Thanks @scholasticinc for the review copy of this book via #kidlitexchange. All opinions are my own.
This YA, realistic fiction was captivating and coThanks @scholasticinc for the review copy of this book via #kidlitexchange. All opinions are my own.
This YA, realistic fiction was captivating and covered numerous powerful messages and topics. Zara Hossain moved the United States with her parents when she was just three years old. Now nearing the end of high school, her family is still going through the grueling task of earning their visas in hopes of becoming citizens. Just when it looks like everything is about to be finalized, Zara starts being harassed by a star athlete. This sets off a chain of events that not only threatens the life of a loved one, but jeopardizes all of their hopes and dreams.
This quick paced story definitely tackled some serious issues. It’s a glimpse into the immigration process, with an added focus on Islamphobia. There are numerous mentions of bullying, hate crimes and a serious act of violence that puts a character in a coma. On top of that, the author tackles being a bisexual, Muslim who is just beginning to find her understanding and voice in this world. Aside from the heavy topics, there’s a beautiful storyline full of Pakistani interest and wonderful characters. I enjoyed the food chatter and tidbits about Bollywood, but mostly loved the relationships woven throughout the storyline. Zara is fortunate to be surrounded by accepting and encouraging circle of family and friends. I absolutely adored her parents!!! There’s an important side story involving her love interest and the differences that occurs when you don’t have that same support.
I found several connections: I’m a Tx native who attended a strict, Catholic high school. My hometown was briefly mentioned in the story as the location of a peaceful riot. The setting takes place an hour away and I even had a few nephews born at the hospital that the characters spend a lot of time at. ...more
This was an incredibly captivating YA story that felt both fresh and unique for the genre. It contains light romance, a fabulous coming of age story, This was an incredibly captivating YA story that felt both fresh and unique for the genre. It contains light romance, a fabulous coming of age story, tons of emotions and just the right amount of magical realism.
Andre has been through a lot for an average teenager. After being diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, he receives the life saving gift of a liver transplant. His donor not only bestowed on him a new healthy organ, but also the rare ability to time travel! Andre finds himself hopping back and forth between the present and past. He quickly finds himself caught in a love triangle between the brother of his donor and a boy he first meets in 1969.
This story handles time travel with a very easy approach. There’s no quirky, scientific contraptions used to teleport you to a new time period. Just a slow fade, at the end of a chapter, that flawlessly changes scenes and leaves the reader with just enough of a curious cliffhanger to want to know what happens next. I loved that the past focused on gay rights and questioned if the world would become more accepting in the future. We watch that character get disowned by his parents and struggle with substance abuse. I honestly thought the story was going to go in a different direction and have him tied to the accident in the future. I’m so glad it didn’t because Michael was a great character. That ending just made me smile!
It took me a bit to warm up to Blake. He played the entitled, angst ridden, mournful teen to perfection. They ended up having some truly sweet and thought provoking scenes together. I was definitely drawn to his mother, Claire, who is also a time traveler. There’s a moment when she and meets up in the past with Andre moments before her son’s accident happens. It was definitely a powerful and heart breaking conversation.
This story touches on heavy topics, but is still a light, uplifting read. Focused on character growth, looking towards your dreams and taking control of your own happiness.
I totally looked up the album Journey in Satchidananda by Alice Coltrane the moment I finished reading. ...more
Dusti Bowling’s middle grade stories are always full of heart stopping, desert adventures as her characters tackle real life, heavy topics. I couldn’tDusti Bowling’s middle grade stories are always full of heart stopping, desert adventures as her characters tackle real life, heavy topics. I couldn’t put this book down! Told mostly in verse, it follows a father and daughter as they go hiking in a remote Arizona canyon. After rappelling to the bottom and enjoying the exploration of a quiet location, the two get suddenly separated when they find themselves caught in a flash flood. I felt Nora’s panic, realizing she was stranded alone. I admired when her training and instincts kicked in as she entered survival mode. She faces lost supplies, dehydration, hunger and various wildlife threats as she desperately tries to locate her father. As a mother, I ached for her broken heart as she recalled the moments and emotions she has also been dealing with for the past year.
