Fair Weather

Reach for this book when your child is standing on the threshold of a big life change or feeling caught between the comfort of home and the pull of the wider world. It is an ideal pick for the middle-schooler who is beginning to question their place in the world and needs a humorous, grounded look at how travel and new perspectives can reshape a family's identity. Set against the backdrop of the 1893 World's Fair, the story follows Rosie and her siblings as they swap their quiet Illinois farm for the electric bustle of Chicago. Through witty prose and vibrant historical detail, Richard Peck explores themes of curiosity, class differences, and the bonds of family. It is a gentle yet spirited adventure that encourages children to embrace progress and wonder without losing sight of where they came from.