea into different thinking and exploring her feelings. Miriam had a calmness and grace that I admired. The techniques she used and the conversations she had with Bea could be used in counseling sessions with children. I also liked the relationship between Bea and Sheila, her babysitter and soon-to-be aunt. There were an easiness and gentleness that shined through in their interactions.

I found myself highlighting little nuggets of dialogue or perspective that spoke about life and family, especially when Jesse said, "If you think about it, Bea, life is like a trip. A very long one. And what matters most is the people you travel with." The explanation of the sound of corn growing, first mentioned at the beginning of the book and explained at the end, was done brilliantly. I won't spoil it here, so you'll have to read about it to understand! 

This is a great book to add to your library, whether you are a child or an adult. The author created a storyline that touched on many facets of life and created well-developed and deep characters that brought the various themes to life. 

This is a must-read story.

#NetGalley @RHCBEducators #TheListOfThingsThatWillNotChange

Thanks, NetGalley, for the advanced copy. Rebecca Stead has written so many characters I want to invite over for dinner and, after reading this book, my guest list has grown a bit! Who wouldn't want a friendship with Angus? Or a babysitter like Sheila? Or a conversation with Bea, because she's brave and honest and so open-hearted. What a comforting book to honor the constant - change.

Rebecca Stead does it again. This is a quiet story, in many ways, but like Stead's other works, it is deeply impactful. Beautifully rendered characters, an important story for kids to read.

Gay marriage has been explored before in middle grade books, most notably Richard Peck’s THE BEST MAN. Here though the young protagonist is a female. Bea’s parents have been divorced for two years. She has become accustomed to life in two different homes. You learn early on that Bea is looking forward to the marriage of her dad to another man.

The story is a quiet one with most of the plot relayed through reminiscing about the past. You’ll be introduced to other characters who have made a big impact on Bea, including her counselor/ therapist Miriam. You’ll also learn of events that still bother Bea deep down, ones she hopes to resolve by the wedding day.

Many of the chapters are short and they each bring understanding to Bea and her family. An interesting read for sure, but for me it didn’t quite surpass my two favorite stories from Rebecca Stead—Liar & Spy and When You Reach Me.
Five more Things to Like about: The List of Things That Will Not Change

1. First person narration is a tough one to pull off, but here it is done without a hitch. It’s like Bea is sitting in your living room telling you her story. A kid voice the whole way.
2. The beginning of this novel is revisited at the end. The sound of corn growing provides the bond.
3. Bea’s therapist was my favorite character. She always had the right words to address each of Bea’s concerns, helping her open up more along the way.
4. Many kids will find familiarity with the divorce theme and how Bea copes.
5. Bea has a troublesome skin condition known as eczema. I’ve come across many kids dealing with it and this story should help them realize they are not alone.

We are now living in times of tremendous uncertainty.  Many of us and our young reading buddies wonder what will remain the same and in what ways our lives will change indelibly once we are on the other side.  While the subject of this fine novel is not Covid 19, but divorce and life afterwards for protagonist Bea, some elements may well resonate.


When her parents divorce, Bea is given a notebook.  In it she will write about the things that will not change.  Middle grade readers will learn along with Bea that some things remain the same while others evolve.  They will spend time in this rich story and hopefully come to see that change, even when not asked for, can help to make us who we are.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a very, well written read from a child's POV on her life when her Mom and Dad were together, and then they weren't. Coping mechanisms, counseling, feelings, thoughts, this touches on all of it. It felt so real what Bea goes through in life with all the changes, but it is so important to also remember and make a list of what won't ever change, focus on constants when changes overwhelm.
Her Dad was getting married to another man, she was so excited and happy, she loved Jesse and he had a daughter, so that meant she got an insta sister which thrilled her.
She also found out not everyone accepts same sex relationships, and felt bad when the wedding had a few not so good moments, but it didn't stop them from making the wedding a happy event.
Her friends, she found were true friends through thick and thin, her mom and dad loved her unconditionally, and life goes on.
I received an ARC through NetGalley and am giving my honest opinion

Sigh. Love this YA from m Rebecca Sneed. When You Reach Me was magical and her latest doesn’t disappoint. NYC is a full character in her books in all its glory.

I loved the idea and the premise of the book, but I thought it was boring and never hit an interesting peak.