Nora’s family was caught in the middle of a tragic, public shooting. Haunted by the death of a beloved wife and mother, her dad has reacted by closing off the rest of the world thinking it will keep Nora safe. She misses her friends, she’s ready to return to school and she’s tired of letting this dark memory control their outlook on life. This is a beautiful, quick paced story about facing both your external and internal fears. It’s intense and equally captivating.
Thank you kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @sourcebooksfire for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult, realistic fiction. Told iThank you @kidlitexchange and @sourcebooksfire for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult, realistic fiction. Told in alternating perspectives, it follows two teenagers as they tackle some heavy decisions. It’s full of fantastic characters, humor, adventure and a very captivating storyline.
I loved Jack. Such a sweet guy, but he has an awful support system at home. The story begins with him preparing for his high school graduation and going through one heck of a day. His mom doesn’t attend the ceremony, she’s across the country, and his girlfriend decides to suddenly dump him shattering the plans they had for their next year as college students. Hallie is determined to meet an online friend who is terminally ill and preparing to die. She has just received news regarding her own health and is trying to process what her next actions should be. The two cross paths a few times and end up on an epic road trip that helps them find themselves
This story mixes humor and serious topics so well. The characters are dealing with many emotions and tackle several important issues: cancer, substance abuse, death of a parent, dying with dignity, severe anxiety and various complicated relationships. You’d expect these scenarios to create a heavy story, yet they are mixed in with a crazy adventure as the two share an overnight ride to San Francisco. Along the way they have their car stolen, encounter a Walking Dead fanatic, pick up a very flatulent chihuahua, drink so much coffee and form a sweet connection amongst the chaos. I enjoyed watching these two face reality and slowly shift their perspectives in order to take control of their young lives. I also appreciated their sarcastic interactions.
I’d definitely recommend this book and would read more by this author. Can we just take a moment to admire this cover too? The colors are stunning....more
Happy book birthday @meganwagnerlloyd Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
This graphic novel is going to be a hit Happy book birthday @meganwagnerlloyd Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
This graphic novel is going to be a hit with the middle grade crowd. I read it with my daughter and we both really enjoyed it. This story follows Maggie who is on a quest to find the perfect pet. Problem is she quickly realizes that she is allergic to animals with fur and feathers!!
Love how this story introduces young readers to the concept of serious allergies. You watch Maggie have severe, instant reactions, tag along to visit an allergist and watch as she goes through testing and receiving weekly shots. Another classmates talks about food allergies and the need to carry an epipen. My daughter has known several kids throughout her school years that have had allergies so this was a good way to remind her about what they might be feeling and going through.
Maggie’s story also touched on some great additional topics: feeling left out in your family, watching friends having different rules at their home, and feeling guilty or ridiculed about your ailment. Loved how Maggie and her friend had disagreements, but made up once they were honest with one another. It also included a great side story of watching a family grow and the many feelings they encounter as they await a new sibling to be born.
Amongst the realistic issues, there is plenty of great humor and comedic moments. We loved the illustrations by @buttersketch too!!! Her style truly added to the story and helped bring it to life. ...more
Thank you @scholasticinc and @tamiwrites for this ARC via @kidlitexchange. All opinions are my own.
Told in verse, this young adult book was absolutelThank you @scholasticinc and @tamiwrites for this ARC via @kidlitexchange. All opinions are my own.
Told in verse, this young adult book was absolutely heartbreaking yet so incredibly good. It has taken me a few days to collect my thoughts because it definitely provoked a lot of strong emotions. Similar to Grown by Tiffany Jackson, this story tackles the the harsh reality of young aspiring artists and how quickly they can be taken advantage of in the dark side of the music industry.
