Nowhere Better Than Here

Gr 4-7–Tiny Boutin, LA, has always been home for 13-year-old Jillian Robichaux, her mother, and grandmother Nonnie. But the latest storm causes irreparable damage, threatening everything familiar. Flooding shuts down the local school, forcing students to the next city 40 minutes away. Boutin is continuously shrinking: “And the fact that my state was rapidly sinking didn’t even make the national news,” Jillian laments. She’s ready to fight for her home: “If we aren’t part of the solution, we’re part of the problem.” With her husky, deeper voice, Louisiana native Amoss endows Jillian with curiosity, determination, anger, and loyalty. She also bestows distinct personalities on Jillian’s friends and allies. Amoss’s impressive range gives Nonnie gruff solemnity, even as laughter and love flow freely between generations.