I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Baptist captures the all too real environment for so many of our kids. Isaiah's dad died before the story opens and readers see how this family is coping. His mom has lost her way and is escaping grief through drinking. They lost their apartment and will end up homeless as the story unfolds. Isaiah escapes and tries to keep his dad close by reading the stories he wrote - including many where Isaiah is the superhero that saves the day. He's trying to do the same thing in his real life but at ten, it's way too much for him to cope with. He's also a writer but he creates poetry.
Readers see this family spiral downward and begin to make their way to healing and treatment.

Isaiah is 10 and dealing with a lot. His mom is grieving his dad so much that she's lost her job and now they are living in a motel. Isaiah is trying to help as much as he can by re-selling candy and working at a local barbershop, but it's hard. There are bullies and mean kids all around and although he's made peace with one of his enemies (and she turns out to be pretty nice), his mom is hitting bottom. Throughout the story, Isaiah's strength of character and strength of will offer kids a courageous hero. This story is terrific and so is Isaiah.

This book is a great coming of age tale about a boy who has the world on his shoulders. I give this book five stars hands down. This is such a heartbreaking and wonderful story that played on my emotions. Kelly Baptist wrote a survival story. You truly never know what someone else is going through unless you actually walk in their shoes.
We follow 9-year-old Isaiah as he tries to overcome the terrible hand he was dealt with after losing his father. Isaiah's mother takes the loss extremely hard and falls into a depressive state. While in this state his mother could not function properly and to be the mother Isiah and his sister needs. Isaiah steps up to be the parent figure his little sister needs. On top of losing his father to an accident and his mother to depression, they are living in a No-Tell motel. The motel smells like cigarettes and the smell seeps into Isaiah's clothes so he gets made fun of while at school.
The author captures the emotions and reactions most children would experience going through similar hardships. I loved how Isiah wanted to be a hero for his mother and sister. Although he loves his sister and mother he was happy to be able to leave for the weekend and be a child and hang out with his best friend.
This book covers friendships, bullying, alcoholism, and homelessness. Isaiah overcomes his bully by becoming friends once they were forced to talk to each other. During that time Isiah realized that he had a lot in common with the person. Sometimes just talking to a person you have differences with can change how you feel about a person.
When Isiah found his father's writing notebook and found a story about him written in there, Isiah knew what he needed to do. Isiah’s dad made him a superhero in his stories but Isiah knew he needed to be a superhero in real life too. I want to thank Crown Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House via Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this story in advance.

I'm so glad I read this book. It's a great read that I would highly recommend for a middle grade audience. It deals with a lot of difficult topics but in a way that's understandable for that age range. Isaiah is such a great character and I loved following him. I also liked the family aspects of this book and there were also some great friendships. For me personally I would have loved if we delved a bit more into certain topics but I get why that wasn't done and I'm sure people who are actually in the age range of this book will love this.

There are no words to truly describe how much I loved this book. I don’t typically read middle grade but something about this book was calling my name and telling me that I needed to read it as soon as possible. I absolutely loved the poetry aspect of this book. I loved watching Isaiah’a relationship to his father’s poetry and his own poetry grows strong. I found the discuss on having a parent who suffers grief, mental illness, and alcoholism very accurate and significant. I didn’t think it shied away from the topic, nor did it oversell it for the younger readers. Finally, I was extremely drawn to the plot of homelessness and the support systems you can find in unexpected places. I will absolutely be recommending this book to young readers.

Isaiah Dunn really is a great hero. He's extremely fully rounded between his interest in writing and poetry, his friendship with Sneaky, his desire to help his family, and his entirely understandable feelings of anger, sadness, and discomfort about his father's death, his family's money and homeless status, and a difficult situation with another classmate. The portrayal of homelessness - having a place to sleep and keep your things, but having that place be cramped, dismal, and unsustainable longterm, continuing to go your same school, and eventually being helped by a friend and community member - felt wrenching and detailed. I appreciated the variety both of adult and youth characters, not only in that they played different roles, but in that so many of them were so well-rounded.

I will say that sometimes there was a bit of an episodic quality to the book, with small sections representing a particular day sometimes just ending (e.g. the part where Isaiah's mother forgets to pick him up after a sleepover just cuts off) and occasional jumps in time that felt a bit abrupt. I also felt that the plot following Isaiah's mother's struggles with alcohol felt a little muted.

Certainly a good recommendation both as a carefully written "issues book" but also as a compellingly characterized middle grade book.

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is so heartwarming! A fabulous book that showcases how we cope with loss, overcome challenges and stay strong in tough times. Highly recommend and can’t wait to share with students.

