All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker is a wonderful story about the power of art while also discussing depression in a masterful way, all in the package of a middle grade novel.
When Olympia’s dad runs off and her mother falls into a deep depression, she turns to art to keep herself functioning. From drawing monsters for her friend to creating dioramas of her life with her dad’s partner, Olympia distracts herself by escaping into the world of her imagination. A realistic fiction novel set in the 80s with a hint of mystery, Tucker has written a book with so much heart. I wanted to hug Olympia and tell her that everything would be alright. This message of this book, that it is okay to talk to people about the problems in your life, is so deeply important. I love a good middle grade with a moral that doesn’t hit you over the head with it.
SequinBooks 