Galante, Cecilia. The World From Up Here.

Galante, Cecilia.  The World From Up Here.  Scholastic Press  2016  309p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-545-84845-9  elem/ms  Realistic fiction         VG-BN

Wren Baker is afraid of everything. Her mother, who suffers from depression, must travel from their Pennsylvania home to an Ohio hospital for treatment, which means that her father must go there as well. Wren’s new-to-town Aunt Marianne and cousin, Silver, offer to care for Wren and her brother, who has Asperger’s syndrome. Silver does not appear to be afraid of anything. As the girls become close, they inspire each other, and when they climb the forbidden Creeper Mountain, they discover hitherto unknown parts of themselves and rely on each other.

This fast-paced, well-written novel is sure to thrill young readers. It is packed with suspense, and its many plot twists will engage and entertain readers. With lots of action, the story comes full circle, and all that is mysterious is resolved and explained, making it a very fulfilling read.

Summary: Wren Baker is afraid of everything, and when her mother is hospitalized in a different state and her father is required to go there also, Wren and her brother with Asperger’s syndrome are force to live with their aunt and cousin who are new to their town.  Silver, Wren’s cousin, appears to be afraid of nothing at all, and inspires bravery in Wren.      

Family-Fiction, Asperger’s syndrome-Fiction                                               --Virginia McGarvey