A review by onceuponacarm
Pieces and Players by Blue Balliett

2.0

I couldn't finish this, despite starting it twice. The characters, whom I enjoyed in the preceding books, were flat out annoying (especially Tommy's obsession with his skin and his hyper-awareness of his friends' physical flaws) or faded into the background because we never really heard some of their voices (especially Early--I loved Hold Fast and was excited to revisit her character). Quite a disappointing book after much stronger output from Balliett. Also, I get that the characters are older now (and if I had forgotten, the first couple of chapters seem designed solely to remind readers that the characters are 13), but the made-up swear and guess that FA might begin a mean word and awkward hints of crushes felt neither authentic nor fitting for this book. It is too immature for the 7th/8th grade audience it seems to be aiming for.