Denver is a character that will stick with me for quite some time. Not only does she have a beautiful singing / songwriting talent, but her voice throughout this whole story was powerfully captivating. I loved seeing her thoughts and understood her actions even though she made the wrong choices. Charles portrays the innocence of the age perfectly. The excitement over meeting a celebrity, the belief they will launch you to stardom, the confusion over harmful acts, the easy mental manipulation, the denial and excuses that surround lewd acts. As a parent, it was so tough to watch her go through these horrific moments knowing what really was happening.
I was without a doubt angry at the adults in the book. Merc and his crew are obviously disgusting, dark and easily cringe worthy, but the girls parents were equally disappointing.
This is a must read. Yes, the topics are heavy, but it’s also real and inspired by true events. Once you start, you will not be able to put this book down or stop thinking about these characters. That ending will totally shatter your heart too!!
Content includes: language, underage drinking, drugs, rape, verbal abuse and body shaming...more
This YA rom-com was undeniably adorable. It’s full of crafts, an excellent introduction into the world of cosplay and the sweetest romance between twoThis YA rom-com was undeniably adorable. It’s full of crafts, an excellent introduction into the world of cosplay and the sweetest romance between two characters.
Raffy gave me all of the David Rose feels and I loved every minute of the drama that surrounds his life. He uses his crafting skills to create elaborate cosplay designs that he enters in competitions at local Comic-Con conventions. Since he is slowly introducing a classmate, Luca, to his interests, the reader gets a gentle explanation of cosplay and what goes on behind the scenes to make those elaborate costumes. It also provided a fun, unique setting for this story as the main cast are thrown into a reality like contest complete with rivalry, cameras and snarky judges.
This book has plenty of humor, but it’s ultimately the story of Raffy and Luca’s relationship. The chapters rotate between past and present giving you tiny glimpses into what happened to cause the pair to drift apart. It also makes it easy to love them both and anxiously hope they can reconcile.
The story is about surrounding yourself with the people who love and support the real you and your passions. It also tackles all forms of anxiety: perfection over your work, coming out to your family, supporting friendships and finding the courage to step out of an overbearing parent’s expectations. Raffy’s mom is a crazy force! I was definitely dazzled from start to finish. ...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this five star, middle grade book! The story wThank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this five star, middle grade book! The story was full of spooky moments, a touch of mystery, great characters, history and some pretty fabulous lessons.
Claire is embarrassed by her dad’s fascination with paranormal activity. She reluctantly gets roped into helping him guide his haunted bus tour throughout Chicago. Along the way, she picks up on a lot of historical occurrences that now accompany local legends. Oh, and the ghost of a little boy follows her home, urgently requesting her help. There were several creepy scenes that had just the right touch of scare in them - school bathroom haunt, I’m staring you down. I love that, once again, Currie created a character who believes in science and tries using the scientific method to explain these crazy situations.
Claire was surrounded by a wonderful cast. I loved the relationship she had with her brother and parents. There was a great side story that included a best friend who appeared to be making new friends. Love how that turned out!! Great lesson on how even the kids who are “perfect” have their own struggles.
I really enjoyed looking up all of the historical sites they visited on the tour. So neat seeing real pictures and reading additional info. I learned about: The Iroquois Theater fire, Hull House, The Eastland River Disaster, Dexter Graves and The Couch Mausoleum. Goodness, Graceland Cemetery sounds like its full of inspiration. I liked seeing Inez, from The Peculiar Case on Shady Street, make an appearance as well. These all tied into the importance of keeping history alive. LOVED the point made about museums.
Overall, it has a wonderful theme about how it’s okay to be afraid, regardless if that involves a scary situation, friend troubles, or even sharing your thoughts or actions with a parent. Just don’t be too afraid to ask for help! I’m definitely buying this one and sharing it with my daughter....more
I read this with my daughter and it was perfectly timed since she just started sixth grade a few days ago. Middle school can be such a cringy time. ThI read this with my daughter and it was perfectly timed since she just started sixth grade a few days ago. Middle school can be such a cringy time. These preteens are slowly maturing, going through many physical changes and handling so much drama. I loved that we read this together because it gave us a chance to discuss the problems and big issues both characters were balancing.
