An NCTE Notable Book in Poetry
A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A family divided, a country going to war, and a girl desperate to feel at home
converge in this novel in verse.
It's early September 2001, and twelve-year-old Abbey is the new kid at school. Again.
I worry about people speaking to me
and worry just the same
when they don't.
Tennessee is her family's latest stop in a series of moves due to her dad's work in the Army, but this one might be different. Her school is far from Base, and for the first time, Abbey has found a real friend: loyal, courageous, athletic Camille.
And then it's September 11. The country is under attack, and Abbey's "home" looks like it might fall apart. America has changed overnight.
How are we supposed
to keep this up
with the world
crumbling
around us?
Abbey's body changes, too, while her classmates argue and her family falters. Like everyone around her, she tries to make sense of her own experience as a part of the country's collective pain. With her mother grieving and her father prepping for active duty, Abbey must learn to cope on her own.
Written in narrative verse, Abbey's coming-of-age story accessibly portrays the military family experience during a tumultuous period in our history. At once personal and universal, it's a perfect read for fans of sensitive, tender-hearted books like The Thing About Jellyfish.
Praise for The Places We Sleep
“Writing in captivating verse, DuBois brilliantly evokes tension as she chronicles the horrors of 9/11 and Abbey’s personal tragedies. With a strong, genuine voice, Abbey conveys her journey from insecurity to belonging. As she shares her challenges, discoveries, and triumphs, readers will encounter themes of xenophobia, war, depression, and the difficulties of menstruation. This dynamic tale provides a gutsy glimpse of one girl’s experience on the cusp of womanhood, the trauma of loss during 9/11, and the sustaining power of bravery and friendship.”
“Abbey’s voice is so honest, so spot-on. I absolutely adored this tender story! A much needed addition to middle-grade literature.”
“This novel-in-verse moves very quickly and realistically depicts the confusion a teenage girl might encounter as she matures. This title is absolutely appropriate for a middle school library but would be enjoyed by older girls as well. It would fit nicely into a lesson that focuses on coming-of-age literature and on the struggle to fit into one’s changing community, world, and body.”
“DuBois uses free verse for Abbey’s first-person narration, skillfully conveying her protagonist’s pained and halting thoughts, occasionally integrating a lone, subtly meaningful rhyme.”
“Through a series of poems told in the first person, Abbey reveals the inner thoughts she cannot share with others... As time progresses, Abbey begins to feel at home, finds the courage to speak up for her friends, and expresses herself through her art.”
