This is likely to be one of those middle grade novels that I loathe while everyone else loves it. Set in the early days of the AIDS crisis, Trowbridge Road follows two preteen outsiders who find community with one another that they are unable to find elsewhere. Heavy themes appear throughout including death, parental unfitness, homophobia, mental health concerns, and child abandonment. Personally it was unnecessarily and relentlessly dark for my tastes, but there's obviously a big market for this type of work.

Marcella Pixley absolutely nailed it with Trowbridge Road. The story revolves around June Bug and Ziggy, two middle schoolers each dealing with grief and abandonment in their own ways. Outcast from the group of kids on their street, they find a safe place in an imaginary land called the Ninth Dimension. Here they are safe, free and in control of their destiny. Like a Bridge to Terabithia for a new generation, Trowbridge Road digs into the emotions of each child, and the family disasters that lead to their pain. For Ziggy, his abused mother isn't able to care for him. For June Bug, after her father's death from AIDS, her mother collapses mentally and can't care for her daughter. Together, with Ziggy's grandmother, they find a way to release their hurt and find friendship.

This is a great story for any one who ever felt cast aside or stigmatized. Not just young adult readers, but adults will relate as well to the need for healing and acknowledging mistakes and trying to do the best we can. As someone who was a child like June Bug and Ziggy in the 1980's, dealing with the AIDS crisis and divorce in real time, this story was a balm of sorts. Trowbridge Road is a chance to understand that some of us were collateral damage back then, and even if we are all in our 40's now, it's never too late to feel understood. Bravo, Marcella

I love middle grade reads; they’re so important to young readers, and I always thinking of them as all “good parts”.

This is a middle grade book with a lot of heavy material. The middle grade genre is known for tackling hard issues (one of the reasons I love MG), but this one is unusually top heavy with trauma.

It's 1983, and June is trying to survive life with her mother. Her father was recently died, and June's mother is no longer capable of taking care of her. June relies on groceries from her uncle a few times a week, and tries to avoid decontamination sessions with her mother. Her father passed away from complications due to AIDS, and the disease is so new that even nurses at the hospital aren't sure how it's transmitted. June's mother has responded with gallons of bleach, latex gloves, and effectively sealing herself off from the world.

Next door, Ziggy has moved in with his grandfather. His mother is also unable to care for him, and Ziggy must deal with a new home, neighborhood, and soon, a new school. He's an easy target for the neighborhood kids because of his long red hair and strange clothes, but June sees a kindred spirit.

So ... this is actually the second middle grade book I've read recently where the mother character, suffering from mental illness, is literally unable to feed her child. It's so sad, and even sadder that there are kids out there that need to read these books and know that 1) this isn't something they have to deal with by themselves and 2) there are resources they can use to get help.

Anyway, there are a lot of issues dealt with in this novel: mental illness, homophobia, domestic abuse, neglect. June and Ziggy get by by pretending to live in a magical world where, for once, they have power over their own lives.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Towbridge Road is a poignant and moving story of loss, love and enduring friendship. The characters are excellent and the storyline is moving.

Stunning, realistic, and beautifully written, Trowbridge Road is a story of grief, mental illness, isolation and love. This novel rings true in every respect. June’s isolation and grief over her father’s death and her relationship with her mother were so well portrayed that the reader can’t help but feel overwhelmed along with her, and Ziggy and his Nana, June’s Uncle Toby, and June’s mother are all perfectly-realized. The handling of both the early days of AIDS and of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are excellent.
I recommend this book to both young readers looking for a story which revolves around relatable characters and to grown up readers who lived through the early 1980’s and may see themselves or people they loved in the characters in this novel.