In the first story, Bea helped Maisy while they were away at summer camp. The two made a pact for Maisy to return the favor once they started school. She wants Maisy to help her fit in with the popular girls. Bea’s storyline showcases the anxiety she has over being lonely and left out. She goes to the extreme to make this year different and unfortunately loses herself along the way.
Each chapter alternates between both girls showing their thoughts and inner struggles. This book tackles so many issues that I think is so important for this age group to see and easily relate with. It covers: the obsession with social media, noticing that boys are actually kind of cute, doing homework for others, extreme peer pressure and even shoplifting. Wish you could have seen my daughter’s face during that part!! These moments show the toll it takes on you when you try too hard to fit in with the wrong crowd.
Both girls are also handling some personal issues at home. Bea’s mom is dating one of her goofy teachers (he is my favorite side character). Her dad is about to remarry and she is having a tough time blending with his new family as well as letting them know her true likes and feelings. Maisy continues to struggle with trust issues involving her mom who is returning from rehab. I love how the first book showed her opening up to a therapist and this one has a classmates who reaches out and invites her to a support group for parents with addictions.
Can’t recommend this series enough. The author does such a great job of touching on some heavy topics while also keeping the story captivating and fun. ...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Release date is set for 9.1!
Written in verse, this captivating YAThank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Release date is set for 9.1!
Written in verse, this captivating YA book tells the story of a wrongfully incarcerated teen. When I saw this was a collaboration with Yusuf Salaam, one of the exonerated Central Park Five, I knew it was going to contain an accurate point of view. Amal’s story was painfully honest and lyrically beautiful. It was heartbreaking to watch a young man’s dreams shattered and witness him struggling with hope, self doubt, and the many negative thoughts surrounding his new environment.
My husband and I recently watched Just Mercy as well as the docuseries College Behind Bars - I highly recommend both!! Amal’s story covers all of the facts presented in those works: mass incarceration, racial injustice, and the problems within our current judicial system. I love that it touched on Amal’s passion for learning and his beautiful artistic talent.
Can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a short read, but so incredibly powerful and very thought provoking. With the relevant state of affairs circulating around this country, this is a great book to get into the hands of young readers. It would be the perfect way to jumpstart a more thorough discussion....more
Thank you @kidlitexchange for an ARC of this young adult book. All opinions are my own. Releases 9.15!
This book!!! You will be cringing as the story uThank you @kidlitexchange for an ARC of this young adult book. All opinions are my own. Releases 9.15!
This book!!! You will be cringing as the story unfolds and eagerly flipping the pages to see what will happen next. It’s part mystery/thriller and a whole lot of relevant, realistic fiction rolled up into one heartbreaking story that will sit heavily within you for quite some time.
The premise of this story centers around the similar actions and misconducts of R. Kelly. Enchanted, Chanty, is a 17 yr. old aspiring singer. She auditions for a popular vocal competition and unfortunately catches the eye of a famous musician. Under the guise of being interested in mentoring her through the industry, Korey slowly manipulates Chanty to win over the trust of her and her struggling family. With their consent, Chanty is allowed to go on tour with Korey by being promised recording time with an experienced artist. What follows is an absolute nightmare.
This was tough to read! It was real ... gritty ... and absolutely gut wrenching to witness. The trigger warnings are heavy and mature. They include: verbal abuse, kidnapping, pedophilia, rape, and addiction. It sheds light on the fact that black women are quickly questioned when they report a sexual assault. Add in a well admired celebrity and their credibility is diminished to so many ridiculous misgivings where they are expected to shoulder the blame for these horrific actions.
