The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, written by Karina Yan Glaser, is about five kids and how they work together to help their family out of a sticky situation. The kids in the family are Jessie and Isa who are twelve-year-old twins, Oliver who is nine, Hyacinth who is six, and Laney who is 4 (and a few pets too). This biracial family lives a brownstone with Mrs. Josie, her husband, and Mr. Biederman, and the kids love everything about their home. But when Mr. Biederman, the owner of the brownstone, decides not to renew their lease it will take all they have to make Mr. Biederman change his mind.  

In this book, Isa loves playing the violin, and I like the way she describes music at different times. For example, in one of my favorite parts, she compares playing her song to the way she feels inside. “It’s hard to play a cantabile when your mind is a tornado, Isa thought as she started over again.” A cantabile is a slow, smooth, songlike part of a composition, so it’s the exact opposite of how she was feeling inside. In the book, Isa ended up having to go outside for some fresh air so she could clear her mind, and I think that’s a good strategy for everyone when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

When I was researching the author, I found another quote that I really like because it shows how fun she is. She said, “I have always believed that raising kids means more than just being a good parent and trying to do the right things. It means surrounding your kids with amazing people who can bring science experiments and jam cookies, laughter and joy, and beautiful experiences into their lives.” Glaser has two daughters who love books as much as she does, and it’s easy to see where they got it from.

There are three more Vanderbeeker books available (with a fifth on the way!), and I highly recommend this series for readers ages eight and up. Anyone who loves reading about real life adventures, friendship, and family will love this book as much as I did.