One of the rare times I read a middle-grade book is when I read an interesting blurb - one that involves a good story that has fantasy element that I like and two, the appeal of its plot that is not common in most books of the subject matter it tackles. Some Kind of Happiness is a book above that talks about what it means to move forward through the power of story that even in the darkest part of reality in a child's life, magic and truth saves it all.

Finley Hart is on her way to stay with her grandparents and this is her first time meeting them. Her father hardly spoke much about them... and nobody spoke much about her father at all. Staying in Hart estate means being respectful, proper and nice while staying there. But for Finley, across the estate, there is a forest that she calls it Everwood - a place where stories are weaved and Finley is Queen. But in these woods lies a secret so big and dark, it could destroy every thing in what the Harts believe in...

Claire Legrand has written a story that is bold and incredible and yet, touching a sensitive subject that targets middle-grade readers with a serious fiction not only that is heavy, but executed lightly and easy to understand. The flow of the story is amazingly powerful to read and yet endearing and good. When it comes to broken hearts, depression and anxiety, Legrand delivers so well, I can't believe this is a book for middle-grade readers. As it is, I really enjoy my read as not only its part fantasy and mystery, its also about family and drama of its whole. The way its written, splits up to two versions of what is narrative in the escape made-up world and real world events is beautifully craft. Its easier to understand how we see Finley thinks and although the way it end is pretty much impossible to accept, overall its a good read. Books like these are hard to find now and should be read by all.

Some Kind of Happiness is bizarre. It's nearly 400 pages and feels long. The main character, Finley talks about her feelings a lot in the middle of the book and I fear this may bore some kids. 

Finley is being shipped off to her grandparents house, people doesn't even know, because her parents need some time for themselves. Dreams haunt her and she writes in her book about Everwood. But then she realizes Everwood might actually be real and soon she has trouble mixing reality to fantasy. 

I actually think I may have enjoyed this more if the fantasy elements weren't added to the story. There's almost too much in one book. I liked the elements where Finley is struggling in a new place and mad at her parents for leaving her there. But the constant voice of her feelings mixed in with the fantasy realm made this a little too strange for me to thoroughly enjoy. 

I loved, loved, loved this book. I wanted to talk about it in more detail, but ran out of time. It’s a wonderful mix of families, secrets, the stories we tell ourselves, and magical forests. It’s also a great way to show the realistic experience of a child with anxiety, who also gets to be the hero. More, please.

I've been undecided between giving this book three stars or just two: for one side, giving it two stars doesn't feel right, on the other, I don't think I'll ever read it again. But I think this was mostly a case of "it's not you book, it is me".
The main character is a precocious child of eleven, who is suffering from depression and anxiety among other things. But she doesn't have a name for that, and she doesn't know how to deal with it, so she creates this magical place to which she escapes.
I've suffered from anxiety all my life and my way of dealing with it, was just to ignore it, so having to "listen" to Finley go over and over about what she was feeling started to stress me out. There were moments in which I just I didn't want to pick this book any more... but as you can see, that's my problem.
Do I think this will help kids who are going through what Finley is?
Yeah, maybe. For some, it probably won't work, but for the majority it will probably help them, and for that alone this book deserves all the stars.
Myself, I had some trouble going from "real life" moments to the moments in which Finley would enter her magical world. But I am 37 and cranky.
Even so, there were moments in which this book got me in tears, like

The same happened with my maternal grandmother, and I still can't deal with it.

It makes me sad the way this story, with so much potential, was wasted. I liked many things about it: a main character who is a 10 years old girl who suffers from anxiety, depression and panic attacks (I loved the idea of introduced kids to this topic!); the fantastic stories she writes about the Everwood, and how these stories mixed with reality; what means to be part of a family and how we fit or do not fit in it; Finley struggles to accept her parents' divorce; honesty, responsibility and integrity.
I liked the beginning of the book, and I really enjoyed the end, but I felt it dragged, and dragged, and dragged, and dragged in the middle. In my opinion this book shouldn't have close to 400 pages. One hundred of them are unnecessary, which makes it repetitive and boring. Finley "inside" feelings are described over and over again, in nearly the same words. Same thing with her thoughts about her parents' divorce. I get the importance of put these feelings in words to "reach" the reader, but there's no need of repeat everything 5 or 6 times.
I thought in rating it 3 stars, but keeping in mind the age range this book is addressed to, I think 2 stars is fair. I would say that many kids would feel like giving up the book when it becomes repetitive and the plot stagnant.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.