I was angry and appalled by the actions, but at the same time the storytelling was incredibly captivating. The first two page chapter left me speechless and that ending has everyone talking.
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was such a joyful, imaginative and fun middle grade book witThank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was such a joyful, imaginative and fun middle grade book with Japanese influences woven throughout the tale. The magical world that @julieabebooks has created is the perfect intro into fantasy. Not only did it include witches, adorable creatures and tons of enchantments, but there was a wonderful quest and an ominous storm threatening the protection of the village. It was easy to get lost in this story and I’m already anxious for the sequel.
Eva was the most charming, adorable protagonist. I loved that she’s not perfect. She makes mistakes, is slowly gaining her confidence, questions every action and is the epitome of any 13 year old trying to find their way. I enjoyed watching her problem solve, remain persistent and eventually finding her own unique, innovative form of magic.
Her rhymes to create spells and the outcome of many continued to make me smile throughout the entire book. What kid (or grownup) doesn’t love the idea of witches living among us and offering protection or quick fixes to troublesome problems. The cloudberry creation scene was a fav. I also loved watching her enchant the origami animals and find ways to save Auteri from the threat of the Culling.
Along the way she makes some true friends and meets plenty of interesting characters. I’m intrigued by the race obsessed princess. You can’t help but fall for Ember too, her incredibly mischievous sidekick. He’s a flame fox that creates quite a few hilarious scenes.
The sequel is set up perfectly leaving the reader anxious to continue the journey as Eva sets out to keep her promise and help Charlotte and Davy locate their missing parents. Finding out who might know of their whereabouts was a good twist too. I’m definitely buying a copy for my home library and can’t wait to share this story with my 10 yr old. I’m excited to meet up with these characters again and explore more areas of this intriguing world. ...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @runningpressbooks for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Wow. I read this with my 9 year old and itThank you @kidlitexchange and @runningpressbooks for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Wow. I read this with my 9 year old and it surprised me in so many wonderful ways. Not only does it have a fun setting, but the characters tackle some tough issues and find themselves as well as the importance of true friendship along the way. This is a definite must buy for any middle grade library!
The book takes place at Camp Amelia. Each chapter switches between two perspectives: Maisy and Bea. They use to be besties, but drifted far apart throughout the past school year. They are placed in the same cabin and have quite a lot of emotions to work out. Maisy suffers from extreme anxiety, is not open to any sort of new adventures and is hiding a really big secret regarding her mom. Bea is a different person at camp. She has a wonderful group of supportive friends who are incredibly competitive when it comes to winning the battle over the camp cup. The fun activities of camp, blended well with the challenges that these young ladies must work to resolve.
It was tough as a reader and a mom watching the interactions between the girls knowing that it could quickly be resolved if they opened up to one another about their feelings and what each were dealing with in their own lives back home. At the same time, this gave my daughter and I so many opportunities to discuss their actions and how we thought they could have handled it differently.
The author tackled topics of adult drug addiction, a single parent starting to date again, being invisible to a parent starting over with a new family and how you shouldn't have to work to be included in any group of friends in a very age appropriate, realistic manner. I loved how the idea of opening up to a therapist was presented as a beneficial part of emotional recovery. Dr. Beth was such a great character and quickly became my fav throughout the story.
There was an overall theme of not being too quick to judge someone's actions. You never know what they are dealing with in their own personal lives and maybe that is causing them to act out in negative ways.
It concluded with a cliffhanger too so we will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel. Seems like we will get to watch these friends test the lessons they learned at camp in a school setting. It will be nice to see how the struggles with their home life grows with the storyline as well....more
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the ARC of this young adult book. All opinions are my own.
Wow, I couldn’t have read this book at a more perfect time. WThank you @kidlitexchange for the ARC of this young adult book. All opinions are my own.