I received an advance copy of Trowbridge Road from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Candlewick Publishers for providing me with a free advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.
June Bug Jordan lives on Trowbridge Road, in a run down house with her mother. June Bug's mother isn't normal. She doesn't cook for June Bug, or even let her sleep in her own bedroom. Since June Bug's father, Marty, died of AIDS, her mother, Angela, keeps certain rooms in the house closed off because they have germs, and she won't leave the house. When June Bug comes home and her mother thinks she is dirty or picked up germs, she makes her take a hot bath with bleach in the water, and makes her scrub herself with a brush.
June Bug's Uncle Toby, her dad's younger brother, comes as often as he can and brings food for june Bug and Angela to eat. Angela hardly eats. June Bug is often hungry. Toby brings things June Bug can fix for herself, sandwich fixings, canned soup, canned ravioli.
June Bug loves to sit in a Copper Beech tree down the street from her house. Here, she watches Ziggy Karlo with his grandmother, Nana Jean. Nana Jean's house, like the other houses on Trowbridge Road (except June Bug's), is well kept, and Nana Jean cooks for Ziggy, runs her fingers through his hair to straighten it up for him, takes care of him. June sits up in the tree and watches in envy. Ziggy is so lucky.
But it turns out Ziggy isn't so lucky. His mother has her own problems and is in a horrible relationship with an abusive man. Ziggy is living with his grandmother because his mother agreed it would be best for Ziggy to not be in such a volatile situation. At Ziggy's old school, he was bullied and picked on by other kids. Moving with Nana Jean to Trowbridge Road is supposed to give him a more stable life and a new chance at a new school.
Ziggy notices June Bug watching him from the tree and joins her. They become best friends, sharing their pain in a way only a true friend can, being there for each other, and living their own imaginary life in the ninth dimension, where they can be anything or anyone they want, even dragons.
Together with Ziggy and his pet ferret Matthew, June Bug finds friendship, comfort, and fun. Kids in the neighborhood are mean to Ziggy and June Bug, but June Bug fights back. They enjoy a whirlwind summer playing and talking, waiting for fall to return when they will attend the same school. Life has other ideas, and through a series of unfortunate events, their lives are shook up even more than they are. As the book ends, both are in a good place, and their mothers are working on improving themselves.
This book is set in 1983, when the AIDS crisis was new and no one understood what caused it. Because of that, June Bug's mother is able to fear the virus coming from anywhere and everywhere. A woman who was already mentally fragile couldn't handle it. In a gentle but entertaining way, author Marcella Pixley dives into some societal issues that aren't addressed in a lot of children's books. This book is written for an audience of about 10-14, and I feel it is written very appropriately, explaining just enough and allowing for readers to discuss these issues with their parents. I also think this is timely, and a lot of readers may feel better to read about these characters because they have some of the same problems.
Topics addressed are AIDS, closeted homosexuality, domestic violence, family turmoil, estranged families, bullying, and mental illness. It also addresses these issues from the point of view of the child experiencing the problem, and shows the consequences for the child. Most of all, I believe this book shows the redemptive power of love and forgiveness.

E ARC provided by Netgalley



June Bug Jordan's life is complicated. It's 1983, and her musician father has recently passed away from complications of AIDS. Her mother, who mental health has always been fragile, has retreated to her upstairs bedroom because she is afraid of germs coming into the house. Her Uncle Toby stops by the house with groceries and supplies, but not often enough, and June Bug is hungry. Her mother is just not eating. When her uncle visits, they have to spend from two hours to the entire day disinfecting the house. When June Bug goes outside, her mother will occasionally feel that she is infected, and will make her take a scalding hot bath with bleach and a scrub brush, which causes painful skin damage. When Ziggy moves in next door to live with his Nana Jean because his mother Jenny is unstable, June Bug hopes that he will be her friend. She doesn't care that he has long hair and that the neighbor boys call him a fairy. The two start to hang out and support each other. As her mother's condition worsens, June start to carry a back pack with necessities like a vegetable peeler she uses to scrape infection from her hands and rubbing alcohol to pour over them. Even this is not enough, and luckily she has the support of Nana Jean and her uncle when everything comes crashing down.

Strengths: There are very few depictions of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, and it was certainly a very significant historical occurrence that has impact today. The current literary climate is showcasing more and more books with depictions of mental health struggles, and this has several; the mother, Jenny (who has relationship problems and feelings of self doubt), and Ziggy (who is gender nonconforming, but is not given a label). The father is show to be gay in a very short scene that describes him coming home from a gig with a man and kissing him, which will be fine for middle school audiences It's good to see that Nana Jean and Uncle Toby are supportive and helpful.
Weaknesses: This is written in a very lyrical way, and is very, very sad. Sensitive readers might be upset by the depiction of "sanitizing"herself that June Bug does.
What I really think: If this had had more details about daily life in 1983, or more details about the AIDS virus and the discussions that arose at the time, I would buy it, but will probably pass on purchase. The cover is not appealing, and the story does move rather slowly.

This book was made for middle-schoolers, but it could be enjoyed by any age. As an adult, I was able to realize some of the more saddening factors of the book, like boys calling other boys “fairies” and June’s mother forcing her to scrub herself with bleach. I don’t know if a middle schooler would understand the severity of these issues, but I do think they would realize it was wrong. There was such a sadness I felt while reading about June’s dad’s death, how June’s mom treated her, how the neighborhood kids bullied June and Ziggy, and Ziggy’s trauma with his mother and her boyfriend. But, the experiences are realistic, and youth can relate to the book. This novel was just beautiful, from the content to the specific word choices. This book gets a perfect score from me.

A heart wrenching story of two children who live on the same road whose lives are affected by a family members' mental illness. Taking place in 1983 when AIDS is just appearing, June Bug and her mother have lost her father to the disease. Her mother's life spirals out of control believing germs are everywhere and refuses to eat or leave the house.

Down the block, Ziggy is living with his Nana Jean when his mother feels she can no longer care for him. Ziggy and June Bug meet and escape through fantasy.

A hard, but truthful, look at mental illness and how it affects not only the person experiencing it, but also their loved ones. Very plot-driven, the characters are well-developed through their emotions and actions.

4.5 Stars

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in trade for an honest review.

Heartbreaking, moving, and impossible to put down... two lonely children who are each abandoned by their mothers find solace in their new friendship. It’s a friendship of solidarity and imagination. And when things get even worse, one has the courage to tell the truth and ask for help. I don’t want to reveal too many details but needless to say, this is a powerful story worth reading.