We all need to start a list of things that will not change. In an uncertain time or age, we need the security of constants. That said, an adult could enjoy this book as much as a child. However, this is a book that would present problems for a traditional conservative family. as it involves the union of two of the same gender. Through the perspective of the first-person narrator, a young girl, the author explores the subjects of revenge and guilt, forgiveness, celebration, and adapting to change.

The young protagonist has a mother and father who love her. With thier separation and divorce come many changes. A therapist helps her cope which gives rise to her understanding and accepting new situations, past misdeeds. She gains much as she sees true friends helping her and the difference a supportive family makes.
It is well-written, and the reader will enter into difficulties with the protagonist. The author has great insight shared through the character arc. Plus,, she keeps a tone of acceptance while showing that sometimes adults are judgmental of others'choices.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wendy Lamb Books for my electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is my first book by the author and I loved the title, but that’s about all.

When Bea’s parents announce they are getting a divorce they provide her with an actual list of things that will not change. But other than that cool concept the book fell flat for me. Best for middle-schoolers who are experiencing divorce.

Review posted on GoodReads.

I really loved Rebecca Stead’s books, “when you reach me” and “liar and spy”, I was very excited for her newest novel. It lived it up to my expectations! The writing and voice of our main character Bea is so truthful to an actual 10 year old. This light and quick read is very heartwarming and made me tear up in some spots. Definitely a must- read!

There are reasons that having a book released during this time of enormous uncertainty and shutdowns in our country (and around the world) could be considered unfortunate. But for two reasons, I think this book will stand out and succeed. One, the author Rebecca Stead is a celebrated Newbery winner (When You Reach Me) who has a huge following of fans. Two, this is the perfect book for young readers to devour hopefully easing some of the anxiety in their minds right now. Bea is an almost 13-year old girl telling the story of the year when she was 10 that her dad got married (to a man named Jesse) and she gained a sister. Her mom and dad had gotten an amicable divorce two years previously and she weaves in lots of her worries - small to more significant - and some of the coping strategies her therapist Miriam has taught her. She is such a likable character and it is heartwarming to see the amount of love and support her family has for her. I think this book has a cathartic quality to it - it is likely readers will identify with some of her worries and will relate well to her. I can’t wait to have my 10-year old read it.

Side note, when I first read the description of the book, it reminded me of another one I read recently To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan. They both deal with daughters of gay dads who were getting married and becoming sisters. I liked that book too, but I loved this one. And they are different and each worthy of their own praise.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for my ARC! This book comes out soon - on April 7, 2020. Highly recommend! Would be a great read aloud for 4th or 5th graders or book for reading during quarantine. I believe it would calm an anxious child and chances are we have more of them now due to this crisis. Loved.

Rebecca Stead's work always has such a sweetness to it. I love the earnestness here, and the focus on emotions in such a realistic and healthy way. As a narrator, Bea has a winning combination of anxiety and positivity, and a sensitive insight into other characters that's really lovely to see. I really felt entirely carried along by the writing,, the heavy topics brought up are handled with care and at an explicable level for young people, and there's a great network of supporting characters. I did find the wedding incident a little strong/dramatic, although it did lend to the sense of realism (not everything always works out), and some of the back and forth between time periods was a bit much, but overall a really wonderful middle grade read.

The List of Things That Will Not Change, by Rebecca Stead, is a beautiful middle-grade story about a girl named Bea, and the years following her parents’ divorce. When Bea’s parents tell her they are divorcing, they present her with a notebook where they’ve started a list, “Things That Will Not Change.” They write things like, “Mom loves you more than anything, always,” “Dand loves you more than anything, always,” and “Mom and Dad love each other, but in a different way,” and encourage Bea to also write more on the list as she thinks of things that other things that will always remain the same. Throughout the book, Bea does write things in the notebook, and processes a lot of big feelings with the help of her amazing parents, supportive friends and her therapist, who, in my opinion is brilliant. The story covers a span of about two years, and we see Bea struggle and grow, as her family changes.

Bea has some anxiety, and her therapist, whom she sees weekly, is just really great in helping her. She is patient and comes up with ways to help Bea trust her, as well as tools that help Bea successfully process her grief, anger, and control her anxiety. One thing I loved was the suggestion of having a specific “worry time,” and trying to acknowledge anxious thoughts but telling them to wait until that specific daily time when Bea would think about them. I touch on this because as a teacher and parent, I know it can be difficult to find mental health care, and then when you do, it can still be hard to find the right fit and establish that connection. It was refreshing and inspiring to read this book from a teacher/parent perspective. To see divorced parents lovingly care for their child and each other, and a therapist consistently working to the best of her ability, was amazing, and maybe just a little unrealistic.

