I love novels in verse and this one, a middle grade novel about how a 12 year old deals with 9/11, was very good!

It is an interesting book and I love that it was writting on verse, but I feel that it was so long to me and I feel lost in their pages.

This was a hard book for me to read because 9/11 is a difficult day for me. As a pilot I understand the pain this girl is going through dealing with that day. And her dad being in the Army and having to move a lot is difficult for a young girl. This book is good to read for junior high girls about what they go through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars

I love how lyrical and beautiful this book is written. I always love coming of age book, where I can follow the characters grow and develop, and it shows how 9/11 affected people

I was intrigued by this book as an additional to a historical fiction book clubs unit. This story follows Abbey, a new girl at school, who gets her period on the same day as September 11, 2001. The rest of the story focuses on Abbey navigating adulthood and loneliness on her own, her mother's grief of losing her sister in the attack, and her father's preparation for active duty. This book delicately handles topics of racism, grief, and loss all in one novel. The only part I really struggled with in this was keeping tracking of the side plots throughout.

The author points out in the Author's Note that her own students don't really understand the magnitude of how serious 9/11 was at the time and I notice that in my own classroom. You can ask students about it and they nod, but the emotional impact is lost on them because most of them were born after the fact. I'm hoping that by offering students another viewpoint of the same event gives them another window into the emotional impact that many people felt during that time.

"The Places We Sleep" is a very relatable and beautiful book - it deals not only with the typical anxieties of teenagers (first period, new school), but also the aftermath of 9/11 on the child of an active duty soldier.
it's written in verse.

3.5 stars.

For some reason, I have always been absolutely fascinated by 9/11, and I tend to gravitate towards books and documentaries that explore the events and the people affected by it, purely out of my own interest.

But, I find that it’s very hard to find a book that isn’t non-fiction, that has the ability to captivate, educate and explain the ripple of grief and destruction that 9/11 caused, in a way that isn’t burdening.

However, this book is exquisite. It heartbreaking, but so incredibly beautiful.

Having the story written as poetry rather than prose, really adds something to the story — as if, all of the emotions are heightened, and readers connect with it on a brand new level.

Although, plot-wise, I was hoping for a little more development, especially focusing upon some of the supporting characters… but nevertheless, this was a brilliant book.

And, whilst it is aimed at middle grade readers, it can definitely be enjoyed by adults; especially those who are looking to gain and honest insight into the American reaction to 9/11.

A beautiful and heartfelt story with an underlying message. Great for readers of all ages. I enjoyed reading this with my kids.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel. This did not affect my review. This book is out now.

This was a good book in verse about a girl and the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Abbey is at school when the attacks happen. She is shocked when she hears the news and is worried for her aunt, who worked in the North tower. She is taken home and finds out that her aunt is missing and will not be found. Among her grief, her father is being deployed to Afghanistan. This book is all about the change she goes through.

Grades 4+

Caroline Brooks DuBois’s The Places We Sleep is an evocative middle grade book written in verse. Abbey is, once again, the new girl. This time, her family isn’t living on base. As she adjusts to a new house, a new school, and new potential friends, her world is rocked by the September 11, 2001 attacks. With her father in the military and family in New York, Abbey feels the reverberation of this event deeply.

Written in verse, this novel captures the feeling of the days leading up to and following the 9/11 terrorist attacks well. The evocative emotional descriptions will hit home for anyone who was alive that day, and accurately portrays the depth of emotion for those born after. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for books to introduce children to the event. Abbey’s connections to the military and New York have a big impact on her experience. I also appreciate how the author included an Islamic family, and that these characters were not treated as villains, but that their plight was just as hard as Abbey’s.

DuBois strikes a keen balance between regular daily life for a preteen in the early 2000s and living through moments that end up in history books. The characters are well-developed, further encouraging empathy in the reader. From the bullies on the bus to struggling to find your voice, Abbey’s daily life is relatable. The trio of girls, dubbed The Trio, that influence her fate were almost too relatable, sending me rocketing backwards in time to my middle school’s equivalent trio. I’m not sure whether to be relieved or concerned that a trio of powerful preteen girls manipulating a middle school is a universal theme.

I recommend the hard copy of this book, as my Kindle had formatting issues that made the beautiful text at times difficult to read; other reviewers have mentioned similar issues, so a paper copy is the safest bet. Even with the technical difficulties, this novel transported me through time. At times, it was difficult to read, especially around the twenty-year memorial of the attack. I, too, was in middle school in 2001, and viscerally remember that fateful Tuesday.

The Places We Sleep is now available. Thank you to Ms. DuBois, Net Galley, and Holiday House Books for an advanced copy such that I could write this honest review.

Loved this one! Great book -- highly recommend for readers of all ages. Lovely, heartfelt characters and beautiful verse throughout!

From the title itself, The Places We Sleep is a lyrical, manifesting story of a girl Abbey and her family. The point of view of the story as it centers to 9/11 attack is very accurate and timely. It portrays a deep meaning about family and very well oriented and played in verse. I totally recommend this book!

I read half of this novel on my Kindle as an eARC from NetGalley. Unfortunately, the formatting did not transfer well on my Kindle. I will read it all when it comes out in print because I think my middle school students would be interested to read a story that starts on 9/11/01, especially as the 20th anniversary happens this September.

A raw, emotional read with many different themes to leave you deep in thought. I wasn’t sure about the style of writing at first but it works well within this story, helping the reader to really understand each character.

I was enthralled from the first page. So many stories about 9/11 are happening in children's literature right now, and seeing this new historical fiction emerge is such a treat. DuBois writes authentically of a 7th grader figuring out what life will now be like post-terrorist attacks. Her father is preparing for war, her body is moving into adolescence, and her Aunt Rose has gone missing from the 86th floor of the tower where she works in New York. Abbey is an artistic voice, slowly learning how to be okay with being alone, being the new girl, and being herself.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley

I was not prepared for the Places We Sleep. In the voice of young girl who just received her period, the narrative almost sounds like poetry. This book deals with heavy loss around the terrorist attacks of 911. This book should only be for older children who can digest the heavy subject matter.

Gorgeous poetry writing about the tragedy of 9/11 and the roller coaster of emotions of having an Army dad while also not wanting violence. All while being a girl in middle school growing into womanhood.

Triggers include grief, trauma, bullying

It was interesting to read a book in verse about such a solemn topic like 9/11. Surprisingly, I think it was effective. I really liked how characters were introduced and how diverse they were. I'm not the biggest fan of poetry/verse/narrative writing (but that's just my opinion). I loved the title and the cover, and overall, just an interesting read.

I think this book could be really better as a story but it's a useful resource to talk about grief and traumatic situations