Another powerful middle grade book that addresses the impact of parental addiction on children. This is my first time reading Jamie Sumner, but it definitely won't be my last! CW: PTSD, descriptions of overdose, descriptions of drug use.

Maid for It was an unexpected, yet powerful read! It follows main character Franny who has recently moved with her newly sober mother to a new town in an apartment above a laundromat. It's a chance for Franny and her mother to start new as Franny's mom attempts to remand sober. When the mom gets into a car accident, Franny begins to not only panic about money needed to pay the bills, but also the chance that her mother will break her sobriety due prescription medication offered to her for pain relief. In order to maintain their household, Franny decides to secretly take over her mother's cleaning jobs. Things start off okay, but slowly Franny begins to realize that the burden just may be too difficult to carry alone.

What Worked: This was a raw, yet beautifully crafted novel. There are a handful of books on my TBR that address addiction, but I must admit that this one in particular was not on my radar. Sumner does an excellent job with the character development of Franny. There are a lot of emotions that she attempts to process as she realizes the financial burdens that could possibly impact her family. Franny is overwhelmed, stressed, fearful, and on the edge. Sumner skillfully writes these emotions in a way that they essentially seep off of the page. It gave me a more powerful connection to Franny and my heart ached for the trauma she faced every time she thought her mom had overdosed. There are other middle grade issues that are tackled in this book including first crushes, new friendships, bullying, academics, and more. I appreciated the balance that Sumner was able to create with all these topics. This book doesn't have a perfect ending. Franny's trauma doesn't just disappear and that can be hard to reckon with as a reader; however, it's realistic. There are some pretty impactful lines made by Franny's mom at the end that will resonate with any parent, caregiver, and child that's come into contact with a loved one battling addiction. And Sumner never goes without making sure that Franny has a support system outside of her mother.

Overall, this was a good read and one that I will be adding to my list of recommendations for youth who need books about addiction.