Book Review: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street

Synopsis: The large Vanderbeeker family has only known life in a brownstone on 141st Street, so the five kids (and their parents) are heartbroken when they find out their mysterious and cranky landlord who lives upstairs will not be renewing their rent after Christmas. The kids take on the challenge and over the course of 11 days, they do everything in their power to not only save the only home they’ve ever known, but to get to know their landlord at the same time.
With gifts, petitions, research and the help of pretty much the whole neighborhood, this is the story of what it means to be a friend and what home truly is.

Review: If you’re looking for a book where the location is just as much a character as the characters themselves, this is the book for you. The old brownstone has noisy pipes, squeaky stairs and memories in every corner. And speaking of characters, I completely enjoyed this biracial family and their quest to save their home. Each of the five children has their own strengths they bring to this adventure. And sometimes they don’t make the best choices, but it’s a realistic look at the reaction kids have when they feel as though their world is careening out of control.
Twitter Booktalk (280ish characters or less): If you’re looking for a family read aloud during the Christmas season, this is a story of family, friendship and the way a community comes together when they are needed most.
Title: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
Author: Karina Yan Glaser
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Page Number:  297 pgs.