Murray has a deep love for the ocean, in fact they are so strongly connected that it is the source of Murray’s magic. Her world is turned upside down when a hurricane hits the Jersey Shore much like Sandy did, and sends her away from the ocean to live with her aunt and uncle. The beautiful poems in this book bring Murray’s love for the water to life so the reader feels the loss along with her. I really appreciated the way this book brought the climate crisis close and personal to the main character. It isn’t an existential threat to Murray, but something that impacts where she lives, how she goes to school, and whether she can be with her family--the kind of daily impacts children around the world are dealing with and fear. In examining the timeless question of displacement, Murray seeks a way of belonging when the landscape so inextricably linked to her being is taken away.

Here in the last year or so I've found i really enjoy novels in verse so I get really excited when I find a new one especially one that I relate to.
This is a middle grade book that definitely deals with some heavy subjects so please go into this with caution.
I found this novel to be absolutely beautiful. The writing style had a beautiful flow like the ocean Murray so loves. It has such a beautiful story and such beautiful characters.
This is a book I would have loved to have as a young kid who had no idea about their gender or identity. The way this book explores those things with such love and care. Its definitely a book I would recommend to any queer kid.

Murray Out of Water is such a beautiful, lyrical, important book that will positively impact the lives of so many kids! I loved it!

This novel in verse is very emotional and complete. It explores many themes such as:
Murray's passion for the ocean where she feels at home and more like herself. The hurricane destroys her house, forcing her to live far from the ocean and face many changes, but some changes are good. Like finding new magic in a new place.
Murray spends less time under a strict, religious mother who always forces her daughter to act and dress like a lady. Murray stays with her uncle and aunt in a house where adults don't ban books and feels more relaxed. In her temporarily new school, she meets Dylan who, like the ocean, will help her understand who she is and with whom she can just be herself. There is also Patrick, her older brother, whom she misses a lot. He argued with his parents in the past and they didn't apologize, but we hope this will change because their actions kept Patrick away from Murray's life for a long time.
I relate a lot to her passion for the ocean, missing the ocean, and feeling the ocean as my home. The loss of the house, the changes, the confusion about identity, friendship, family, new friends, the relationship with the ocean, turning thirteen, liking girls, and standing up to the truth... make this novel a wonderful read that can always be reread with the same intensity.
Communication is key among friends and family.

Thank you, publisher and net galley for this e-arc.

Murray has always loved the ocean, because it never expects her to be something she’s not. She also has a secret magic connection to the water that makes her feel at home. But when a hurricane destroys her home and forces her family to move inland, her magical connection is severed.

Now stuck in a house with her family, Murray can’t avoid the things she’s learning about herself. A new friendship with a boy named Dylan opens up a whole new world for her, especially when she learns he also has magic. Her new friendships show that family doesn’t always have to just be blood.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy to review! I saw this book on NetGalley and was immediately drawn in by the cover. Since I’m trying to read more middle grade this year, I decided to give it a try!

This is a novel in verse, hitting a ton of strong emotional notes throughout. At the beginning, Murray’s parents are very conservative; contrasting strongly with her aunt and uncle she lives with most of the book. I loved the way Murray was able to reforge a connection with her estranged older brother, and also became closer with her other siblings.

In addition to the family relationships, Murray makes a lot of new friends along the way. She learns that a lot of queer community is based around found family because of people like her parents. She’s able to learn more about herself in these new relationships, and I loved that journey in a middle grade novel. There are so many middle grade readers that will resonate with her journey.

The magic aspect of the book is there, but it mostly reflects Murray’s emotional journey throughout the story. As she figures out more about herself, she is eventually able to find her way back to her magic. I loved the parallels between magic and queer identity throughout the story.

All in all, this is a wonderful middle grade novel you’ll definitely want to check out when it comes out in May!

As an adult I am always trying to breathe new life into JUV fiction. Some of the most important stories are told in this age demographic. This one included. Enjoy!

This was such a great children’s novel, it had a great story to tell and worked with what I was looking for when reading this type of book. I enjoyed the use of the ocean and enjoyed how strong the concept was. The characters were what I was hoping for and enjoyed from the realism of the story. Taylor Tracy has a great writing style and is able to create unique characters that I cared about.

The writing is lovely and the themes are timely and necessary. It's a bit slow, but I think that is a credit, but worth noting. I think this book will mean a lot to a lot of kids.

Lyrical and beautiful describe this text that tackles issues important to young adults, including themes of parental disagreements, sexuality, and coming-of-age.

In this novel in verse, Murray loves the ocean. She is so connected, in fact, she feels magic – an acceptance – from the water. That is the only place she feels a part of something, until a hurricane displaces Murray and her family.

Murray’s world opens in ways that lead to curiosity and understanding as she finds a way to navigate familial relationships just to belong. Author Taylor Tracy puts into writing thoughts of millions of young people when it comes to identity, dress, and appearance and how to match internal and external feelings.

Recommended for middle grade readers who love stories with magic, LGBTQIAP+ issues, and those struggling to relate to family.

Thank you #NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC!