Thanks so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for access to en eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book was such a fun time from start to finish. The way the story flashes back and forth between telling the story from the beginning and scenes from the exciting and terrifying climax and the 'narrator' sort of teases you throughout the story was so interesting and engaging, Oscar and his father have been living in the Alley, an apartment complex in the Toe (essentially representing the slums of Roan city versus the Ankle where the wealthy reside) for Oscar's wh0le life, right across the street from his best friend Saige and her family. Oscar's father is well known for crafting the best umbrella's around, but with the massive increase in rain in Roan over the last few years and the effects that the industrial crafting of cheap, poorly made umbrellas has had on other umbrella makers, Billius struggles to sell his products for their true, fair price and thusly struggles to make a living. But despite this, Oscar loves his life, treking through the rain without using an umbrella at all, spending time with his best friend in their fort on the roof, and looking forward to graduate from his Middles and go into his Uppers in the Fall. But one evening, everything falls apart in Oscar's world, effectively setting him on a path full of danger, adventure, and maybe even a bit of saving the day.

The characters are all so warm and heartfelt and fun to read about. Oscar is brave and kind and giving, his father Billius is loving and cares so deeply for his home and his family, Saige is clever and witty (and requires the use of a wheelchair but is in no way held back by that, which was something so exciting to see included), and I could go on and on about all of the other characters they meet along the way, but it would take hours. The fact that Katrina Leno invented so many types of rain for the story and gave a name to each one along with forming the world, foods, customs, and so many other aspects just for the story and offering up funny glossary notes along the way, only made me love the book more. I love when a book teaches you new things while making the experience fun and funny, and I think it should and hopefully will be a massive hit with middle grade readers.