Oh, Sal

September 1, 2022

Gr 1-4-Sal has a lot going on-a new sister, a visiting uncle, an annoying brother, and a missing pair of underpants. The four-year-old sister of Billy Miller from Henkes's previous middle grade novels, Sal received a set of flowered, days-of-the-week undies for Christmas. When her favorite pair goes missing, she's heartbroken. Papa and Mama help her search the house, and when the undies still can't be found, they help take her mind off this very big dilemma. Just when things start looking up, another problem occurs. Sal feels unprepared to deal with it all, but her family-even the new baby-shows her that big problems can sometimes have unexpected and wonderful outcomes. With his characteristic charm, Henkes takes readers straight into the microcosm of a little girl's world where small things mean everything, and imagination helps process emotions; readers will easily feel at home. The picture-perfect narrative creates a natural world filled with a relatable and engaging cast that feels more like family than book characters. The wholesome plot feels authentic and warm. The only downfall of this book is that it is marketed as middle grade because of the previous books when it will resonate far more with the chapter book audience. VERDICT A lovely, honest story perfect for fans of Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks or for those looking for a read-aloud for young children.-Kate Davis

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2022
This third, stand-alone installment of the Miller family saga (The Year of Billy Miller, rev. 9/13, and sequel) is told from four-year-old Sal's point of view. It's New Year's Day, and there's simply too much going on for Sal. She can't find her favorite pair of underwear; visiting Uncle Jake calls her "Salamander," a nickname she hates; and the new baby, a week after being born, is no longer exciting or even cute. She's boring. Even worse, the baby has displaced Sal as "Mama's favorite." It's not going to be easy to be a big sister to the as-yet-unnamed sibling and a little sister to eight-year-old Billy. "It is so hard to be me," Sal thinks. But if Sal is at times overwhelmed by life's complications, she is part of a loving family that takes her emotions seriously and includes her in their day-to-day decisions. Sal even ends up contributing the name for the baby, albeit inadvertently. Henkes is a master at probing the mind and heart of a young child, writing with gentle humor and affection. Black-and-white spot art embellishes pages and adds to an already rich character study of young Sal. Readers will hope that as the Miller family members grow, so will the series. Dean Schneider

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2022
This third, stand-alone installment of the Miller family saga (The Year of Billy Miller, rev. 9/13, and sequel) is told from four-year-old Sal's point of view. It's New Year's Day, and there's simply too much going on for Sal. She can't find her favorite pair of underwear; visiting Uncle Jake calls her "Salamander," a nickname she hates; and the new baby, a week after being born, is no longer exciting or even cute. She's boring. Even worse, the baby has displaced Sal as "Mama's favorite." It's not going to be easy to be a big sister to the as-yet-unnamed sibling and a little sister to eight-year-old Billy. "It is so hard to be me," Sal thinks. But if Sal is at times overwhelmed by life's complications, she is part of a loving family that takes her emotions seriously and includes her in their day-to-day decisions. Sal even ends up contributing the name for the baby, albeit inadvertently. Henkes is a master at probing the mind and heart of a young child, writing with gentle humor and affection. Black-and-white spot art embellishes pages and adds to an already rich character study of young Sal. Readers will hope that as the Miller family members grow, so will the series. Dean Schneider

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2022
Grades 2-5 *Starred Review* In this stand-alone companion book to The Year of Billy Miller (2013) and Billy Miller Makes a Wish (2021), the spotlight shifts from eight-year-old Billy to his four-year-old sister, Sal. On Christmas Eve, she became a big sister to "The Baby," who is yet to be named. Though Sal seems to be coping with the change fairly well, at some point during each day since, she's been in tears. Now it's New Year's Day, and she can't find her favorite Christmas present, a pair of underpants (one of seven in a floral set) embroidered with a flower and the words Wednesday and Poppy. She asks her parents for help but doesn't want Billy or Uncle Jake to know, in case they tease her. Mama vows to find Sal's underpants and a name for her sister by the end of the day. Written in third person from Sal's viewpoint, the story takes place within a 24-hour period, yet the family members' actions, concerns, and conversations offer a broad range of insights into the characters and their relationships. Sal's portrayal is drawn with particular finesse and will leave readers hoping for more. Small drawings accompany the text. A captivating family story with gentle humor and emotional resonance.

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Starred review from August 1, 2022
Henkes' third book centered on the Miller family--after the Newbery Honor The Year of Billy Miller (2014) and Billy Miller Makes a Wish (2021)--follows Billy's 4-year-old sister, Sal. Sal's New Year's Day has plenty of big moments of misunderstanding--and understanding. She is full of feelings today and sheds more than a few tears. Two people in her household seem like interlopers--the new baby, just over a week old, who doesn't yet have a name, and Papa's younger brother, Uncle Jake, whose exuberance and habit of calling her Salamander are extremely irritating. Plus, she's misplaced a treasured gift from Santa--her favorite pair of a set of seven flower-themed underpants. Henkes' keen awareness of the ways it is hard and constantly revelatory to be a child gives this simple family story a sense of heart and happiness. Endearing spot drawings--Sal imagining elves making underwear, for example--convey whimsy and cheer. The third-person narrative sticks close to Sal, observing this close, loving household from her perspective. Though Sal knows that Uncle Jack and Papa are brothers, her surprise when she realizes that her uncle is her father's younger brother ("...she never thought of them as kids. And she never thought about who was older. All adults seemed generally the same age to her") is a realistic example of how children make sense of family relationships and the world. Henkes channels the inner lives of his protagonists with sensitivity and respect--his audience will feel seen. Characters are cued White. Quietly, delightfully superb. (Fiction. 5-9)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
This third, standalone installment of the Miller family saga (The Year of Billy Miller, rev. 9/13, and sequel) is told from four-year-old Sal's point of view. It's New Year's Day, and there's simply too much going on for Sal. She can't find her favorite pair of underwear; visiting Uncle Jake calls her "Salamander," a nickname she hates; and the new baby, a week after being born, is no longer exciting or even cute. She's boring. Even worse, the baby has displaced Sal as "Mama's favorite." It's not going to be easy to be a big sister to the as-yet-unnamed sibling and a little sister to eight-year-old Billy. "It is so hard to be me," Sal thinks. But if Sal is at times overwhelmed by life's complications, she is part of a loving family that takes her emotions seriously and includes her in their day-to-day decisions. Sal even ends up contributing the name for the baby, albeit inadvertently. Henkes is a master at probing the mind and heart of a young child, writing with gentle humor and affection. Black-and-white spot art embellishes pages and adds to an already rich character study of young Sal. Readers will hope that as the Miller family members grow, so will the series.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)