A quite gentle story. While dramatic things happen, these moments are not terribly intense or long, though it does not shy away from reality. Most of the real danger happens "off screen" so we really only have one scene where danger feels real. The characters skew a bit young but are reasonably realistic.

Where the Water Takes Us is a sweet story and though I listened to the audiobook I have seen snippets of the illustrations that author Alan Barillaro included and they are beautiful and seem to match the mood and landscapes of the story perfectly. Anxiety as a theme is central to the story and it is clear that Ava's worry over her mother's difficult pregnancy with twins is constantly on her mind. The crushing confusion of feelings Ava experiences as a result of being sent off to spend time with her grandparent's at a Canadian lake cottage while her parents are back and forth to the hospital during her mother's last weeks of pregnancy is well told. I loved the interactions between Ava and Cody, who is also staying at a nearby cottage on the lake, as their friendship develops along with a certain awkwardness that one day in similar circumstances will be easily identified by each as a crush. But somehow I also felt like the anxiety Ava experiences was more than just the normal worries a child would have in this situation. It felt like anxiety might be an actual mental health issue for Ava and sometimes it seemed her grandmother, especially, was blind to the possibility that her grand-daughter might have a mental health disorder that would or should require more than vague reassurance. At one point she says exasperatedly or perhaps with a scolding tone "Ava... for the last time... " in response to some worry that Ava has brought to her attention. But I may have read that situation wrong and my wish that the topic of anxiety as a disorder needing a different response was off base. Overall, I really enjoyed the story.

A beautiful story about a girl name Eva a 11
years old that experience anxiety, friendship and learning about her self and life,
At the same time that Eva has to get away from her mother for a period of time since her mother is pregnant with twins and the pregnancy is high risk.
This story teaches us that even as children they have concerns and the way they see life is as important for them as is experienced by an adult and sometimes we don't realize it!

Ava is sent to stay with her grandparents while her parents deal with a difficult pregnancy. Through a series of events, Ava decides she is cursed and is afraid she will lose her family. As she tries to fix the curse, events darken. Ava also meets a boy her age named Cody. She finds him annoying but they become friends. With bad news from her parents and Cody missing, Ava’s fear that her family is doomed by the curse may come true.

This book is aimed at children ages 8-12. The storyline, chapter length, and word choice are all appropriate for this age group. Young readers will find adventure, life lessons, and a beautifully written story.
#WhereTheWaterTakesUs #NetGalley @netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, Candlewick Press, Alan Barillaro, and Eunice Wong (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Where the Water Takes Us in exchange for an honest review.

Coming from a film-maker, Barillardo's debut middle grade novel is flush with imagery that paints a vivid picture, like watching a movie. Through the eyes of 11-year-old Ava, the reader is encompassed in the beauty of nature on an island in a lake.

Ava finds herself torn away from her mother's side as she grapples with a difficult and precarious pregnancy (with twins!), forcing Ava to stay with her grandparents. However, the idyllic summer haven she once cherished feels different now, overshadowed by her mother's worsening condition and Ava's growing anxiety. What if something terrible happens to her mother or the babies? There must be something she can do.

As the island is battered by tumultuous summer storms, the cabin loses electricity often, causing Ava to look elsewhere for means to kill time. To make matters worse, an exasperatingly cheerful boy named Cody appears at every turn, further complicating Ava's turbulent emotions. She wants to be friends, but sometimes Cody's presence is just too intense. In the midst of it all, Ava becomes convinced that a sinister omen looms over her, convinced that her mother's well-being is in jeopardy during her absence.

When Ava witnesses the death of a bird before her eyes, she interprets it as a sign of a curse befalling her—a burden that her already burdened family can ill afford. Driven by a desperate need to protect her mother and the babies, Ava strikes a deal: she will care for two orphaned bird eggs, believing that by doing so, she can break the curse and secure her family's safety. With her mother, her twin baby brothers, her avian companions, and even Cody's well-being at stake, Ava embarks on an extraordinary journey, employing every ounce of her determination to ensure their collective survival throughout the summer.

Ava demonstrates the strength that can come from within and the power of belief. This novel is good for readers 4-8th grade, but absolutely perfect for a 6th grade audience. Children of this age group may be experiencing something similar. If they have no other siblings and their mom is pregnant, that can be both exciting and scary in its newness. An absolutely brilliant novel.

I absolutely loved this sweet story about Ava. She went to stay with her Nona over a summer break while her parents were having some struggles with having twins and hospital stays. Ava endured some struggles (just like a 11 year old does) and grows and overcomes her challenges. I liked the narrator and how the chapters were short and relatable to what 11 year olds go through. 4/5 ⭐️. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.