I loved this book. It's a must read realistic fiction. The characters seemed very real and I could see a lot of kids relating to this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

a sweet book about change and family and what those two things can do to us as we grow up. I thought this was a fun book and could really connect with kids who have lost themselves in big changes in life.

Bear and Lila, off the grid parents living in Alaska, have raised their three daughters to be self sufficient. The cabin has no electricity or running water. They have no neighbors,attend school via correspondence courses, play board games by the fire, and when old enough, and 11 year old Rigel is old enough, to hunt. They know how to survive without modern intrusions but a decision on the part of the parents to divorce means Mom will be taking the girls to CT to live with her mom. The oldest is in in high school and is overjoyed to be able to take part in all the rituals teenagers relish, and the youngest, well she thinks everything is wonderful. But Rigel he middle daughter, is a middle schooler and hates the idea of leaving Alaska and their two room cabin. To make it more palpable, Dad promises Rigel that if she was still unhappy after a year, she can move back to Alaska and live with him. No surprise that Rigel hates suburban Connecticut--it is nothing like Alaska. She finds this particular area of Connecticut to be crowded, noisy, and lacking in the nature and wide open spaces of her home in Alaska. This is a realistic plot with all the emotions of surviving in a new school, especially the snobs and bullies, and finding one's niche in the crowd. There are obstacles, Dad and Mrs. Green being two, but development of the characters is strong. Excellent choice to explore them of family, friendship, and a few bullies.

Thank you so much to net galley and the punk for sending me a copy of this book! This book gave me such an interesting idea of how other people moving to more populated places might feel and it was an awesome story!

Ahh I loved this one so much.
Middle grade books are my jam and this one was sooo good!
It's always so interesting to me reading about kids who are homeschooled and then have to go into an education facility with other students.
I think this one will be enjoyed by a lot of kids.

This was a unique Middle Grade novel, that I think will hold a lot of appeal to many readers! I learned some things I did not know about Alaskan food. Definitely recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Amazing book. It has wonderful and startlingly realistic characters, vivid depictions of both Alaska and Connecticut, perfect pacing, and one of my favorite main characters I've ever encountered in middle grade or any genre—Rigel Harman

CHILDREN'S

365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr; Amulet Books, 272 pages ($16.99) Ages 8 to 12.

...

Debut author Cathy Carr offers an interesting fish out of water tale, in this entertaining novel of a girl learning to navigate middle school in suburban Connecticut after growing up off the grid in the Alaska bush.
11-year-old Rigel Harman knows how to track, shoot and dress a rabbit; she knows all the basics of surviving in the wilderness, growing up in a rough cabin on a creek off the Yukon River without electricity, running water or indoor plumbing with her parents and two sisters, 14-year-old Willow, and 5-year-old Izzy. When her parents get divorced, her mother breaks the news that she and the girls are moving to Connecticut to live with their grandmother. Rigel doesn't want to leave Alaska but her father tells her privately he will find a way to bring her back in one year.

His promise helps Rigel survive the difficult adjustment to middle school, the chaos and pecking order of the middle school cafeteria, the mean girls who make fun of her hair and clothes, a falling out with a girl who seems to be a friend but then dumps her. Her one true friend is a crow she starts to feed when she starts eating lunch by herself in an outdoor area near the school dumpster, although she knows full well it will do a wild creature no good to get too used to human contact.

Carr offers a vivid description of life in the Alaskan bush – inspired by tales from her own father – and a believable account of how difficult it might be for a girl to leave that physically demanding but more self-reliant lifestyle behind, and the difficult emotional realities involved: grief at bidding goodbye to all that's familiar, the pain of dealing with her father's lack of communication, the guilt about adjusting to a life with more creature comforts.

Rigel has been living with her family in the bush of Alaska but now that her parents are getting divorced she is moving to Connecticut with her mom and sisters. Before she leaves her dad, Bear, promises she can come back in a year. 365 days to tolerate Connecticut.

But as time passes Rigel starts making friends, starts taking care of a crow, and finds that things aren't so bad after all. Will she ever get back to Alaska?

Solid middle grade fiction. I liked the references to Alaska that my husband, who grew up there, could relate to and even a shout out to Kennebunk, ME where we live now.

This delightful and well-written book follows the journey of Rigel, as she moves with her mom and sisters from the wilderness in Alaska to the suburbs of Connecticut. Rigel is an instantly likeable character, and her reaction to the light and noise of her new life will make readers stop and think about their own lives. As she navigates fitting in, her changing family, and her ideas of home, readers will be drawn into her dilemma, and charmed by her family. This is an engaging and delightful Middle Grade read.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think of 365 Days to Alaska, but it didn’t take long for me to get hooked. At its heart, the book is about friends, family and the true meaning of home.

We’re all learning to adapt these days, and Rigel’s story underscores how difficult — and rewarding — navigating change can be. Hers is a story that will resonate with middle graders in any situation. Rigel is a character readers will not only understand but root for.

As a parent, I particularly liked the juxtaposition of expected responsibility and independence in Alaska and Connecticut. It serves as a gentle reminder that children are more capable of doing hard things than grownups realize, but that gentle and loving support should always be accessible.

365 Days to Alaska is a quiet read that middle readers and grownups alike will enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book about a new life and how RIgel adjusts to it. It's really interesting and the layers are amazing. It's a great read for kids ages 9-12.

This story is somehow both heavy and uplifting all at once. I usually steer clear of divorce plots in general because they are often exactly what kids are dealing with in their own lives, and I like reading to be an escape for them.
But I was drawn in by the premise of an 11yo girl moving from the backcountry of Alaska to suburban Connecticut, and I'm so glad I read this book.
It's like Hatchet in reverse- starting over in a totally foreign environment isn't easy, and Rigel not only doesn't want to be there, she is tactically planning on surviving for the year, and that's all. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that plans are in flux, and it was great to see her growth and ability to accept reality for what it is.

Here is the summary from the publisher:

Eleven-year-old Rigel Harman loves her life in off-the-grid Alaska. She hunts rabbits, takes correspondence classes through the mail, and plays dominoes with her family in their two-room cabin. She doesn’t mind not having electricity or running water—instead, she’s got tall trees, fresh streams, and endless sky.
But then her parents divorce, and Rigel and her sisters have to move with their mom to the Connecticut suburbs to live with a grandmother they’ve never met. Rigel hates it in Connecticut. It’s noisy, and crowded, and there’s no real nature. Her only hope is a secret pact that she made with her father: If she can stick it out in Connecticut for one year, he’ll bring her back home.
At first, surviving the year feels impossible. Middle school is nothing like the wilderness, and she doesn’t connect with anyone . . . until she befriends a crow living behind her school. And if this wild creature has made a life for itself in the suburbs, then, just maybe, Rigel can too.
365 Days to Alaska is a wise and funny debut novel about finding beauty, hope, and connection in the world no matter where you are—even Connecticut.

If you know me, you’ll know that summary just tweaked a couple of sensitive points. As a former homeschooler and current homeschooling mom, my radar is always out for portrayals of homeschooling–and I’ve become less tolerant when they’re done poorly and fall into cliches and stereotypes. I’m also a Connecticut transplant who has found it possible to live at least somewhat off the land, even in a suburb of a big city. I confess that the main reason I wanted to read this book was to make sure it didn’t spread any untruths about homeschooling, Connecticut, or subsistence living. It’s not really the best attitude with which to approach a book.

And then… I was blown away. Cathy Carr takes a fairly commonly-done theme and plot and makes it shine with perfect characterizations, believable struggles and emotional arcs, and just plain excellent writing. I absolutely loved this.

Let me address a few of those sensitive points:

I loved that, despite depicting a fairly sheltered life in Alaska, the author never blamed homeschooling itself for any lack of social grace or awareness. In fact, by contrasting shy Rigel with her outgoing sisters, Cathy Carr demonstrates that personality, more than educational-style, will effect a child’s social skills. A large part of the book also focuses on the failings of the school system in allowing for good social interactions–all the bullying and peer pressure that is so much a part of that environment. This was all balanced and true-to-life. I so appreciate that the hackneyed “homeschooled kid learns to thrive in school environment” theme was completely eschewed in favor of a theme that allowed for real personal growth.

I could have gone for a slightly more nuanced view of Connecticut. We do have farms and nature sanctuaries and some good, old-fashioned small towns. We’re not Alaska. But we’re not all Fairfield County rich kids. Even Fairfield County rich kids aren’t all Fairfield County rich kids. That said, Cathy Carr again avoided the most harmful stereotypes, so I appreciated that. She also showed how beautifully diverse our state is. I know it’s impossible to show an entire culture in one story, and Rigel was exposed to only one small bit of CT.

The off-the-grid lifestyle was shown to be difficult and impressive, rather than odd and unbalanced–even while showing its common pitfalls. Yes, an 11-year-old kid uses a gun to hunt. But it’s clear that this 11-year-old has been taught more gun safety than your average middle aged guy. She respects the gun as a dangerous tool and wouldn’t use it lightly. Her parents allow her to hunt because she is responsible and capable. This all could so easily have been twisted into disrespect for those who live such an extreme lifestyle–but it wasn’t.

Finally, I have to add that 365 Days to Alaska is an excellent family story. Like another recent favorite, What Happens Next, it shows that sister relationships are worth fighting for.

Everything Rigel has known has been tossed up in the air. This is the story of which pieces she decides to hold onto, which to leave be, and which can be worked into a new life.

This is the perfect book for middle grade readers, middle schoolers, because even in the most boring of times (which are not the words to describe our current reality), there is a lot of change to contend with. As we navigate it, we're going to make some mistakes, be surprised by ourselves in good ways, try things we never thought we would, find safety nets in small moments with family, nature, friends, school, and within ourselves.

Watching Rigel manage the upheavals and challenges is relatable to those of us who've struggled with these experiences and feelings, and builds empathy in those of us who haven't quite been in all the shoes she's wearing.

It's a quiet, gentle, and kind read. Moving, unique, and relatable. I highly recommend it.

Rigel (Rye-gull) is 11, she can shoot a rabbit for dinner, and her favorite food is salmon jerky. When her mother Lila moves Rigel and her sisters to Connecticut to live with their grandmother, there is some culture shock to deal with. Her life goes from "off-the-grid" to "just-off-the-turnpike." All she can think about is a promise her dad Bear made to let her come back to Alaska after one year -- 365 days. Rigel starts her countdown. Meanwhile a crow catches her attention at school. She begins to spend time outside at lunch as well as before and after school getting to know the bird and names it Blueberry. Conflicts abound as Rigel adjusts to her new environment and so does the rest of her family. Communication from Bear seems to be less and less. Does he really want her to move back? Should Rigel be feeding Blueberry rather than letting it try to survive on its own? Is it worth her time to make friends if she is going to leave after a year anyway? Where has nature gone? I loved reading about Rigel's life in Alaska and Connecticut. The cover is also top notch. Fabulous debut.

Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids - Amulet Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Rigel has grown up in off-the-grid Alaska and now with her parents divorce is moving to suburban Connecticut...a big change. The adjustment is incredibly difficult for Rigel and as she counts down the days until she can move back to Alaska she makes friends with a crow, Blueberry. A heartwarming story about navigating changing family dynamics, middle school friendships, and staying true to yourself.

If you were a fan of Coo in 2020, I'd recommend giving 365 Days to Alaska a read in 2021!

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rigel Harman, age 11, lived with her parents, Lila and Bear, and sisters Willow and Izzy, in a remote cabin, with no electricity or running water, near the Yukon River in Alaska. The Harmans grew their own food and hunted for the rest. The girls went to correspondence school and had chores around the cabin. Rigel loved her life off-the-grid, that is, until her parents gave her devastating news – they were getting a divorce and Lila and the girls were moving in with Lila’s mother in Connecticut. Bear was to stay in Alaska and work up north on the oil fields. Bear made a promise to Rigel that she just needed to stick it out in Connecticut for one year to allow him enough time to earn enough money to send for her. When the girls land in New York City, the culture shock is almost unbearable – it’s bright, loud, polluted… But Rigel agreed to stick it out so she starts a countdown until she can return. She has a hard time making friends at her new middle school, but she slowly starts to adjust. She befriends a wild, injured crow, which actually helps her to make friends with other children her age.
This is a fantastic debut middle grade novel. The author takes the “fish out of water” theme and gives it a new twist. Having been to some of the more remote parts of Alaska, I can understand Rigel’s connection. Her emotions and reactions to the changes around her are quite authentic. I would definitely recommend this book for grades 4 and up.
#365DaysToAlaska #NetGalley

Imagine you are 11. You love your family and your way of life. You've never known any other life style. What most people call "harsh" you live everyday. A remote cabin in Alaska, no running water, no neighbors, no local school, this is how a lot of people dream of living, and you love it. Now, imagine your family is splitting up. You are leaving your father behind in Alaska and moving to Connecticut with your mother and two sisters. Culture shock with a capital C.

Rigel is that girl. 11 yrs old and learning how to fit in while missing her father and her "other" life. The story is a really good one on how to make choices when you have control over so little in your life. As her family adjusts, so must she. They help each other and learn that being different is not a bad thing at all. Target audience is middle grade but I read the book with a cross section from 5-14 and all enjoyed Rigel's journey.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rigel (RYE-gul) lives with her family (dad Bear, mom Lila, older sister Willow, and five year old sister Izzy) in a small cabin in the wilds of Alaska. She's used to bringing water from a nearby stream, doing correspondence courses by mail, and having wilderness right outside her door. After her parents divorce, her mother decides to move the girls to Connecticut so that she can live with her own mother while she tries to get a job in a research lab. While Willow is excited to be able to attend high school and do "normal" things, and Izzy is ready for any new adventures, Rigel is apprehensive. She agrees with Bear that the suburban world is loud and plastic, and she is glad when he tells her she just has to spend a year there before he will get enough money working on the pipeline to have her come back and live with him. Starting 6th grade is tough-- other children laugh at her stories, and sitting in a classroom is confining. Rigel is glad when she makes the acquaintance of Corey, who is also the target of some of the popular kids, and also when she sees an injured crow outside of the school. She starts feeding the crow, and hanging around with Corey and his friends Sylvie and Sam, who have an informal "nature club". Rigel has trouble settling in to school, and her teacher Mrs. Green, who seems to favor the popular girls, doesn't help. Rigel brings a dead animal to school and puts it in her locker to feed to the crow, but Hayden snoops in her locker and reports it. At one point, she brings the crow (which she has named Blueberry) into the building to show to her sympathetic science teacher, and it gets loose, causing a ruckus. Rigel is suspended for two days, and really wants to go back to Alaska. Her father hasn't been very communicative, however, and when she finds out why, she realizes that while Connecticut isn't perfect, it isn't bad, and perhaps she can stay there longer than one year.
Strengths: This had a really good blend of realistic problems and unusual circumstances. I liked that Rigel wasn't happy about the things going on in her life, but made a plan to get through them, and ended up doing fairly well. The details about living in a cabin in the Alaskan wilderness were fascinating, and seeing suburban life through Rigel's eyes was illuminating. Older sister Willow was a fun character, and it was good to see her help Rigel out, but also to see her struggle with her own teen problems. The grandmother was delightful, and even the mother was an engaging character. Rigel's friend group was awfully similar to the one I had in middle school; you just need a couple of good friends to help you get through. I loved Corey's refusal to give Hayden any more ammunition or power over him, and loved that Rigel was able to pick up those skills as well.
Weaknesses: Mrs. Green and Hayden were rather over the top in their meanness, but I can forgive this because the children were soon banned from eating in the library or in classrooms. In my school, everyone needs to go to the cafeteria so they can all be monitored, and we have classes in the library all day!
What I really think: This is an impressive debut novel, and I will be VERY interested to see what else Ms. Carr writes.