Isaiah Dunn and his family are doing well. His mom is going back to school, his sister is happy, and his words for new poems are flowing. Things become more complicated when Isaiah starts middle school. He struggles to connect with his new mentee Kobe and to balance his friendships with Sneaky and Angel. Can Isaiah connect with Kobe? Can he be friends with both Sneaky and Angel? Can his words save the day?

This sequel does not disappoint! Middle school students will easily relate to Isaiah’s struggles. I especially love that Baptist’s second book about Isaiah reminds readers that anyone can be a hero, no matter how young they are!

This story is all about community. Every character in this book is looking out for someone in some way. The love and support is the heart of the story.

Isaiah's family is getting back on their feet after the loss of his dad. His dad's notebooks of poems, stories and journals are a huge connection for Isaiah and keep motivating and comforting him.

He's a busy kid with a job in the local barbershop, his writing gig with his friend Angel, volunteering with the Rockets Reach Back mentor program and helping with his little sister Charlie.

When his mentee with Rockets Reach Back turns out to be a hard headed kid he's seen around he's less than thrilled and wants to back out. But he has a breakthrough of understanding and doubles down in his efforts to help Kobe, his mentee.

This is a great book for middle grade youth to teach about looking beyond the surface for why someone may be struggling or angry, the impact of a little support and the importance of helping others.

This was such a lovely book, I love Isaiah! I read this without reading the first one, and it was totally fine. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the second full-length middle-grade novel featuring my new favorite kid hero, Isaiah Dunn. I loved it as much as the first one. I already can't wait for the next one!

He's now starting middle school and his home life is more stable. His best friend, Sneaky, wants him to come play football. But Isaiah's first love is still the written word. Plus his business with Angel is expanding. And he still has his hours at Rock's barbershop. And then he's getting roped into Rockets Reach Back, a mentorship program that pairs him with a struggling elementary student. He is going to end up learning as much from Kobe as Kobe does from him.

I love this story because not only does Isaiah grow a lot within himself, but he learns how to help others. And while he is doing mentoring of his own, he is being mentored to through his job and others in his life. It's a great learning lesson for both kids and adults about how we can all do so much good, even with one seemingly simple act.

Isaiah Dunn is an important voice in children's literature and can appeal to so many readers. I hope we keep hearing his story for quite some time!

Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of "Isaiah Dunn is My Hero" and the short story it was based off of and this sequel did not disappoint. It does a great job of continuing the story of Isaiah and his family and his friends, Sneaky and Angel. This time Isaiah has been convinced to join a mentorship program and gets paired with a tough kid named Kobe. I loved the way that he was finally able to reach Kobe through his stories. I hope Kelly Baptiste continues this series.

This is a fantastic sequel that brings with it all the heart, adventure, and spirit as the first. Relatable, engaging, authentic. We are pulled in to Isaiah’s dilemmas and triumphs. I’d love to see more Isaiah Dunn books!

Kelly J. Baptist has done it again. I absolutely fell in love with the first Isaiah Dunn book and greatly enjoyed reading this one as well. Topics that are relevant to today's student in a real-world, conversational aspect.

This is one of those books that you want every teacher, staff, and administrator to read in your district! Baptist does a fantastic job of letting into Isaiah's day-to-day life in this book. His struggles, his triumphs and his lessons are all there for everyone to read. As a teacher in a city, I could relate to how Isaiah's life was and thought of many of my students that have been or are in the same situation. This should be a must-read for everyone working with children!

I was so glad to visit with Isaiah and company again. I was hesitant going into this sequel afraid that my hopes were too high but I think this one outdid the first. While “Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day” could stand on its own, it reads so much better if you’ve met the characters in book 1. Their growth and maturity shine through and Isaiah’s challenges (and successes) are that much more powerful. I love these characters and will definitely be recommending their stories to my middle school readers.

Isaiah Dunn is back and is using his (and his dad's words) to brighten the world around him. This is an unexpectedly moving and poignant story about a boy who uses his gift of writing poetry (and his late father's journals) to connect with a trouble youth, a boy whose story isn't all that different from Isaiah's. All in all, a sweet and enjoyable read.

This was such a heartwarming read. I loved how all of the characters had different issues but by helping each other out and taking care of each other, they all could be successful.
This is a great middle school read. The characters face obstacles but persevere in the end.
It was a great story and made me hopeful that we can all be heroes like Isaiah.

When reading a sequel of a book you enjoyed, your expectations are very high. You want it to be as good as the first, but you often brace for disappointment. In this case, I'm happy to say, Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist is just as good as it's precursor, Isaiah Dunn is My Hero. I enjoyed revisiting with Isaiah his friends, Sneaky and Angel, as they start middle school and face the challenges that entails. Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day is an honest, heart-warming, and insightful book I would highly recommend to any middle grade reader.

Isaiah continues to be inspired by his late dad’s notebooks as he so easily writes poems. These poems have helped him and Angel make a little money. When Ms. Marlee asks him to be a mentor to troubled Kobe, Isaiah is reluctant at first but then realizes he can help Kobe in ways that also help Isaiah. Isaiah helps show Kobe one path he can take although Kobe has to decide he needs to do the walking himself. Isaiah is a hero to many people in many different ways, and he keeps changing lives one word at a time. What an inspirational and wonderful book.