This is such a fantastic story to explore the depths of homelessness and the emotions that kids experiencing this event feel and how they react. It cuts deep into loss and grief; how someone can spiral downward after an unexpected loss. The interwoven themes of friendship curating from enemies, friendship from legacies, and friendship from the start, are all situations children are experiencing today. The integrity in Isaiah Dunn is something admirable. I hope kids read this and understand life is about what you put into it, and what you get out reflects just that. Can’t wait to share with students.

I have to start and say that Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptiste belongs in every upper elementary and middle school classroom library. No exceptions.
This beautifully written tale tells the story of Isaiah, his little sister, and his mother struggling to cope after the sudden and unexpected death of his father the year prior. As mom struggles with depression and alcoholism to deal with her pain, the family loses their home and any feelings of safety and security. As Isaiah reads slowly through a journal full of his father's short stories, he tries desperately to remain connected to his dad through writing, honor his legacy, and keep his family together. He works tirelessly (and heartbreakingly) throughout the story to try and reach these goals. This books does not shy away from tough stuff and it's affect of children. While some might think that loss, greiving, bullying, alcoholism, and homelessness are too heavy for a young reader, it is not true. Kids do face these struggles and more daily, and books can help them deal with their feelings around it. Though everything isn't picture perfect at the end of Isaiah's story, it is hopeful.
I also loved the way Baptiste portrayed Isaiah's mom. Although clearly she is not making good decisions and is putting her kids at risk, it never seems like she doesn't love her kids. She doesn't read as selfish, she is broken. I don't know how I would react if I lost my partner, especially if I didn't have a supportive family to hold me together. I can't say that I wouldn't fall apart as well. The authors handling of this character is really sensitive and respectful, and I can't wait to read more from her. Thank you, @penguinrandomhouse for making this copy available to me through @netgalley.

Isaiah Dunn just lost his father and has to step up as the man of the house for his mother and younger sister, Charlie. Things are not easy! Isaiah’s mother handles her grief by turning to alcohol. His family becomes homeless and Isaiah comes up with ways to make money to help save money for a new house.
I think we all know an Isaiah who needs to read this book! I would like to thank Kelly J. Baptist for writing a book, in a middle grade format, with real life issues that my students face!

Before picking up Kelly J. Baptist's debut novel, I had forgotten about her winning short story published in the collection Flying Lessons and Other Stories. But the moment I was reintroduced to Isaiah Dunn, I remembered, and the emotional strength of that story came flooding back. It was probably my favorite of the collection, the image of young Isaiah tapping away on the library computer forever enduring in my memory.

This book, Isaiah Dunn is My Hero, picks up where the story left off, and Baptist carries us forward with skill, grace, and empathy. The death of Isaiah's father still looms large, especially in the mind of Isaiah's mother who is somewhat paralyzed by her grief, turning to alcohol and increasingly losing control. In fact, loss might be the driving word of this book. Isaiah, having already lost his father, now faces losing his apartment, his best friend, his mother, and even the semblance of home they were cobbling together at a motel. Isaiah is convinced it is up to him to save it all, and he tries to shoulder the responsibilities left by his dead father and ailing mother. Of course, through it all, he is also still a young boy, just trying to navigate school, friendships, and his role as a writer in a world that doesn't value his voice.

Isaiah's life is not easy, but there is still plenty of humor and light in this engaging and convincing novel. Parents and teachers will appreciate the deft way it handles complicated issues such as poverty and homelessness. Kids will like Isaiah and Sneaky's friendship, and many will relate to the struggles - both the extraordinary and the ordinary ones - that Isaiah faces.

Isaiah Dunn is dealing with a lot--grief over the loss of his father, his mother's alcoholism, and bullying at school. Since his mother lost his job, Isaiah and his younger sister Charlie are staying at a motel. Isaiah dreams of making enough money to get his family out of the motel and into a real home, to be like the hero in his father's stories.

Kelly J. Baptist writes in a very relatable manner that would appeal to reluctant readers. She has created a wonderful character in Isaiah; a character that will resonate with readers long after they finished his story.

A great look at a family going through financial disparity & the things young people do to cope with it.

I first met Isaiah Dunn when I read Flying Lessons and I am so exited to be reunited with him. After the loss of Isaiah’s dad, Isaiah’s mom struggles with grief and substance abuse. Isaiah and his family then lose their home.

Isaiah does his best to cope. His father may be gone, but Isaiah still has his father’s stories, which give him the strength to be the hero his mother, little sister, and even he himself need.

This heartfelt story of grief, friendships, and new beginnings will stick with readers long after they’ve finished.

This book! Amazing. I wish there were more pages! Isaiah Dunn is my new hero. This is my best book of the year. Isaiah, Charlotte, Sneaky and A are characters that I fell in love with immediately. Maybe I love Isaiah because he is so real, maybe because I’ve seen him in my classroom and library, and maybe because Kelly J. Baptiste wrote this book so perfectly. This is a must have for any upper elementary or middle school classroom.

