TeachingBooks
The Exact Location of Home

Book Resume

for The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner

Professional book information and credentials for The Exact Location of Home.

  • Publisher's Weekly:
  • Ages 8 - 12
  • TeachingBooks:*
  • Grades 3-8
  • Word Count:
  • 52,622
  • Lexile Level:
  • 620L
  • ATOS Reading Level:
  • 4.1
  • Genre:
  • Realistic Fiction
  • Year Published:
  • 2017

The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From Publisher's Weekly

August 21, 2017
First seen in Messner's first novel, The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., Kirby "Zig" Zigonski loves tinkering and appreciates the way that "everything fits" in a simple electrical circuit. Zig lives with his mother, who both works and is studying to become a nurse, but he can't wait to see his father, who travels for his real estate business. When his father cancels an upcoming visit and Zig's mother won't say why, Zig decides to track down his dad using an old GPS unit and following clues he believes his father is leaving in geocache stashes around town. When Zig and his mother are evicted and forced to move into a shelter, Zig is caught between shame, anger, and a determination to find his father. Messner delivers a sensitive and realistic portrayal of financial stress, the realities of living in a shelter, and how both take a toll. Zig's crush on Gianna and the mystery surrounding Zig's father will keep readers hooked, but it's his bonds with his mother and friends that will stay with them. Ages 8—12. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary.

The Exact Location of Home was recognized by committees of professional librarians and educators for the following book awards and distinctions.

The Exact Location of Home was selected by educational and library professionals to be included on the following state/provincial reading lists.

United States Lists (5)

Georgia

  • Jr. Tome It List, 2019-2020, for Grades 6-8

New York

  • Charlotte Award, 2021, Intermediate

Pennsylvania

  • KSRA Young Adult Book Award, 2018-2019 -- Middle School List
  • Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2018-2019, Grades 6-8

South Carolina

  • Children's Book Award, 2019-2020, Grades 3-5

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This Book Resume for The Exact Location of Home is compiled from TeachingBooks, a library of professional resources about children's and young adult books. This page may be shared for educational purposes and must include copyright information. Reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers.

*Grade levels are determined by certified librarians utilizing editorial reviews and additional materials. Relevant age ranges vary depending on the learner, the setting, and the intended purpose of a book.

Retrieved from TeachingBooks on December 25, 2025. © 2001-2025 TeachingBooks.net, LLC. All rights reserved by rights holders.