Just finished "Now You Say Yes". I absolutely loved it.

My favorite fiction has passages where I stop and say "ahh" because a universal truth is brought to light. It could be a truth that I know but have forgotten and am delighted to have it brought back into the light. Or it is a truth that I never knew and it now shines bright for me to see. "Now You Say Yes" has these passages of enlightenment, passages that remind one of what it is to be human.

I fell in love with the books two main characters- a 15-year-old adopted girl who had spent years in foster care and her younger brother who is on the spectrum. It wasn't love at first sight, but slowly built as the chapters unfolded. It was a love that was earned as the children, flawed and broken, as we all are, journeyed not just across the country but to self-discovery. It was the genius of the novel that we come to love these kids, warts and all. We come to love these kids the old-fashioned way, by really getting to know them.

As a result, we are truly gripped by their story. And a gripping story it is. Throughout the book the pace builds. Halfway through, I couldn't put it down. The author makes it a page turner not by using violence or some other who done it ploy, but by making us care about the characters and rooting for them to make it.

In addition to being a great read, the book made me want to be a better person. There are wonderful characters in the book who do kind acts. Not some sugary sweet kindness, but kindness from fellow travelers who embrace our shared brokenness and in so doing find their own humanity and understand that compassion is our only hope for healing. "Now You Say Yes" made me want to be one of those characters who helped the kids. It was an inspirational read.4 s Donna1,533

DRC from Edelweiss and Peachtree Publishing
Funny, heartwarming, and so realistic you start routing for Mari to make it!
When her mother unexpectantly dies, Mari realizes that she and her step-brother, Conor, need to go, as in disappear. If they don't, she will end up back into foster care and Conor will end up in home or worse. She is the only one who can control her genius on-the-spectrum step-brother. Having no license, but some driving experience, she packs up the car, takes whatever cash she can find, and heads off to her Nana's house - 3000 plus miles away on the other side of the country.
The story takes place over a week as they drive across the country. There are many pitfalls and much anxiety, but also kindness from strangers.
Great story for those who adventure. Would pair well with "The adventures of a girl called Bicycle" who actually rides across the country in the opposite direction.middle-grade-children ya5 s Theediscerning7,240 96

"Mari realises that having your mother die and your fifteen-year old sister kidnap you and drive you across the country is pretty bad. Reason enough to make you want to hide in a dog crate."

Well, there is more reason for Conor to hide in a dog crate – he's autistic, and it's a safe haven for him when things in his world as he sees it get shitty. Mari herself is an awkward character, in and out of foster care with this parent and that parent, and finally settled with her final mother, who has just upped and died of a heart-attack. Her current boyfriend wants nothing to do with the children, deeming them and care for them as much beneath him, so Mari has decided to 'borrow' her mother's Honda and limp it across from LA to near Boston.

Narratively, there's a great impetus to everything here – beyond the flashbacks it's all given the immediacy of present tense, and you're forever in the car with Mari and Conor. Beyond that, there's a deadline – the lad is a bit of a savant when it comes to space, and only the carrot of a total solar eclipse got him into the car in the first place. And what there is is a heck of a lot of heart-wrenching entertainment. A bit of me doesn't care if the author has got autism, or "questions of identity for young people in the foster care system", completely wrong, for the conviction storms off the page and everything feels really honest.

All in all, it's a book for young teens and older people a, and it's a read that has not one but two really strong emotional peaks, meaning this really is quite the dazzler. Mari has a lot more agency than many a hero or heroine, and the only side of things I disd about her arc was a very late bit of liberal justifying of her past behaviour, based on one of the story's recurring hooks. And Conor is never allowed to be a one-note simpleton; he is an expert reader of mental maps, has great recall of the eclipse's details, and just needs greater treatment from all the bigots turning their noses up at him, or hiding truths from him, or bad-mouthing him for being Mr A N Other. Oh, and he needs a much better diet.

Ultimately it's a book about being allowed to make mistakes, I think, with many guilty culprits across the quickly-moving chapters. I think the author's biggest is in his cheesy alt-pop lyrics that soundtrack the road trip, but in creating a story that had me rapt for the evening he made none.

Four and a half stars.3 s Audra533 32

Do not read.

I don't typically write for 1 star books. I assume that there is a book for everyone. I may not it, but someone else will. I only write for 1 star books when I feel that the book itself will harm people.

This book harms autistic people.

Deeply.

As an autistic adult, as a mama to autistic kids, as a teacher to autistic students, I am asking you to please not read this book. Please do not recommend it to children who are looking for books about autistic or disabled characters. Please do not.

Throughout this story, Mari's descriptions of Connor reinforce every negative stereotype and misunderstanding that people have about autistic individuals. Mari and the author imply that Connor doesn't care if people are interested in things, that Connor doesn't have feelings about things, that stemming is bad and weird and should be stopped, that Connor doesn't have empathy, that Connor only cares about himself, on and on. I have at least 20 screenshots of scenes where the author chose to write about autism in a way that harms autistic people.

No one attempts to understand Connor. No one understands that he is sharing his joy and connecting with people through his love of eclipses. No one understands that stimming is fine, and actually refers to it as "disturbing to be around". They don't even really define stims appropriately. No one could possibly read this book and see autism as anything but "other". It dehumanizes Connor constantly. Constantly. His sister literally says that he would blow up the world if it was in a rule book. They talk about Connor "disappearing" when he turns 2, losing the brother and son they loved, which is some of the most anti-autism nonsense that exists out there.

It's disgusting, and I cannot believe that this is being published in 2021.

What you should read instead:
- Planet Earth Is Blue (By an autistic author)
- Someday Birds (By an autistic author)
- Can You See Me (Co-written by an autistic author)
- State of Grace (By an autistic author)

(Written based on an ARC from NetGalley)4 s Liz106 17

A wonderful story about family during a time of need.

Mari, a 15-year old, had been in the foster care system for years. She didn't fit in anywhere she went and was moved from place to place. That is until she met Stephanie and Kevin. Stephanie and Kevin couldn't have children, so they adopted Mari. It was just the 3 of them until one day, they got pregnant. Mari loves her baby brother, Conor, until one day he changes. He's autistic. Stef and Mari accept it, even though it's a struggle getting there. Kevin cannot. He leaves. Stef raises Mari and Conor on her own with horrible love interests coming in and out of their lives. Dennis is one of them. Mari doesn't him.

Then it happens. Stef unexpectedly dies. While at the hospital, Mari overheard Dennis say somethings about her and Conor. So Mari does what she thinks is best. She packs Conor up, takes her mom's car, and drives (let's not forget she doesn't have a license or a permit) cross country to go live with her grandmother-who may or may not love her. The story shares Mari's grieve of her mother passing and the stress that comes with having to care for her brother-who no one seems to understand. Along the way, Mari's and Conor's relationship is tested. How will they fair on this trip?

The story was wonderfully written and is supposed to be for 10-14 year old's. Some of the themes may be heavy topics for the younger crowd. The progression of Mari's grief and responsibility is lovely to see. You see her grow up throughout the story.

ARC received by Edelweiss+ for an honest review.3 s Cat3,263 32

OMG- My 15 year old self could so have related to the unreliable adults in this story. Now much older, with far more experience both with children, and life in general, it just broke my heart to read this book. Mari has more on her plate then she thinks she can manage and she does as best as she can as she now has to BE the responsible adult, caring for her austic brother on a race across the country in search of home. So scary and stressful to read. But I could not put it down! I have worked with autistic children, runaways, foster children, the whole gamut, and my heart just felt for them all. Over time have come to realize life may be cruel and unfair, but it definately makes you a stonger, more compassionate person. I suspect that the helpers in this book, must have know some hardships of their own to relate so readily to Mari and Conor and tp offer them aid. Good people are out there. The begpacker was so spot on. He was a real creep. I won;tgive away the ending, but will say it left me in tears.
Best children/YA drama book I've read in a long while. So well developed and written. Kudoes to the author! I look forward reading pt 2 of this book (please write a pt 2!!).

I received a Kindle arc from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.3 s Miz Lizzie1,183

When their mother dies unexpectedly, 15-year-old Mari and her autistic younger brother set out on a cross-country road-trip in the hope that their estranged grandmother will take them in. To convince her brother to come along without a meltdown, Mari promises him they will stop to see the total eclipse of the sun on the way -- he can pick the location. All things astronomical are Connor's obsession. It's a leap of faith and a journey to finding trust, forgiveness, and acceptance as much as a safe harbor. At fifteen, Mari is an older protagonist than found in your typical middle grade novel, though she reads a bit younger and her issues are very relatable for a younger reader. It makes sense for the plot that she's fifteen as she drives across country in her mother's car so she needs to be old enough to get away with it, though young enough to be questionable to being without a grown-up. Mari spent time in the foster care system before she was adopted by their mom and though it was a loving home, it wasn't perfect, nor was their mom. Mari is determined to take care of her brother and keep them both out of the System even if it means facing all of her fears, vulnerabilities, and past mistakes. A heartbreaking, hopeful and redemptive story.autism childrensbooks death ...more3 s Megan42 1 follower

This is a story about a 15 year old, adopted girl and her autistic younger brother taking a forbidden road trip after the crisis of her mom's death.
I felt the emotions could have been more descriptive, and didn't draw me in, both in the girl and her brother. The book told what was being felt in one word, rather than delving deep and taking a while to dig deep.
I also felt that it perpetuates a negative stereotype of autism. Many autistic children do have deep emotions, and deep personalities, and it's seen best by those who live with them. As a caregiver, you begin to notice tiny cues that let you know what they're feeling. But Mari seems to keep an outsider-view of her brother the entire book. For me, all of her emotions seem numbed by the simplicity of the text. She goes through rough stuff, but it rarely connected for me, bringing up my emotional response. Interesting storyline, but I had a hard time with the delivery.
Thanks NetGalley4 s Ellen2

I totally enjoyed this story which features two unusual young people who take an epic journey to find a safe home. How refreshing to read about two unly youngsters, each with their own stories and challenges wind their way across the country at a very specific time in history. I think this is one of Harley’s best! I recommend it for upper elementary readers, middle school readers and parents.
3 s Joan Webb1 review

From the first page, the characters of Mari and Conor tugged at my heart. I had to find out what would happen to them next as they took their journey across the country and from separation to connection. What they encounter along the way includes a mixture of indifference that borders on cruelty, ordinary unconsciousness, and just enough acts of kindness so that the entire experience feels real and whole. I recommend this book wholeheartedly. 3 s Leigh419 8

Thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this title. I truly loved this book. Mari's journey with her brother is such an emotional one, that I couldn't put this book down. I loved the characters, the story, and the journey - both the geographic one, and the personal one. I can't wait to see this book on classroom shelves.edelweiss-2021reads3 s Ellen1 review

A gorgeously written page turner. The book tells the story of Mari and Conor's journey across the U.S on their way to what Mari hopes will be the haven of their grandmother's home. Harley weaves a narrative rich with characters they encounter along the way and beautifully captures the loving complicated relationship between the siblings.3 s Eileen Winfrey973 6

When I was a kid I devoured the Tillerman series by Cynthia Voight. This book reminds me of Homecoming in the best ways.
15 year old Mari grabs her brother Conor and hits the road from California to Massachusetts after her mother’s sudden death. She is desperate to avoid foster care (having come from “The System “ herself) and is placing all her hopes on her grandmother taking them in. The kindness of strangers makes this book a relief and I was rooting hard for these kids.differently-abled-characters middle-grade realistic-fiction2 s Jenna2 2

I loved this book. I felt buoyed by the kindness of strangers and hopeful about people in a way that I hadn't in awhile. It's the sort of book I want to pass on to friends, neighbors, and strangers and say, "read this if you need a pick me up!" 3 s Ece Arslan54 1 follower

I really this! It is multidimensional. Funny, witty, tragic and loveable.3 s Darby13 20


My rating: 3/5 stars



Now You Say Yes is a book about loss, family, hope, and siblings. Mari's adoptive mom has just died. She doesn't want to go through the foster care system for a second time, so she and her autistic brother Conor travel across the country to get to her grandma's (who wasn't on good terms with Mari's mom but is their only family left). This book has an amazing message about family, moving forward, and remembering those who have passed on.



One thing I loved about this book: Awesome sibling friendships!! It was incredible to watch Marin and her brother support each other after their mom's death as they worked towards getting to their extended family.



One thing I disd about this book: I had mixed feelings about this book. The writing style felt it would have been most enjoyable for people in the children's/middle grade reading level. Which is great, but the themes were a little bit heavy for younger kids, so I'm a bit confused about who this book was written for. Otherwise, the book was a very enjoyable read!!



Something interesting about this book: It was told in first-person present tense! I hadn't read many books told this way before, so it was a nice change and very interesting! I can't say I prefer it over past-tense books but it was nice (:



My age rating: It really depends on the person and their comfortability, I guess. The reading difficulty level is very easy (maybe around 3d grader-level), but there are some heavy topics and a few usages of strong language for that age). All this said, I'd say 8 and up
Themes: loss, moving on, siblings, family, autism, astronomy
Genres: children's, middle-grade, realistic fiction, contemporary
arcs families mental-health ...more2 s WKPL Children's/YA Books338 7

Miss Lori read this book and gives it a 4.5. It is the hard luck story of a young adopted girl and her autistic brother whose mother dies. They are left alone with no one to care for them but the scary boyfriend of her mother. He clearly wants nothing to do with them. With a stolen credit card and a bit of cash, the 15 year old girl takes her brother and flees in a car she can barely drive. They are hoping to drive across the country, stop in Missouri to witness the solar eclipse (the only way she can get her astrology loving brother to go), and end up in New England to throw themselves at the mercy of her grandmother, whose last contact was a negative event.

The care she has for her brother, the help and miracles she receives along the way, and the constant hope that grandma will take them in makes this a heart-warming story. It is sad to think that this kind of thing probably occurs more often then we care to think.

Upper middle grade readers into high school would enjoy this read.2 s Mary633

Bill Harley's NOW YOU SAY YES
is a story of courage, loyalty, and acceptance of imperfections, in others and in oneself.
I was reminded of the many kind, helpful people I’ve encountered on my travels, and the marvels of the eclipse of 2017. I the compassionate explanations of autism. Conor’s mind works beautifully, but “the world isn’t behaving as it should.” I'm 100% on Mari and Conor’s side as they travel cross country in search of someone to care for them. 1 Lindsay Porter36 4

4.5 ??1 Tonya481

A very slow start to what turned out to be a beautifully written book.1 Steph4,805 70

The cover caught my eyes, but the story of Mari & Conor’s (road) trip through grief, bravery, & forgiveness kept me glued to the pages of Now You Say Yes by Bill Harley. Between kind strangers, the power of an eclipse, and a last line that will surely cause your allergies to act up - this is one of my favorite middle grade books of 2021.

“She’s not sure what to do with all her feelings.”

“Home,” her mom had once said, “is where you don’t have to explain yourself.”

“Sometimes it seems to her that she’s been looking in the rearview mirror her whole life, waiting to be caught for who she is.”

“The world opens to her. She could spread her arms and hold all of it.”1 Amy (Bossy Bookworm)1,604 Read

To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Now You Say Yes.

In Bill Harley's newest work, the middle-grade novel Now You Say Yes, we follow newly orphaned fifteen-year-old Mari and her nine-year-old stepbrother, Conor, who is on the spectrum, as they strike out on a cross-country journey in a desperate attempt to avoid foster care.

Mari is bent on staying with her brother and preserving the only family they each have left. But she's not legally an adult, and she doesn't have many options of who she can rely on to keep them safe.

Harley perfectly captures small, illuminating moments during the siblings' road trip while exploring trust, betrayal, the unexpected bubbling up of grief, and the bone-deep tiredness of a young woman trying to take on more than she should have to. The upcoming eclipse is set up as a wonderful centering point for the siblings' trip, Conor's single-minded obsession, and Mari's search for solutions.

Harley takes us through Mari's realistic-feeling moments of frustration with Conor as well as her exasperation with her position as a minor without autonomy or power. She's reliant on possessing certain papers (which she doesn't have) and is expected to participate in rigid systems in specific ways (which she can't do while also keeping Conor with her).

Mari is a wonderful character. She doesn't transform too easily, but she does regain her inner strength in an understated way, she displays her own version of bravery, and she manages to find some peace in not having all of the answers.

Now You Say Yes is beautiful. Harley's story about love, duty, self-discovery, disappointment, and pushing through the discomfort of trusting others is sometimes heartbreaking and consistently lovely. I adored it.

Find hundreds of and lots of roundups of my favorite books on the blog: Bossy Bookworm
Follow me on Instagram! @bossybookwormblog
Or Facebook! The Bossy Bookworm 1 Mayra516

Loved this book! I felt I was there, living the life of 15 yr old Mari, with the many decisions she has to make, with the pain she holds as she tries to reach her goal.

I purposely have not included much about the plot in this simple review. Don't know what made me think the book was going to be about space and I put the book close to the bottom of my to be read pile. The time came to read it (I to have read the book before I talk to my students) and once I finished the first page I could not stop.

This book educates you, goes straight to your heart, makes you believe in good people and people you should be careful with, restores the faith and the will to listen to wise words, and teaches you a lot about the misconceptions of a child with special needs.

Read it. It's a must!2022 5th-grade1 Paula143 6

My official review: 6 out of 10 Edith's Barbeque Potato Chips
Find the full review here: https://www.storybookem.com/post/book...

As a mother of a child with autism, I feel a pull to books with people on the spectrum in them. while Conor isn't the most perfect vision of autism, he's not the worst either. Looking through the perspective of a 15 year old girl trying to make sense of the world around her (which has just been truly shaken to the core) and her brother who lives life on his own terms. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but there were many moments I could totally relate to.

The story was full of heart, hope, family and loss. 1 Emily Masters448 11

While I can see why people would enjoy this book, I also found the portrayal of Conor’s autism offensive. I get that it’s supposed to be from his stressed-out 15-yo sister’s point of view, but showing autistic people as a burden, constantly describing them as abnormal, and reliving the transition from “normal and loving” toddler to some sort of unfeeling robot was gross, in a word. I also felt the end of their journey was anticlimactic. 2021 ya1 Shelley1 review

I loved this book. It made me think about human connection and facing fears in new ways. The author clearly researched both adoption and ASD to be able to portray in such a heartfelt manner the relationship between the siblings. In my opinion, any book that celebrates human kindness is a winner, and “Now You Say Yes” wins gold!1 LTown28

Such a fun read, from beginning to end1 Barbara13.6k 290

This one is a 3.5 for me. Life has had plenty of bumps in the road for fifteen-year-old Mari. She's been in and out of foster care, but finally feels as though she's home with Stephanie Hammond and her husband Kevin in LA. But Kevin leaves after feeling overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for their son, Conor, who is on the autism spectrum. Stephanie goes in and out of romantic entanglements, and Mari doesn't particularly care for her latest guy, Dennis. When Stephanie dies unexpectedly and it's clear that Dennis has no intentions of being responsible for the two youngsters, Mari panics and sets off on a cross-country trip to find Stephanie's mother, her nana, who lives near Boston. But Mari doesn't have a driver's license and has only driven a little bit. Still, there is nothing else they can do since Mari has no intentions of being placed in foster care again or being separated from her stepbrother. She takes whatever money she can find from home, grabs her mother's credit card, and begins the long trek to Massachusetts in her mother's Honda. The outcome is uncertain since Stephanie and her mother have been estranged for three years after Mari lost control and did some major damage. Details about the relationship and various bits of Mari's life are revealed over the course of the novel. Meanwhile, in order to get Conor to go along for the ride, Mari agrees to stop in Missouri so that he can see the solar eclipse, something he's absolutely fascinated by. As might be expected, the two of them meet plenty of individuals along their way, some untrustworthy and others with compassionate hearts. Readers will feel the hunger that gnaws at their bellies as their money runs out and Mari's growing concern that Nana won't welcome them with open arms. And through it all, even while she's tempted to go her own way because Conor's behavior can be problematic and attract unwanted attention, Mari realizes just how strong the bond between the two of them is. There are several meltdowns and close calls in the book, but most readers will finish it with a sigh of relief that there are so many good-hearted individuals out there. All I can say is that Mari and Conor were incredibly lucky. I appreciated how Mari gained a whole new appreciation for her mother's taste in music while on the road and how Conor had the route mapped out entirely in his head. character-building community compassion ...more Amy1,165 5

Always hard to write for books that have things you enjoy and things you question.

I was pulled into the story of the road trip and these siblings facing tremendous odds in the aftermath of loss. I was rooting for them to make it to something better. I enjoyed the internal journey Mari goes on, dealing with her emotions and her identity.

I worry about the depiction of autism, though. The author is not autistic, although the author’s note mentions his research and his apparent connection to someone with ASD. I was relieved that he was not writing from the perspective of someone with ASD. This book is told from Mari’s perspective and I can understand why she would describe things in certain ways. However, it does seem to reinforce negative stereotypes often. There are moments where Conor surprises Mari and she appreciates him, but why does that have to be so surprising?

There are a lot of heart-wrenching moments that make you feel for the characters, and the story of the journey is well-paced and entertaining. But I would hesitate to recommend it for people looking for stories that highlight people with neurodifferences. contemporary-middle-grade Hannah McMurphy346 4

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