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situationnormal's review against another edition
4.0
Hard to say for sure, but maybe my favorite Julie Murphy book yet. Middle grade has been the best for me lately (maybe I'm regressing?)
briannareadsbooks's review
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so sweet and played out like a Family Channel movie in my head. I've never been a fan of middle-grade books but I decided to read this one because I love Julie Murphy. It was pretty damn good! There were a few parts where I found it a bit predictable, but it is probably because I'm an adult lol. And I also was not expecting it to tackle LGBT issues but it did!! It was a pleasant surprise. It also did a great job at tackling fatphobia and showed how Sweet Pea could be flawed and not such a nice person, but still an inspiring individual. I think a lot of people around this age group will be able to relate really well to the characters and the concept of growing up and figuring out changes. Really cute!!
This book was so sweet and played out like a Family Channel movie in my head. I've never been a fan of middle-grade books but I decided to read this one because I love Julie Murphy. It was pretty damn good! There were a few parts where I found it a bit predictable, but it is probably because I'm an adult lol. And I also was not expecting it to tackle LGBT issues but it did!! It was a pleasant surprise. It also did a great job at tackling fatphobia and showed how Sweet Pea could be flawed and not such a nice person, but still an inspiring individual. I think a lot of people around this age group will be able to relate really well to the characters and the concept of growing up and figuring out changes. Really cute!!
maryehavens's review against another edition
3.0
I love Julie Murphy's work. Maybe it's because she sets her stories in small town Texas, or her cute and quirky characters, or her pop-culture references or all of these things! I almost squeal every time I see a new work by her (and I definitely need to read her older works). Nothing will be better than Dumplin for me but I have enjoyed every other one of her books that I've read. They are nice little escapes, even though I live/lived in a small Texas town :)
This one, I would give 3.5 stars. It seemed a little overly complicated with Sweet Pea's relationships with her friends. I think it would have been a tiny bit better if Oscar and Sweet Pea had just naturally drifted away? Or if Sweet Pea had not hidden all the mail from her dad? I don't know - again, little tweaks and only my opinion.
I saw that this is written for ages 8-12 and I asked my husband what he thought about my daughter reading a book that centers around divorce, especially divorce "caused" by a parent's realization that they are gay. I'm not sure that that concept is something we want to introduce to our daughter. Mostly the concept of divorce and the disintegration of the family, even though Murphy creates a situation where the divorce is amicable and both parents are best friends and putting their daughter first. If my daughter was older, maybe it would be easier to understand. I don't want her to think that every time mom and dad have a fight over something stupid (the last one was how to clean the toaster), that they are headed for divorce. Especially now since we are in quarantine for Covid-19. We are 100% family all the time right now so we need to keep it as civil as possible :)
Overall, I love and look forward to all Murphy's works and I love that she has created this small town Texas universe that she keeps expanding!!
This one, I would give 3.5 stars. It seemed a little overly complicated with Sweet Pea's relationships with her friends. I think it would have been a tiny bit better if Oscar and Sweet Pea had just naturally drifted away? Or if Sweet Pea had not hidden all the mail from her dad? I don't know - again, little tweaks and only my opinion.
I saw that this is written for ages 8-12 and I asked my husband what he thought about my daughter reading a book that centers around divorce, especially divorce "caused" by a parent's realization that they are gay. I'm not sure that that concept is something we want to introduce to our daughter. Mostly the concept of divorce and the disintegration of the family, even though Murphy creates a situation where the divorce is amicable and both parents are best friends and putting their daughter first. If my daughter was older, maybe it would be easier to understand. I don't want her to think that every time mom and dad have a fight over something stupid (the last one was how to clean the toaster), that they are headed for divorce. Especially now since we are in quarantine for Covid-19. We are 100% family all the time right now so we need to keep it as civil as possible :)
Overall, I love and look forward to all Murphy's works and I love that she has created this small town Texas universe that she keeps expanding!!
kawarwick's review
4.0
You gotta love Julie Murphy! I’m so happy to have a book I can share with my middle grade readers. This is such a good story about all the pains of middle school: your self image, friends, and parents!
thenextgenlibrarian's review
4.0
What a great MG debut for Murphy, who usually writes YA and has a graphic novel coming out this summer! I love that she’s branching out into different genres. Representation matters and Sweet Pea is a great example of an awesome middle schooler who I would have been friends with!
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet Pea is a great character. Her parents are recently divorced but live on the same street with one neighbor between them (the eccentric Miss Flora Mae). Flora Mae has an advice column in the local paper. While Flora is away visiting a family member, she asks Sweet Pea to take care of her plants and send her the letters of those seeking advice. Flora Mae is dealing with dividing her time between two homes, trying to figure out why her ex-best friend is her ex-best friend and she really wants to know what her father is hiding from her.
This unfolds nicely and is filled with likable side characters like Sweet Pea's Best Best friend Oscar and Miss Flora Mae herself. I liked that the art of letter writing is what helps guide Sweet Pea to enlightenment. A sweet look at the end of junior high and the shedding of assumptions about those around us.
This unfolds nicely and is filled with likable side characters like Sweet Pea's Best Best friend Oscar and Miss Flora Mae herself. I liked that the art of letter writing is what helps guide Sweet Pea to enlightenment. A sweet look at the end of junior high and the shedding of assumptions about those around us.
mrserinjewell's review
5.0
I can’t wait to put this book in the hands of my middle schoolers! Thank you for a great story with all the drama of middle school and (not) fitting in without feeling cheesy or predictable.
vonwilliams's review against another edition
4.0
This book is great!!! It is targeted towards Middle Schoolers, but I enjoyed it as someone who is almost 30. Realistic characters with relatable flaws. It covers present day issues without being preachy at all.
tmleblanc's review
3.0
My goodness this book is adorable! Sweet Pea and her antics have stolen my heart. This book has some wonderful messages about acceptance — both of people and changing situations.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.