There is no doubt in my mind that And Then, Boom! will end up on a number of “best” lists or winning awards. Author Lisa Fipps (Starfish) speaks to those on the margins and makes everyone take notice.

And Then, Boom! is a heartbreaking story that makes readers think beyond themselves.

Fipps expertly addresses the shame, fear and desperation that come with poverty. And she shows how just one thing — an unexpected expense — can set off a series of events that can leave people homeless or without food or both.

Everything about And Then, Boom! rings true. And Joe is a character you desperately want to succeed. The people who support Joe — his grandmum, teacher, mobile home park owner, and his friends — help bring lightness to the dark. His two best friends are especially endearing.

And Then, Boom! is a book every older middle reader should read.

Lisa Fipps is THE voice in middle grade novel-in-verse, with prose that rips your heart out and stitches it back together. So many children reading this will feel seen and heard by Joe. He is a true superhero, taking on the Doomsdays of bills, grief, homelessness, and poverty. The onomatopoeia is a stand-out feature, an ode to comic books, and it puts sound to the otherwise-silent traumas that face children.

This book is hard to read. Just like Starfish was hard. There are moments of light, like Joe's friends helping him out in the little ways they can and sweet moments with the Luckies. There are a lot of moments of darkness, particularly in his relationship with his mother and in his week alone, so make sure to check in on your younger readers who pick this up (especially if you know they share any of these experiences).

Her sophomore novel is not to be missed.

A quick read that covers some really heavy topics. As a teacher, I love the inclusion figurative language and math!

Joe, who I took as a white character, has spent his short life being unsure of where his next meal will come from. He mostly lives with his grandma while his mom comes in and out of his life. When living with his grandma is no longer an option, he does everything that he can to avoid letting anyone know about his situation and risk foster care. Although the situation is sad, Joe has some amazing friends and a supportive teacher. A gentle but important look at food insecurity and poverty that should help 4th -7th grader readers become more aware and sensitive about the issue.

Lisa Fipps is proving herself to be a fantastic voice to share the experiences of those often relegated to the margins. In this book she shows the realities of poverty and housing insecurity on a young boy and his grandmother. She handles the subject with sensitivity and honesty. Older readers will feel the depths of both systemic and personal issues that effect the main character. Younger readers will connect to the protagonists' efforts to deal with complicated circumstances, friends, family, hunger and change. The novel in verse style is effective for any reader to dive into the story and it's a propulsive way to tell the story. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced digital copy of this title.

It publishes on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

WOW. When I say I loved Starfish, I l o v e d Starfish. I didn't think it was possible for Fipps to follow that up with the same punch for me, personally.

But she did it. She absolutely sitgen did it.

This is a middle grades realistic fiction novel in verse about a boy who suffers through situational poverty and neglect.

As a mother, my heart ached for Joe as he stood through all of his and then, BOOMs.

As a child that experienced situational poverty, although not nearly to this extent, I felt like Fipps made that part of my heart heal a bit.

As a teacher, I died a little. I've known a few Joes in my life, and I *hope* with all my heart I helped them and saw them.

Fipps' use of super heroes and relatable situations is sure to draw students into this story. Her signature wit and creativeness will keep them in a chokehold as they finish it. This is a book that needs to be on your shelf. This is one for the long haul. And then, Boom! will be prominently featured in my classroom as I feel like it will not only entertain students, but help them build empathy and understanding.

I can't wait for my copy to arrive so I can read it with my daughter.

Lisa Fipps' first book, Starfish, has been the most circulated book in my middle school library since it was published. Every student who reads it is impacted by it, and I think the her second novel, And Then, Boom!, will have a similar impact. Readers will immediately be interested in Joe and the difficult circumstances with which he deals. You immediately put yourself in his shoes and root for him throughout the novel. The story moves quickly and is written in verse, which is very appealing to middle school readers. I have already pre-ordered several copies for our library, and I know it will be very popular when the copies arrive.

A heartfelt story about friendship and kindness. This novel in verse dealt with heavy topics but did so in an approachable way. I think this novel would be great for newer middle grade readers.

At first thought, I didn't think the cartoonish cover matched the story of this book. I expected a lighter storyline but was met with heavy drama. The book written in verse was actually a heart-wrenching story of a boy who tries to be Superman, holding the weight of a troubled and dysfunctional parent and the care of an elderly grandparent. He is always waiting for the other shoe to drop, hence the title, "And Then, Boom!" When bad things happen, he tries valiantly to keep everything together.

I loved the book. I think it's perfect for middle grades and older. Because it is written in verse, it is a quick read. It quickly grabs the reader from the first page and holds on to your heartstrings to the very end.

I was given a free advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This book wrecked me -- I sobbed from beginning to end as I read about Joe's experiences. Lisa Fipps has an incredible talent for creating fully-developed characters (which is tricky in any middle grade novel, but especially so when the book is written in verse). I immediately "got" Joe and his grandmother, but all of the other secondary characters -- friends and family -- also felt real immediately.

