Ways to Build Dreams, by Renée Watson

Though I mostly review middle grade sci fi/fantasy here, I do actually read other genres too! And Ways to Build Dreams, by Renée Watson, illustrated by Niña Mata (October 17th 2023, Bloomsbury), was just the right heartwarming read for this difficult week.

This is the fourth story about Ryan Hart, and in this outing she is on the cusp of change.  Starting middle school next year, quite possibly without her best friend at her side, is a daunting prospect.  And it feels like she's being pushed to figure out not just who her future self will become, but how she will make change for good in the world.

The story is full of lots of small moments in ordinary life; there's nothing dramatic, but it's all interesting, and there's enough going on, and enough food for thought, to invest the reader in Ryan's world. 

But most of all the story is full of love --from her parents, from her friends (with empathy even coming from a boy she hadn't before been able to quite trust), from her teacher, and from herself--not just love back to all those people, but loving herself, and believing, as the title promises, that she will keep on building dreams. Though the honor of being her class valedictorian comes with the horror of public speaking, Ryan rises to the challenge.  And her speech, which brings this part of her life, and the book, to a close, says something many of us need to be reminded of--

"So, instead of telling you to dream big and change the world, I want to say, go change your world--your family, your neighborhood, your community.  I've learned that it's not only important to dream of doing big, big, big, things, it's also important to dream of simple, everyday things we can do to make the world a better place."

Yes. I needed to hear that.

disclaimer--review copy received from the publisher.