Wow, I couldn’t have read this book at a more perfect time. While I loved the story and adored the main characters, it was the author’s acknowledgments that touched my heart. His final dedication was to his late father. He explained, “he saw the dark clouds of bigotry and hatred gathering on the horizon of our world.” He encouraged his son to do something about it. My country is in desperate need of more people standing up and positively doing something about it!
This story centers around 19 year old Danyal. He is coasting through twelfth grade and desires to become a chef. His Muslim parents have set up a rishta meeting, hoping to find him a good marriage prospect. The superhero, microbiologist major, Bismal, becomes a surprising match. Danyal will help her overcome the heavy shame she carries around about a past choice and she will help him research and prepare a school presentation that will open his eyes and change everything.
I loved Danyal. He has that perfect cockiness that most young adults have their senior year of high school. His passion for food and cooking was amazing. I enjoyed all of the food descriptions scattered throughout many of the pages. His discovery and thesis regarding Winston Churchill’s part in the Bengal Famine was captivating and will hopefully encourage readers to continue their own study surrounding that topic. The best part was witnessing Danyal’s character growth. It felt real. His thoughts often left me grinning - especially during those last few moments from the nerve wracking speech to the conversation amongst the families. His words and revelations are powerful.
The entire cast was great. They all had flaws which was really refreshing to see. Reality is never perfect. I would love to see this turned into a series so some of those characters could get their own stories.
Favorite quotes:
“I’m just saying that those craters are part of the moon’s past. The moon has a history, and I don’t know it. No one knows it, really ... but we can still love the moon. It’s still wonderful. It still lights up the dark. You know what I mean? So ... we don’t ever need to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about. You are who you are and that’s more than good enough for me.”
“by punishing people for what we judge to be sins, by hurting them, we all become sinners. The only thing we have to do with other people is to be careful with their hearts. That’s all. Who is forgiven, who is punished, it’s not our business.”...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange @storypub and @catherinenewman for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
My daughter and I read this nonfiction booThank you @kidlitexchange @storypub and @catherinenewman for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
My daughter and I read this nonfiction book together this week and really enjoyed it. She will be turning 10 this summer and said she knew several topics this books covers, but there were still plenty she learned from. In fact, she asked if we could order it once it was released so she could have it as a reference. Can’t get a better recommendation than that.
This book covers such a wide range of useful, how-to, everyday life skills that young readers will benefit from learning about. The text is easy to understand, very helpful and is accompanied by wonderful illustrations (Another reason my mini wants this book. My young art lover wants to draw the cute images from it!)
It’s broken down into seven different chapters: Other Beings, Saying It Right, Dirty Things, Edible Food, You’re Wearing That?, Your Two Cents and Useful Skills. Some of our favorite topics were: How To Address An Envelope, How To Clean A Bathroom, How To Make A Quesadilla, How To Get Out A Stain, How To Calculate The Tip, and How To Tighten A Screw. Heck many adults could benefit from reading this!! My daughter especially loved the Pop Quizzes scattered throughout the book. The silly choices always made us laugh.
I would definitely recommend this for any middle grade library. If you read it with your child or student(s), it’s a great way to start a conversation about the topics. It would also be a helpful resource for those kids who are shy to ask, but anxious to be more independent....more
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @workmanpub for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This nonfiction book is set to release 6.9.20!
My Thank you @kidlitexchange and @workmanpub for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This nonfiction book is set to release 6.9.20!
My daughter saw this book posted and immediately asked me to request it so we could review it together. I’m so glad she did because we had a blast reading and learning about so many interesting animals. I can’t tell you how many times we equally laughed and cringed as we read some of the descriptions.
