
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the pressure of high expectations or the bittersweet reality of returning to a place they used to live. As Stacey McGill returns to New York City for a high stakes housesitting and babysitting job, she must balance her desire for independence with the overwhelming responsibility of managing a household and a difficult client. The story masterfully explores themes of self-reliance, professional integrity, and the realization that you can never truly go back to the way things were. It is a perfect selection for middle-grade readers who are beginning to seek more autonomy. Parents will appreciate how it models problem-solving and the importance of knowing when to ask for help, all while normalizing the management of a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes in a high pressure environment.





















Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book deals with chronic illness (Type 1 Diabetes) in a very direct, matter-of-fact, and secular way. It also touches on the stress of high-pressure environments and the emotional toll of moving. The resolution is realistic and empowering.
An 11-year-old girl who feels like she is constantly expected to be 'the responsible one' and needs to see a peer successfully navigate burnout and advocate for herself.
No specific scenes require previewing, but parents should be ready to discuss the importance of setting boundaries with employers or authority figures who ask too much. A parent might see their child becoming perfectionistic or overly stressed by extracurricular or domestic responsibilities, or perhaps notice their child feeling like an outsider in a place they used to belong.
Younger readers will focus on the 'coolness' of a solo trip to NYC and the babysitting mishaps. Older readers will resonate with Stacey's internal struggle to prove her maturity and the exhaustion of people-pleasing.
Unlike many 'vacation' tropes in middle-grade fiction, this book strips away the glamour to show the gritty reality of work-life balance and the evolving nature of personal identity after a major life change.
Stacey McGill returns to her old neighborhood in New York City to housesit and babysit for the Walker family. While she expects a glamorous working vacation, she instead faces an incredibly demanding employer, a massive apartment to maintain, and the emotional complexity of being back in her old stomping grounds. She must navigate these professional challenges while managing her diabetes and maintaining her friendships back in Stoneybrook.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.