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bibliobrandie's review against another edition
4.0
The twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek (aka Yawn Creek) K-12 have been together all their lives so when a new student arrives, with exotic clothes and glorious hair, the other seventh graders do not know what to think. Orchid Mason arrives from Paris, France, and has so many interesting stories to share with her new classmates but they are also skeptical about her. Kelly has captured the middle-school mindset with relatable situations and both likable and unlikable characters. This story of friendship, authenticity, and belonging will be a hit with middle-grade readers.
preciousbodle's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
libwinnie's review against another edition
5.0
Another hit out of the park by Erin Entrada Kelly. This book reminded me a lot of Stargirl, but with much more depth and substance.
c00kie123's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
3.5
Not anything groundbreaking but an enjoyable read. I personally like dystopian fiction, so maybe that's why this book was not anything special. I don't know, but this was just an average read. I honestly feel like Orchid is to perfect. Disclaimer-the end of the book shows different, but still I feel like she walked right out of a fairytale no matter what. Also, I don't know about you, but I feel like fawn creek is the perfect small town. The whole book feels like a realistic fiction fairytale. Then again, maybe its just me, but I mean...
trishwah's review against another edition
3.0
A fast middle school read full of middle school drama. Orchid is a breath of fresh air in a town where everybody has their place and lives in fear of the mean girl that doesn't even live there anymore. It was fun to want Grayson and Didi bloom and some of the other characters start to show a little maturity. Renni is the worst. I did find the openness of the ending somewhat unsatisfying. We all know by the middle of the book that Orchid isn't there to stay but just disappearing at the end felt like a bit of a let down. Maybe I just wanted more of her character!
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
A slow burn. The kids from Fawn Creek have known each other for their entire lives. Nothing new to see here, until one day a new girl enters their classroom. This new girl has lived in New York, Thailand, Paris, etc… so what the heck is she doing in middle of nowhere Fawn Creek, LA? Told from multiple 3rd person limited points of view.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
5.0
THOSE KIDS FROM FAWN CREEK has a simple premise, but one that is well-developed and surprisingly affecting. The sudden appearance of mysterious, enigmatic Orchid changes the kids in Fawn Creek by making them take a hard look at how they treat each other and themselves. Most of the characters in the book are likable, with Greyson and Didi being especially sympathetic and relatable. Even the ones who aren't super likable (Janie and Renni, for instance) either learn from their mistakes or get their comeuppance. Even though there are a lot of characters in the novel, Kelly gives each enough personality to distinguish them from the others. With short chapters, engaging prose, and plenty going on, the story moves along quickly. It's upbeat, funny, and poignant. The lessons in THOSE KIDS FROM FAWN CREEK—about self-acceptance, kindness, what makes a healthy friendship, standing up to bullies, etc.—are not subtle, but they're not overly didactic either. They're well woven into a tale that is approachable, entertaining, and moving.
If I could, I'd give this book 4 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
If I could, I'd give this book 4 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
lzprsn's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
As always, Kelly does an amazing job with MG voice. What is special about this book is that the point of view varies between very different characters who all have different motivations, fears, strengths, and weaknesses, and Kelly still manages to make all of those voices authentic. The one major exception to this is Orchid, who doesn't really get to have her voice heard at all. This is part of the construct of the novel as the book is about the kids from Fawn Creek, and Orchid is not from there. She moves there and changes their lives. She is absolutely a MPDG but not in a trite, stereotypical way that is the result of bad character construction. Underpinning this whole book is how the ways other people see us shapes how we see ourselves. When someone comes and disrupts that, it causes a crisis of sorts that will result in either redefining who we think we are or helping us to realize that we have only been living to other's expectations rather than who we really are. This is Orchid's function in the lives of the 7th graders at Fawn Creek. I would very much love to have her get her own story some day.
I love that Kelly shows both the pros and cons of living in a small community. At the same time she also gets that Gen Z thinks and processes social structures and strictures very differently than the generations that have come before them regardless of where they live, and you can definitely see that in contrast to how the adults are handling all of the upheaval in the novel. (Though kids like Renni definitely still exist, and her vindictiveness and spite is not at all exaggerated. I know some kids like her. They have a lot less power than they did once though because, as I said, Gen Z does not process social strictures the same way, so the ending of this novel, which once upon a time would have been wishful thinking, is completely believable.)
I love that Kelly shows both the pros and cons of living in a small community. At the same time she also gets that Gen Z thinks and processes social structures and strictures very differently than the generations that have come before them regardless of where they live, and you can definitely see that in contrast to how the adults are handling all of the upheaval in the novel. (Though kids like Renni definitely still exist, and her vindictiveness and spite is not at all exaggerated. I know some kids like her. They have a lot less power than they did once though because, as I said, Gen Z does not process social strictures the same way, so the ending of this novel, which once upon a time would have been wishful thinking, is completely believable.)