LOVE FROM JOY

A 10-year-old girl shows care for the people she loves by being kind and writing letters.

Joy Applebloom’s ability to find the silver linings in life continues as a theme in this second series entry. After living all around the world, the Applebloom family is still adjusting to living with Granddad back in the U.K. Things aren’t going smoothly. Joy’s 13-year-old sister, Claude, sneaked out, was grounded and lost her phone privileges, and isn’t speaking to Mum and Dad. Joy’s parents are spending less time together. Granddad is lonely. And to top it all off, Joy’s new best friend, Benny, is being bullied by a former friend. At first, Joy is unsure what to do about all these problems, but then she spots a sign at school that reads: “Speak up, be kind and tell the truth. Help somebody today!” Now she’s determined to use kindness to help her friends and family. Joy’s ability to not just see the glass as half full but to be “grateful for the glass” itself demonstrates a resilient way of dealing with everyday struggles. Written in a charming and hilarious first-person voice, the story includes a sprinkling of sweet black-and-white illustrations and reproductions of Joy’s letters. The Appleblooms are cued as white, and the earlier entry, A Girl Called Joy (2024), established that Benny is British Jamaican.

An empowering and heartwarming example of using kindness to face challenges and help others.