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bookwyrm76's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. It felt like the perfect book club book for 4th to 6th graders. Without being too preachy it shows that no one is only what you see on the surface. Everyone made some assumptions and were proved wrong. There were some dramatic reveals and some not do dramatic reveals, but they all worked together. I really appreciated that there were adults all along the spectrum of understanding to clueless. Yes some were a bit singld dimensional, but it wasn't their story.
dford210's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bickie's review
3.0
Six 7th-graders have a "Breakfast Club" type of experience during a justice circle during February break, learning that their stereotyped assumptions about each other are wrong. One of the kids is Jax Fletcher from the "Family Fletcher" books. Various family situations, various racial backgrounds, some neurodiversity. Good for kids interested in characters and people; not great for action-oriented readers. There is a mystery that propels the book, along with the justice circle work over the course of 5 days, and most readers will likely not guess the full story of what happened ahead of time.
One character questions another whether he is talking about drugs in his locker (he's not - it's a stash of candy); one character asks another whether he is "making use of his time" in the bathroom; one character's brother died within the past year; one character's dad left and moved to Guatemala, gradually disappearing. Like the Breakfast Club kids, these characters are struggling to figure themselves out in the context of their families and social lives.
One character questions another whether he is talking about drugs in his locker (he's not - it's a stash of candy); one character asks another whether he is "making use of his time" in the bathroom; one character's brother died within the past year; one character's dad left and moved to Guatemala, gradually disappearing. Like the Breakfast Club kids, these characters are struggling to figure themselves out in the context of their families and social lives.
snugglyjewelsies's review
4.25
One of the few books I was forced to read for school that I actually liked.
eamelyk's review
4.0
3.5/5 stars
Well, it was actually really entertaining. It was funny, made me laugh a couple of times and just overall heart-warming. Andre and Alice were my faves eeeee
Well, it was actually really entertaining. It was funny, made me laugh a couple of times and just overall heart-warming. Andre and Alice were my faves eeeee
apenguinkeeper's review against another edition
2.0
I read it a few years back, and I read it again. Because I’m not used to middle grade, and I prefer romance in books, it just wasn’t my favorite, or as good as I remember it. Then again, it’s been a few years. Good book, just not my kind.
teganbeesebooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was really good! I did not suspect the ending at all. Great for younger readers that want to read One of Us is Lying. Lots of interesting things to talk about & discuss. I really liked all of the characters & am glad I got to know them. Looking forward to discussing with my 7th & 8th grade book club.
nssutton's review
3.0
Finally got around to reading this Breakfast Club for the modern era, with the local mom book club as it’s our town middle school’s One School, One Book pick. So jealous that those teachers get to work with students on this one, there’s a lot of good stuff in there - restorative justice, how to get to know the people around you, why tweens might make the choices they do.
librariandest's review
3.0
Not a quick read for me, but I think the ending was worth it. Here are some takeaways:
1. I think this succeeds in its attempt to reinterpret themes from The Breakfast Club for a younger audience. The point is to see past the labels we put on people. To know that everyone is fighting unseen battles. Kids from different cliques can and should get to know each other better.
2. I don't know much about restorative justice, so I can't speak to how well it was portrayed in the book. What I can say is that the concept slows down the book with didactic passages but ultimately enriches the story.
3. There are some big coincidences that make this pretty unsatisfying as a mystery. Obviously, the premise makes you want to read to the end to find out who really did it. But this book is way more about relationships than plot.
Overall, I might suggest this to middle schoolers looking for middle school drama with a social conscience.
1. I think this succeeds in its attempt to reinterpret themes from The Breakfast Club for a younger audience. The point is to see past the labels we put on people. To know that everyone is fighting unseen battles. Kids from different cliques can and should get to know each other better.
2. I don't know much about restorative justice, so I can't speak to how well it was portrayed in the book. What I can say is that the concept slows down the book with didactic passages but ultimately enriches the story.
3. There are some big coincidences that make this pretty unsatisfying as a mystery. Obviously, the premise makes you want to read to the end to find out who really did it. But this book is way more about relationships than plot.
Overall, I might suggest this to middle schoolers looking for middle school drama with a social conscience.