'A bittersweet story of silent perseverance and kids working for themselves.' - Kirkus Reviews

Readers who have faced times of change and uncertainty of their own will recognize themselves in Joy and find hope in her courage, her ingenuity, and her fierce dedication to her friends.” - Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp “ A Soft Place to Land perfectly captures how complicated it is to be a kid. A Soft Place to Land is a book that kids will love.” - Rebecca Stead, Newbery Award-winning author of When You Reach Me “A joyful story about the power of being kind and sticking together when life gets bumpy. “A wonderfully timely story about connection, loss and the spaces we need to understand one and brave the other.” - Paula Chase, author of Dough Boys and So Done A Soft Place to Land will have readers cheering for Joy and longing for a hideout of their very own.” - Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and Something to Say Marks tenderly blends mystery, compassion and the highs and lows of friendship in a perfect melody. It will squeeze your heart in such a special way. 'This poignant look at friendship, loss, and facing consequences hits all the right notes. VERDICT An engaging coming-of-age story that will appeal to a wide range of readers.' - School Library Journal There is a diverse cast of characters with different experience. 'This relatable story touches on topics such as divorce (Joy's parents briefly separate, then reconcile), the ups and downs of having a job at a young age, and the difficulties that arise from keeping secrets from family and friends. 'At turns poignant and affirmative, this sophomore novel by Marks ( From the Desk of Zoe Washington) imparts invaluable messages on growing up, being honest, and communicating feelings to loved ones.' - Publishers Weekly “Blending mystery with realistic fiction, Joy’s story of how complicated life is for a kid will resonate with readers in tender and poignant ways.” - Booklist (starred review) Whereas Zoe Washington explored injustice and systemic racism, A Soft Place to Land explores class in a story-driven way that never feels heavy-handed.' - BookPage

Praise for A Soft Place to Land: ' A Soft Place to Land confirms Marks’ status as one of the brightest new stars of contemporary middle grade. 'Marks captures the exuberance and energy of early teens in her prose and delicately balances Zoe as a likable protagonist-one with room to broaden her horizons.' - Booklist Online

'A delightful and inspiring read.' - School Library Journal

From the desk of zoe washington 2