TEACHING CONNECTION: For teachers this is a perfect book for a read aloud, book club, or reading group. I cannot wait to share this book with my readers.

Isaiah and his family have not been the same since last year when his father passed away unexpectedly. His mother is sick and has trouble taking care of Isaiah and his younger sister - sometimes leaving them without a home. Isaiah is a hero because he uses his father's writing to inspire him into helping his family out and leaving a legacy for his father along the way.

Kids will love the first person voice, which is honest and funny.

This novel touches on some heavy topics - bullying, alcoholism, death - all viewed from the perspective of 5th grader Isaiah Dunn. Isaiah is a master at poetry, carries around his father's writing journals, and has too many side-hustles to count in an effort to help his mom and bring some stability back to their lives after the sudden death of his father. Isaiah is such a charismatic kid that you can't help but get caught up in his story and root for him throughout the book. This novel will definitely have a home in my classroom library!

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

E ARC provided by Netgalley



When Gary Dunn died, he left behind Isaiah, his mother, and his young sister Charlie. It's been difficult, especially for the mother, who has had a lot of difficulty with the loss, has turned to drink, and has stopped going to work. Because of this, the family is living in a hotel that Isaiah calls the Smoky Inn, because of the strong odor of cigarettes. Isaiah has a good friend, Sneaky, who he helps with his candy resale business, even if it means going to a somewhat sketchy store his mother doesn't like to get their inventory. He struggles a bit in school, especially when classmate Angel gets on his case. He is sent to the office frequently, but the staff is usually understanding of his loss. Isaiah loves to write, just like his father did, and takes comfort in reading the notebook of stories that his father left behind, including stories in which Isaiah is depicted as a super hero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Getting those beans and rice proves harder for the mother as time wears on, and Isaiah is mortified when the family gets groceries at Seven Baskets, a food pantry, and he sees Angel there. Trying to help out, Isaiah goes to the local barbershop to ask if he can earn some money sweeping up hair; he knows that his mother and Charlie take great comfort in going to see Miz Rita at their own hair salon. He also spends a lot of time at the library, especially when he and Angel are assigned a project together. When his mother doesn't return to work, she gets behind on paying for the room, and the police come and kick the family out. After spending the night in their car and struggling through a day at school, Isaiah and his mother end up retrieving Charlie from Miz Rita's. The mother breaks down and tells Miz Rita how she has been struggling. The family stays with her for a while, and the mother eventually goes to rehab for a month. Isaiah has entered one of his father's stories in a writing contest, and he also works with the librarian to clean out a storage room in the library to turn into the Gary Dunn Writing Center to honor his father. With support from their community, the family starts find a path forward.

Strengths: Even though the mother is dealing very poorly with the father's death (on a personal level, I will never enjoy the depiction of grieving parents very much), Isaiah is trying very hard to find bright spots about his father's memory, and makes an effort to help his mother out. It's always good to see middle grade characters be industrious. I also enjoyed that he made peace with his nemesis, Angel, and found it interesting that she was so mean because of something she heard Isaiah say. The adults in Isaiah's life try to help, and ask the right questions, but don't follow through, which seems realistic. This was a great length and has a fantastic cover.

Weaknesses: This would be easier to get students to read if the story line besides the family's struggles had been a bit more fast paced. I liked that Isaiah enjoyed writing, but it does make for a slower paced story. Sneaky was an interesting character, and it would have been interesting to include more of his business dealings as a way to lighten the mood a little.

What I really think: This reminded me a little of Nikki Grimes's Garvey's Choice (the writing), Pyron's Stay (the housing insecurity) and Ogle's Free Lunch and Balliet's Hold Fast (general struggles). Even though Isaiah is a bit younger than my students, I think the story is an important and interesting one, so I will purchase it for my library. I will look forward to other books by this author.

Isaiah Dunn gains hope and confidence through the stories his deceased dad wrote about him. When he hand his mother and sister come up against a challenge that might ruin his hero status, Isaiah gets creative and learns that he doesn't always have to do the saving.

This book wrestles with difficult themes such as grieving, friendship, homelessness, and alcoholism. Among all those heavy themes, Isaiah is still a typical middle grade kid with the same problems as other kids. This is a great book for school and public libraries to add diversity to the collection. The author has an easy to read and relatable voice for reluctant and voracious readers alike.

Isaiah has lost his father, his mother has lost direction from her grief and now they have lost their apartment. Isaiah’s most prized possession is his father’s poetry journal, but Isaiah has another secret, he likes poetry and writing. He ends up working on a class project with his nemesis Angel and finds out that he has more common with her then he knew. Isaiah thinks it is his responsibility to get his family back on track, but can he do it? He is just a 10 year old kid.
#IsaiahDunnisMyHero #NetGalley