I also found that Bea being an only child (mostly), probably helped the situation, as the adults in her life were fully present to help her cope and thrive. Again, that aspect was a little unrealistic - her parents really were near perfect in all of their responses and decisions made on Bea’s behalf, but I was okay with it. I looked at the story as a beautiful model as how all of us adults, divorced or going through any difficult time, should strive to live, and how we can lead by example, and also better help the children in our lives. The author did include some characters that did not respond well to things or behave kindly, and that helped round things out.

This book covers topics of divorce, LGBTQ+ parents, blended families, anxiety, grief, guilt, forgiveness, and friendship. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love the story and the characters in this book! It's such an emotionally honest portrayal of Bea and all that she's feeling and going through at this period in her life. I also love thiat it brings up some difficult issues and doesn't shy away from getting to the heart of them. The one thing that didn't quite work for me was how it jumped around in time and from story to story. I would have preferred a more cohesive and linear timeline, but that didn't take away from the emotional impact of the story. Thanks to Netgalley and Wendy Lamb books for the advanced digital copy!

10-year-old Bea brings us into her world as she shares the story of her parents' divorce when she was eight. The title of the book, The List of Things That Will Not Change, is based upon a list her parents began for her in a notebook before telling Bea about the divorce. The list is meant to reassure Bea that she is still loved, and that her parents will never live far apart from each other. Bea seems to adjust remarkably well to this, and her parents also make sure she sees a counselor on a regular basis to talk about her feelings. As Bea shares her conflicting emotions about many issues, one thing remains clear: She is loved. She is loved by her dad's boyfriend, Jesse, and loved by her friends, as well as her extended family. Even when there are rough patches, there is forgiveness. When Bea's dad and Jesse announce their engagement, Bea is genuinely happy for them, and thrilled to be getting a sister, Jesse's daughter. This book is about relationships, friendships, being honest, making mistakes and being gracious. This sensitive and humorous book would be an excellent addition to any elementary fiction collection.

Bea can't wait for her dad to marry his boyfriend Jesse because it means she'll have a new sister, Jesse's daughter Sonia. But first she has to come to terms with the realization that Sonia may not be as excited to have a new family as Bea is and also to face a secret from the past summer. The story is a fast, breezy read about family and will resonate with children whose parents have been divorced. The characters are all three-dimensional and believable, although Stead does tell more than show us that Sonia is homesick when she visits before the wedding. The plot twist at the end about Bea's summer is unexpected but reads naturally and helps tie the story together. Bound to be a bestseller simply for its Newbery-winning author, although the normalization of gay marriage will cause concern and pushback among some parents and readers. Ages 8-12.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Childrens Wally Lamb Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead is a wonderful story about love that oddly enough starts with a divorce. The story is narrated by a young girl Bea. She tells the story of how her parents got divorced because her father is gay. The story centers around how Bea copes with learning to live in two households, her parents amicable divorce, her counseling sessions with Miriam, and finally her Dad’s finding a new love, Jesse, and marrying him.

What makes this story shine is Bea. We see her perspective from age 7 to 13. The purity and innocence of her voice, how she deals with a really difficult point in her life, and how she learns to thrive is just a beautiful story. Bea’s life is by no means perfect, but her sense of optimism and love of those around her is something special.

I like the author’s emphasis on counseling in this book. Bea’s sessions with Miriam I think help ground Bea and help her cope with uncertainty and often confusing times in her life.

I think another reason I loved this book is because it is just beautifully written. Rebecca Stead’s use of descriptive language brings a lyrical quality to the text and yet she keeps it simple and appropriate to the middle grade level.

Long story short this is a beautiful novel of growth and optimism that I really enjoyed a lot.

This book releases April 7, 2020.

Twelve-year-old Bea shares life from her perspective as she navigates the new family dynamics of her father's upcoming marriage to another man; and the excitement that this new relationship will bring her a new sister that's her own age. As the family prepares for the wedding, Bea visits with a therapist and utilizes many of the techniques she's been taught to cope with everyday life. Bea's voice throughout the story is authentic to a middle grader. So many topics are navigated like eczema, same sex marriage, divorce, therapy, school frustrations, acceptance, and homophobia. Stead, again, provides a "place" where students with similar difficulties can relate and feel at home. Recommended for grades 5 and up.