The book is set up by first explaining the origins of an animal’s name. How they have common and scientific names, but also belong to various species, genus, family, class and so on. It was then broken down into 5 fun chapters: Funny Names, Magical Names, Fierce Names, Delicious Names, and Just-Plain-Weird Names. Each one included 9 or more animals, a colorful illustrations and an easy to follow description of the animal that shared all about its unique facts and how it came about being named. A good majority of them also included an actual photo. We ended up googling several that caught our eye as well (The Long-Wattled Umbrellabird, Naked Mole Rat and Fried Egg Jellyfish to name a few) so we could see extra photos. There was a box included with each animal that listed its Species, Habitat and an extra interesting fact. The book ended with a Wacky Name Generator so you can practice making your own monikers based on an animals appearance, behavior, habitat and type. It also includes a helpful glossary.
This is such a wonderful resource to have available for kids either at home or in school. They will love the humor of the names and be entertained by their silly traits. It would make the perfect gift for an animal lover of any age. I was shocked when my daughter recognized quite a few animals and was able to describe them to me before we read about them. I for one was not familiar with the yeti crab or know that it resides in hydrothermal vents.
We enjoyed reading every single page of this book and will definitely add it to our home library the moment it is released....more
Thank you @kidlitexchange @scholasticinc and @mariascrivan for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I read this with my daughter whoThank you @kidlitexchange @scholasticinc and @mariascrivan for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I read this with my daughter who enjoys all sorts of graphic novels. We laughed together and even had a few good discussions over the fabulous topics. This is going to be an instant hit for kids her age.
First off, the illustrations are so colorful and fun. Each page is covered with playful images that truly helped bring the story to life. The various emotions were clear to distinguish. We studied every little bit and constantly pointed out new things once we spotted them. They were simply just a joy to look at.
The story follows Natalie, aka Nat, as she embarks on her first year of middle school. Her best friend has suddenly started ignoring her and even begun bullying sweet Nat. Friendships change as we grow older and unfortunately during this time kids tend to forgo their own thoughts and interest to fit in better with the “cool” kids. It was heartbreaking at times to watch Nat endure the constant ridicule and not quite understand that she deserved better. She also kept making matters worst the harder she tried to win back her old friend. Over the course of the year she slowly makes a new circle of true friends, those who encourage and accept her quirks. They repeatedly gave her positive feedback which made my mama heart soar. This is where the chats came in with my daughter. The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people makes the world of difference in your happiness.
Along with wonderful lessons, there’s quite a bit of humor. Her dog and cat appear at the start of each chapter and made us giggle many times. Nat easily gets herself into some sticky and silly situations that are just plain entertaining. The jello frog experiment gone wrong, the unfashionable gnome hat and the permanent bird makeup was some of our favs. Loved how she took a bad experience and turned it to her advantage at the end!!
Needless to say, we loved this new graphic novel and can’t wait for the sequel to come out!!...more
Thank you @kidlitexchange and @candlewickpress for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a wonderful middle grade story. I rThank you @kidlitexchange and @candlewickpress for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was a wonderful middle grade story. I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially the girls who love different forms of science. Penny Rose enjoys making robots out of discarded treasures she randomly stumbles upon. She’s new to town and hasn’t made any friends yet, until she observes the peculiar girl across the street. Lark is fascinated with Ornithology, the study of birds. She keeps journals about them, builds magnificent houses and even has crows who drop off lost objects as a sign of their gratitude.
Penny Rose and Lark hit it off pretty quickly and enjoy working on building a town for the robots together. They are startled to find that one day the robots have come alive and can interact with the girls. They agree to keep them safe and never show anyone, but then an unexpected invitation arrives in Penny Rose’s locker. She has been invited to join the Secret Science Society. The problem is Lark didn’t get asked and the members are requesting to see the unique robots to gain entry. Penny Rose finds out the hard way that friendships and promises are meant to be cherished.
Goodness, as a shy, science kid myself, I would have loved this book in elementary school. Not only was the story captivating and full of great lessons, but I also enjoyed the added mysteries surrounding the robots and the members of the club. Young readers will love Chimney, the pet squirrel too!! Loved the bit of girl power at the end.
The chapters were short and quick to read. I adored the lovely illustrations by @corinnaluyken that helped bring the adventure to life!! ...more
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