cover image Baby Grand, the Moon in July, and Me: 5

Baby Grand, the Moon in July, and Me: 5

Joyce Annette Barnes. Dial Books, $15.99 (144pp) ISBN 978-0-8037-1586-8

Against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 flight, Barnes paints a tender portrait of two young African Americans struggling to fulfill their dreams. Ten-year-old Annie Armstrong's determination to become an astronaut is matched by her talented older brother Matty's ambition to be a jazz musician. But when Matty purchases a baby grand piano on credit, family conflicts overshadow everything else. A heated argument between her brother and practical-minded father ends with Matty being forced to move out of the house, prompting Annie to take stock of her own life and the challenges she will inevitably face. Like the books of Mildred Taylor, this warm first novel conveys hope in the midst of adversity and celebrates close-knit relationships among neighbors as well as among family members. Convincing dialogue, insightful characterization and a satisfying resolution will leave readers longing for a sequel. Ages 8-11. (Apr.)