The Odenburgh, an old apartment building made of brick and blunt opinions, is the last of its kind in a swiftly changing neighborhood. After years of putting up with people and their many problems, the Odenburgh knows there’s no point in getting attached. They all just leave eventually. A truth that comes all too soon when the building is sold and slated for demolition, giving tenants a month to move out.
No one is more troubled by the news than eleven-year-old Prue, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment. Not when it was the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she lost Lina forever. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in—flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms—all to try and bring a building full of bickering residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, an eccentric boy who lives across the street—and the only one who can help her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.
Heartfelt and bursting with a community of unique characters, Once For Yes is a testament to the endurance of love and the people we carry with us, wherever we go.
Once For Yes is a heartfelt Middle Grade novel with themes of loss, grief, and healing. The story follows 11-year-old Prue, who refuses to leave her family’s apartment, The Odenburgh, when the building is slated for demolition, as it’s the last place she lived with her sister Lina, before she died. When Prue launches a plan to save their home, the Odenburgh joins in—flickering lights, jamming elevators, triggering fire alarms—all to bring the residents together. In the process, Prue meets Lewis, a boy across the street, who helps her discover the missing elements of her sister’s story.
The story features multiple POVs, including Prue, Lewis, and the Odenburg, that create a multi-layered narrative with emotional depth and humor. Protagonist Prue is a lovable and intelligent character that readers will empathize with as she grapples with grief and the stress of losing a home where previous memories are still alive. The POV of the Odenburg is extremely unique and adds an element of magical realism—it’s a kind building that loves its residents and puts in great effort to help Prue, not only to keep the building standing but also to help her heal and move on.
The narration is superbly executed by Sophie Amoss and Johnny Heller. Amoss gives an emotional performance of Prue that perfectly captures the character’s childlike grief and tenacity over not wanting to move. Her narration also brings Prue’s family members vividly to life, along with their heartbreaking struggle to keep Lena’s memories alive. Narrator Johnny Heller portrays the Odenburg building with an authentic-sounding New York accent. He brings an enormous amount of character/charm to the performance—so much so that readers will fall in love with the old structure and be rooting for it to be saved!
Overall, Once For Yes is a beautifully crafted story suitable for all ages. Readers who enjoy uplifting reads about family & community bonds, healing, and moving on will love this book!
