Sweeping Up the Heart by Kevin Henkes
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 19th 2019
ISBN: 006285254X
Pages: 192
Goodreads

Amelia and her dad don’t communicate well, actually hardly at all. Her mom died when was 2 so now it is just Amelia, her dad and the neighbor that takes care of her most days.But Amelia wants more in her life from her dad and a new friend she meets at the clay studio during the summer just might be the key to that.  Amelia’s relationship with her father is difficult. He shuts her out and Amelia turns to her clay to make her happy. The friend she makes while working on clay also has family issues and the sharing of this between the 2 was genuine and helpful to both. The dad’s quick turn around in the end seemed a bit unrealistic as did the bonding between the dad’s new girlfriend and Amelia.

Ages: 8 and up. Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME