Wonderful read. Very sensitive and warm.
I wish I had read this as a child.
It is lovely and heart warming and very reassuring

Overall, this book was enjoyable enough while reading but afterwards I just didn't care. It felt like the author was trying to make it profound but it fell flat for me. As an adult reading, I could understand Bea was struggling with something and that we'd eventually get something from the therapist but for children reading this, I don't think they'll find it relatable or understand Bea. It felt more like a "slice of life" book and focused on the wedding but it should've been focused on Bea's feelings and processing etc

This is a lovely story about Bea and how her family changes after her parents separate. The title comes from the list that Bea makes, of the things that won't change in her life (like her parents loving her) even though other big changes are taking place. Bea's dad is gay and Bea is delighted when she hears that the man he is marrying has a daughter the same age; Bea is finally going to get the sister she has always wanted. Sonia, however, doesn't seem quite so sure. The characters in this book, both the adults and children, are so well written and realistic. I loved Bea's relationship with her parents and also with Miriam. This is a great book for anyone who may be dealing with any of the issues Bea faces, but equally for anyone who just wants a really good story to get stuck into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for approving The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead in exchange for an honest review. I have given this book three out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trigger Warning: homophobia

A heartwarming story for a younger audience which will definitely help children who might be struggling with a parents divorce to understand and come to terms with it a little easier.

This book is about 10-year-old Bea who is suffering with anxiety after certain events which we find out whilst reading this book as well as coming to terms with her parents divorce. When Bea starts going to a therapist, called Miriam, we start to find out more information on what has happened in Bea’s past.

Whilst reading this book, I was confused to what age Bea was supposed to be as it flip between her ages. I was a little conflicted with how I felt towards Bea; at times I really liked her and wanted to give her a hug through the pages and other times she acted as though she was seven years old. I didn’t connect that well with any of the other characters but I enjoyed reading about them and thought Sheila and Jesse were great people. Also, I really liked the friendship created between Bea and her therapist, Miriam.

I liked Rebecca Stead’s writing and thought this book was well-written for the targeted younger audience. I didn’t connect well with this story but I may have done a little more if I was fifteen years younger.

I would recommend the book to middle grade readers and especially to children who might be experiencing a parents divorce.

This was a wonderfully moving diverse book for middle grade readers. When Bea’s parents separate they give her a notebook to write in all the things that will not change including that they will always love her. As the list grows, her dad prepares to marry Jesse and she prepares to meet her new sister. Along the way we meet various family members who react to the impending marriage in different ways. This was a sensitively written tale that I’m sure will represent the family situation of many young children.

A thoroughly delightful book with a heart-warming message. Bea's parents are divorced but promise to love each other and Bea all the same. When her dad announces he's marrying his boyfriend Jesse, Bea is ecstatic as she'll finally get the sister she's always wanted - Jesse's daughter Sonia who she's yet to meet. As the wedding gets closer, Bea learns more about family dynamics, love, relationships and more.
I thought the story was well told and the themes tackled with sensitivity and realism. I read it in one sitting.

12 year old Bea's life changed when her parents divorced four years back. The reason: Bea's dad came out as gay. After their amicable split, her parents gifted her a journal entitled "The List of Things That Will Not Change", the first few entries of which reassure Bea that they will always be a family, though not in the same way as before. Yes, things did change a bit, but with time and love, everyone gets accustomed to modifications in their routine. Now, it's time for one more change. Bea's dad wants to get married to his fiancé Jesse. What upheavals will this bring in Bea's life? You've gotta read the book to find this out.

Bea is one of the sweetest and most realistic protagonists I've seen in dramatic children's fiction. As she herself says, she's wears her heart on her sleeve. She's sweet, she's forgetful, she's a big worrier, she's not afraid to punch someone if they deserve it, she's as real as a child can be. You realise that underneath her brave and brash exterior lies an insecure child looking for reassurance and stability. After Auggie (Wonder) and Genesis (Genesis Begins Again), Bea becomes the third fictional child whom I want to give one tight hug.

The book isn't worth reading just for Bea though. All the supporting characters are memorable and loveable. Well, all except one but I can't tell you who. 😉 Friends, families, teachers, therapists, all are depicted as realistically as possible.

The book brings out the importance of family, trust, communication, support, and acceptance. One of the lines in the book effectively conveys what the purpose of family is: to provide "the kind of love that doesn’t ask you to be anyone but who you are."

Heartily recommended to all middle graders. If you are a crier, keep a box of tissues handy.

Thank you, NetGalley and Andersen Press, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Stead seems to have this innate ability to really get inside the mind of young people in a way that few writers do. This is a slow, soulful read but it isn't without humour and there is a refreshing lack of moralising. It's lovingly written and perfectly pitched for the age group.

I would recommend this books for 8-12 years old. It covers themes of parental separation, new relationships (dad marrying his boyfriend) making a new relationship with a new (slightly reluctant) stepsister, old wounds and forgiveness. Homophobia, teasing, bullying, insecurity are all tackled extremely well, taken and explained by the experiences of a ten year old exploring events, feelings in a clear and honest way. Family and child therapy are totally normalised as a way of exploring feelings and how to make sense of, and manage them.
It really is a comprehensive, child friendly exploration of family dynamics and relationships.
Brilliantly accessible for children.
Rebecca Stead is one of my favourite MG writers, and this new book does not disappoint.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

This book was a very quick and wholesome read. We follow Bea a kid whose parents have divorced because her dad is gay. As a coping mechanism she carries around a green notebook where she writes down Things That Will Not Change. Throughout the book, we follow Bea as she learns how to face feelings of anxiety, depression and more as well as learning to adapt to her life changing, since her dad is getting married and she will be having a new sister. One thing I really loved about the book is the portrayal of adults in the book, especially as figures who can help Bea and guide her throughout this whole process. It was a very good read and I would highly recommend it to teachers, and of course middle grade readers.

Thank you so much to Andersen Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

What a heart hitting story, wow was I amazed at this beautiful book. The story is told by Bea our protagonist and is basically her story of her anxiety, her life and how pieces of life change, connect, go wrong, and how your mind deals or doesn’t deal with them. I connected to her and how she was feeling so quickly, it was a beautiful story told in a delicate and beautiful way.

Bea’s parents divorce and her world instantly changes, her “normal” isn’t so normal anymore being split between worlds. She has her list of things that won’t change, the things she can hold onto and add too when she needs it. Her life only continues to change after that and her anxiety grows and grows and only with help from Miriam her therapist can she find ways to cope.

It’s rare to find a story that can completely express how your anxiety can make you feel, one that as you are reading makes you think wow that’s exactly how it is for me too. Everyone is different but some parts of anxiety are the same for any that struggle with it. I loved being able to find my connections with Bea and how she dealt with her mental health in a healthier way too. I also have eczema so I could connect to her that way too.

The story is not just about Bea, but also about her family growing, the world around her changing. Her dad is getting married and she’s so excited about that and cannot wait for a new sister but having her dreams come true doesn’t always make it easy. It takes time, adjustments and hard work to learn how to become a new family.

I really did adore this story, I connected with it, I felt the pain, the anxiety, the love, the guilt, the itchiness, the want and so much more. I loved the character growth, I loved every part of this book. It was told in such a sweet way, so gently, so wonderfully. I love that part of it had me weeping, that it had me wanting to hug characters, I loved being in this world.

I don’t think when I started reading this book I really knew what I was in for, I can honestly say though that it was beautiful, it was heartfelt, it had meaning and life lessons and care and so so much more to offer. It’s a great book that deals with mental health, that deals with new family situations and deals with the messiness of life. It’s a beautiful coming of age, of growth story.

This is a beautiful book. Twice it had me in tears.
It's the story of Bea, who's twelve but is writing about a time when she was ten and her Dad was about to marry his boyfriend. She writes about her relationships with her friends, her longing for a sister and her relationship with her parents. She has therapy. She explores her feelings. It's just lovely. It's the sort of book that I wish had been available when I was ten (I'm 51 now!). I'd have learnt so much that would have stood me in good stead and saved me a lot of heartache in later life. Having said that, it doesn't come across as preachy in the way some books do when they're written to teach something: it's just a lovely story, wonderfully written. .

Well this was just fabulous.

I am really trying to champion diverse representation within middle grade books on my channel and this just ticked all of the boxes!! This was such a positive book about mental health, therapy, feelings, LGBTQ issues, and so much more.

I think the author is spectacularly talented by being able to write about all these serious issues in an easily digestable way for the intended audience. I now want to read ALL of her previous works and anything else she will be writing!

Bea has always wanted a sister and now that her dad is marrying Jesse, she will get her wish. Bringing two families together is never easy but being gay is an added complication, for some members of the family. This charming story explores Bea’s relationship with her parents, extended family and friends.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.