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yapha's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is not uncommon for friendships to fall apart when kids reach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. That doesn't make it easier on the kids going through it though. Maddie was looking forward to a fresh start at summer camp, focusing on screenwriting, away from the embarrassment of the school year. She is really upset when her former best friend Chloe ends up not only at camp but in the same cabin. Chloe isn't particularly happy to see Maddie either, but she doesn't really understand why Maddie is so mad at her. Told in alternating view points, this book will resonate with kids going through their own friendship issues, especially musical theater lovers. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
emburklin's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cboddie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
6th - 8th
imstephtacular's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Racism, Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content
jcstokes95's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Whenever I’m in a slump, I’m going to read middle grade because I LOVED this more than anything else I read this month. When I read books like this, I always wonder what it would’ve been like to have a book like this when I was 12. I cannot think of a single fat MC I read about in that time. This book does dual POVs super well; we follow Maddie and Chloe, former best friends reunited against their will at camp. (Camp, btw, is where all fat girl nightmares happen. I felt very seen.) After a big oopsie during their school play, Maddie decides she’s sick of feeling like Chloe’s shadow and wants to be understood. We watch her try to take revenge for all the ways Chloe has wronged her before they both discover a better way for friendship to work.
This was so warm and cozy while giving real tough struggles to its protagonists. It’s also got incredibly interesting representation of things I had never thought about, but each character is so much more than one thing. I appreciate middle grade that respects its reader and this author clearly understands young people’s complicated, messy emotions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
jaelikes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shirt chapters, alternating perspectives
anniekslibrary's review
4.0
With this book, Sarah Kapit has really cemented herself as one of my favourite middlegrade authors. Each of her books is so different but so incredibly well done.
This book is dual POV and follows two timelines. Our main characters are Maggie, a fat Jewish girl with dyspraxia, and Chloe, who figures out she's a lesbian over the course of the book. They used to be best friends, and in the "then" timeline, we see what leads to their friendship breakup. In the "now", they've ended up at the same summer camp, and have to figure out if they can be friends again, or if they're better off without each other.
I don't think there are nearly enough books to center friendships, and particularly friendship breakups, which are something everyone goes through, but which we don't get to read about a lot. Both characters go through a lot of growth in the book, and I thought it was a very heartfelt story.
This book is dual POV and follows two timelines. Our main characters are Maggie, a fat Jewish girl with dyspraxia, and Chloe, who figures out she's a lesbian over the course of the book. They used to be best friends, and in the "then" timeline, we see what leads to their friendship breakup. In the "now", they've ended up at the same summer camp, and have to figure out if they can be friends again, or if they're better off without each other.
I don't think there are nearly enough books to center friendships, and particularly friendship breakups, which are something everyone goes through, but which we don't get to read about a lot. Both characters go through a lot of growth in the book, and I thought it was a very heartfelt story.
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