Even though And Then, Boom! deals with traumatic circumstances, Ms. Fipps manages to leave the reader feeling hopeful and inspired.

"It's amazing how long you can live without anyone realizing how you live."

You never know what someone's life looks like behind closed doors. Some kids are masters at hiding the world they live in. Lisa Fipps takes you behind the closed doors in And Then, Boom. This novel in verse walks you through Joe's life...the highs and the lows: good times with Grandmum, times when mom gets The Itch, true friends who see when you don't let anyone see, and even scary times when you take flight.

And Then, Boom is a 5 star must read!

This novel in verse packs a punch. Fipps follows up her award winning Starfish with another novel in verse that tackles tough subjects. Joe lives with his grandmum, as his delinquent mother can not be counted on. When his mom skips town before trial, he and his grandmum are forced to sell everything to cover the cost. This is the start of a downward spiral for them, but at least they have each other. Until they don't, and Joe is suddenly on his own, and forced to live without electricity and food and school is closed for the summer. With the help of friends and an adopted dog, Joe discovers that even when life throws "and then boom" moments at him there are people out there willing to help him find his way. Heartbreaking, yet hopeful and filled with the power of kindness, this is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Another great book by Lisa Fipps. Highly recommend. The book deals with tough stuff that some kids may find triggering especially if they are dealing with a similar situation; absent mom, loss of a loved one, abandonment, food insecurity, foster care, adoption. The book is also written in novel in verse which I find easier to read but I know that a lot of people are intimidated by the format.

Lisa Fipps writes middle grade like no one else! This is a short book that packs a big punch and tackles so many current issues (childhood trauma, child abandonment, homelessness, mental health, and so much more). I love how community becomes a theme that is threaded throughout the entire book, and I love how Fipps promotes helping others and doing what you can to make the world just a little bit better. I will definitely be using this book with students next year, and I think it is a book that will lead to some great discussions.

Calling all school librarians and fans of "Starfish"! Lisa Fipps is back with another gem, "And Then, Boom!"
This middle-grade verse novel tackles tough topics like poverty and abandonment, but it's also full of heart. Fipps'
accessible poems challenge
young readers while sneaking in poetry lessons.
The story unfolds like one long poem, rewarding readers with a sense of accomplishment. "And Then, Boom!" will make you laugh, cry, and go though all emotions! Fipps is a writer that is always a recommend authors to my students!
Don't miss this!!

Highly recommend this incredibly eye opening, thought-provoking read. You’ll want to give the main character a big hug.

If you give when you can, it's okay to take when you need to.

My heartstrings were pulled and twisted while reading Fipp's newest story about a middle school boy who suffers and has to grow up way too quickly in order to fend for himself and his pups. Joe goes through so much trauma in such a short amount of time between losing a loved one and being abandoned by another. He is such a strong character, blessed with the most amazing friends and adults, such as Uncle Frankie and Mrs. Swan.

I don't often read books in verse, but Fipps does it well, and I loved how quickly I was drawn into Joe's story and was unable to put it down because I needed to know that it ended happily (which it does). There are a few life lessons to be learned while reading Joe's story, and I honestly hope this story inspires others to be on the lookout and lend a helping hand when possible.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

This book made me cry SEVERAL times on a plane in public, and I am not a crier… it is heartwrenching and inspirational.

Joe lives with his grandmum. Their house is full of love, but they don't have much else, and Joe doesn’t always know where his next meal will come from. He idolizes superheroes who face and conquer every “And then, BOOM” surprise situation. Imagine any and every thing that could go wrong, and Joe probably faces it throughout this book.

This novel in verse book will make you grateful for what you have and think harder about how you can help others who don’t have as much. It made me reflect on what I could do to give back to the community.

Fans of Starfish, A Work in Progress, and Louder than Hunger will love this! It's a novel in verse that packs a bunch and deals with heavy topics beautifully. It would be a great read aloud to spark discussions about community service and community programs.

This review is not a summary.

Get your tissues. This one will wreck you and give you insight into food and housing insecurity in a whole new level. Hopefully, it will inspire you to get involved and seek solutions in your local area because Joe Oak, the Amin character, is real. His experience of abandonment and food insecurity is all too common. The causes may be different, but the outcome is the same. Thank you Lisa Fipps for writing another book that deals with a serious issue (poverty) that affects a large part of our population. More than half the students in my middle school live in poverty. Some readers will feel seen in this book. Others will develop empathy. I nominate this book for all the awards. It left me changed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This is a fantastic middle grade novel about a boy dealing with poverty, hunger and abandonment. It is heart-wrenching and tough to read at times, but it also offers a lot of hope. For fans of Free Lunch.