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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
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
My daughter is a Shannon Hale fan, so we read through this book together. I related so much to Cassie and wish I could have read this as a kid, I would have felt less alone. This book gave us some great words to describe our feelings. I'm so thankful for this book giving me an "in" with my kid.
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
“I have so many feelings all the time. And I don’t always know what they mean.”
💭
Cassie is part of a HUGE family. Because of that there usually isn’t enough money, time or attention to go around so when Cassie gets a sweepstakes in the mail promising grand prizes, she sends off for it thinking she’s won. She will use the prizes to get another car for her family, newer furniture and a vacation that will convince Vali to be her best friend. But when the sweepstakes is exposed as a scam, Cassie doesn’t know what to do next. Fighting with friends, loneliness and big emotions, she just wants someone to listen.
💭
This is the first MG graphic novel in a new series by @squeetus with artwork by @marcela_cespedes_art Fans of the series Click, Invisible Emmie and Hale’s own Real Friends will find more book joy on these pages. Themes of empathy, kindness, forgiveness will also be prevalent, as well as show kids who feel big emotions, have high sensitivity, and times of sadness. This title releases August 26! The sequel Dream Big releases in August 2026!
CW: bullying, isolation, anxiety
💭
Cassie is part of a HUGE family. Because of that there usually isn’t enough money, time or attention to go around so when Cassie gets a sweepstakes in the mail promising grand prizes, she sends off for it thinking she’s won. She will use the prizes to get another car for her family, newer furniture and a vacation that will convince Vali to be her best friend. But when the sweepstakes is exposed as a scam, Cassie doesn’t know what to do next. Fighting with friends, loneliness and big emotions, she just wants someone to listen.
💭
This is the first MG graphic novel in a new series by @squeetus with artwork by @marcela_cespedes_art Fans of the series Click, Invisible Emmie and Hale’s own Real Friends will find more book joy on these pages. Themes of empathy, kindness, forgiveness will also be prevalent, as well as show kids who feel big emotions, have high sensitivity, and times of sadness. This title releases August 26! The sequel Dream Big releases in August 2026!
CW: bullying, isolation, anxiety
We are big Shannon Hale fans in my house. My daughter even dressed up as The Princess in Black for favorite character day at school this year. So, when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I couldn’t wait to read it. And wow! Let me tell you, I read it twice! The graphic novel is friendly and easy to read. I would hand this book to kids from 3rd grade to adult (truly).
The story follows Cassie, a fourth-grade girl, who can’t quite figure out how she fits into the world. She still loves to play pretend, make up games and plays, and dream big. Some of her siblings and peers, though, are feeling like those are babyish, and they are more interested in talking and listening to music. To make matters worse, she and her best friend Vali are trying out a trio friendship instead of just their duo. And it feels tricky when its two against 1…poor Cassie is usually the 1.
At home, Cassie is a true middle child. She’s not quite old enough to enjoy the things her older siblings like. And while she has the imagination to play with her younger siblings, she worries, again, about being too babyish. All she wants is some alone time with her mom, a little attention just for her. When she finally gets this moment, it’s so lovely to see their relationship blook (a kind reminder to parents for making this time to listen and talk with your kids!).
Reading this book, I was immediately transported back to memories of elementary and middle school. I related so easily to Cassie’s confusion about where she fits because she’s not quite an adult but also feeling less like a little kid. Cassie also feels big/deeply. Hale offers the good and bad of this, thus offering moments of introspection about coping with sadness, loneliness, and frustration.
I opted to read this book a second time to really focus on a parent and teacher lens. It really just made me love it even more. I found key excerpts that I would want to carry into a classroom and passages that I know I could use to talk through emotions with my own children. This will absolutely be a book I recommend to my students, my friends, and kids.
The book releases August 26, 2025, and it’s already getting some buzz with starred reviews!!! Pre-order this one from your local bookstore now. Gift it to kiddos in your life. Read it yourself.
Kudos, Shannon Hale. Thanks for continuously putting beautiful work into the world for kids of all ages.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
This was such a cute elementary graphic novel. It perfectly captures the hardships of growing up and finding friends when everything changes.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a fellow "too sensitive" kid I found this books so relatable. Feeling everything can be such a double edged sword, because while it makes you more empathic, and often kind, it also hurts a lot until you learn how to filter things a little. Cassie is such a strong girl going through the awkward and at times heartbreaking "4th grade curse" where friendships starting to change, while also juggling her place in a large family that is struggling financially. Her coping mechanism of daydreaming helps her find the wonder and joy in her world.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for the E-ARC.
Thank you to Roaring Brook Press for the E-ARC.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
Cassie lives in a house filled with people, but she somehow manages to feel alone much of the time. Everyone tells her she is sensitive, and her emotions become bigger with each unexpected event that takes place around her. One day, a sweepstakes mailer arrives in her mailbox, and Cassie believes she has won one of the grand prizes. But as she realizes the fault in her understanding and situations continue to arise that test her emotions to the limit, Cassie must find an outlet for her feelings before they consume her. This early middle grade graphic novel appears at first glance to be similar to the illustrative style of newspaper comics from the 1990s. Cassie is often surrounded by other people, whether in her boisterous home or at school, and amidst the word bubbles are asides that are taking place inside of Cassie’s head. As a sensitive child, Cassie’s emotions erupt on her face, depicted in various colors and details that showcase the hurt and embarrassment that occur throughout Cassie’s days. The visuals are a critical component of the storytelling, and they help readers to better understand the life Cassie lives. Alongside the images are short, clear sentences that make the story accessible to young readers. Additionally, the fact that the book is separated into chapters gives readers the opportunity to set the story down and return to it as desired. As the characters interact with one another, the reader feels increased empathy for Cassie as many of her experiences are shared among youth in many communities. Filled with emotion and angst, this graphic novel will resonate with newer middle grade readers and may inspire them to think differently about what it truly means to be sensitive in the wider world.
emotional
reflective
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:
Complicated
What a fantastic graphic novel.
Our protagonist, Cassie, has big emotions. When things are good and full of wonder she's floating. But when things aren't good she can't stop ruminating on it. So, when her best friends new friend says things to Cassie that feel mean, Cassie starts to struggle to find the wonder in her days.
Reading Cassie's story brought me right back to elementary and middle school, in good ways and bad. I could intimately relate to her struggles with friendship and constantly feeling like she was doing something wrong. The way Cassie's emotions are illustrated really drew me in. I could fully immerse myself in those feelings she was experiencing and understand her journey.
This graphic novel deals with emotions both big and small in such relatable ways. It's a perfect read for any kid struggling to deal with growing up and ever changing friendships.
I grew up on Shannon Hale's books, and I'm so glad to see her work continuing to resonate with kids and adults everywhere. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to MacMillan Children's, Roaring Book Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.
Our protagonist, Cassie, has big emotions. When things are good and full of wonder she's floating. But when things aren't good she can't stop ruminating on it. So, when her best friends new friend says things to Cassie that feel mean, Cassie starts to struggle to find the wonder in her days.
Reading Cassie's story brought me right back to elementary and middle school, in good ways and bad. I could intimately relate to her struggles with friendship and constantly feeling like she was doing something wrong. The way Cassie's emotions are illustrated really drew me in. I could fully immerse myself in those feelings she was experiencing and understand her journey.
This graphic novel deals with emotions both big and small in such relatable ways. It's a perfect read for any kid struggling to deal with growing up and ever changing friendships.
I grew up on Shannon Hale's books, and I'm so glad to see her work continuing to resonate with kids and adults everywhere. I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thank you to MacMillan Children's, Roaring Book Press, and Netgalley for the ARC.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective