A soft place to land
(Book)

Twelve-year old Joy dreams of writing music for the movies, but first she has to survive her family's move into a small apartment when her father loses his job.

Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesnt have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianistand one day, a film score composerhave been put on hold. A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complexs best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And its in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, untilabruptly, they stop writing back. What if theyre in trouble? Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents marriage, Joy isnt sure how to keep her own head above water.

Ages 8--12.,Katherine Tegen Books.

Grades 4-6.,Katherine Tegen Books.

Accelerated Reader AR,MG,3.9,7,513797.