Reviewed by North Thurston High School student, Michelle E.

This heartwarming and deeply moving middle-grade novel should be required reading for everyone who has ever grappled with guilt, redemption, or finding their voice in an unlikely setting. Forman tells such a lovely story of an unlikely friendship formed between a troubled twelve-year-old boy and a 107-year-old man who has had no voice for years. This novel is a tender and evocative novel about forgiveness, resilience, and healing. The plot centers around Alex, a boy who winds up doing community service at a retirement home after a mistake leaves him in some hot water. Although he’s reluctant at first, he changes when he meets Josey, an elderly Holocaust survivor who has been rendered unable to speak. As Alex starts to spend more time with him, he gradually unravels his past and learns the true cost of silence. Their connection deepens and urges them both to face bad memories and believe in the present. Not Nothing is both a funny and nakedly honest story of second chances and how we connect, and Forman juggles those emotions with grace. This book is ideal for fans of… The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Restart by Gordon Korman, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel, and is a significant read for all. Highly recommended!