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stacey_l_morgan's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
hgraybrown's review against another edition
3.0
A solid middle grade mystery that tackles the importance of kids speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Recommended for students in Grades 3+.
msgabbythelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
When this book showed up on my desk as a hold fulfillment, I was shocked. What was it about? I didn't even recall ordering it. However, when I saw who had endorsed it (Laurie Halse Anderson in particular) I knew I had to try it.
Admittedly, I skimmed elements I didn't care about too much. The story was about a girl named Mia whose family has moved--and now she lives really close to her grandmother and her cricket farm. Yes, a cricket farm. I have never read a book that takes place in a cricket farm. So that was intriguing. As was the plot line of Mia meeting a girl named Clover who helps her come up with all sorts of culinary creations involving crickets--hoping the publicity will save her grandmother's cricket farm. Granted, the part of the book involving sabotage of the farm I skimmed; it just didn't jump out at me.
However, this book tackles tough topics. We discover that Mia wants nothing to do with gymnastics anymore. And we find out why: she had been abused by a coach. For it being a middle grade novel, references to "feeling icky" were as far as it went. So some readers might not make the abuse insinuation. Clover also shares about her own dealings with harassment. It's appreciative to see books handling this all too current event in a delicate, yet strengthening, way. The message of sharing with someone is addressed as is the reminder to not let it consume one's life.
So the reason I only gave it a three is due to the parts I skimmed. Honestly, one storyline could have been left out and the novel would have been stronger for it.
Admittedly, I skimmed elements I didn't care about too much. The story was about a girl named Mia whose family has moved--and now she lives really close to her grandmother and her cricket farm. Yes, a cricket farm. I have never read a book that takes place in a cricket farm. So that was intriguing. As was the plot line of Mia meeting a girl named Clover who helps her come up with all sorts of culinary creations involving crickets--hoping the publicity will save her grandmother's cricket farm. Granted, the part of the book involving sabotage of the farm I skimmed; it just didn't jump out at me.
However, this book tackles tough topics. We discover that Mia wants nothing to do with gymnastics anymore. And we find out why: she had been abused by a coach. For it being a middle grade novel, references to "feeling icky" were as far as it went. So some readers might not make the abuse insinuation. Clover also shares about her own dealings with harassment. It's appreciative to see books handling this all too current event in a delicate, yet strengthening, way. The message of sharing with someone is addressed as is the reminder to not let it consume one's life.
So the reason I only gave it a three is due to the parts I skimmed. Honestly, one storyline could have been left out and the novel would have been stronger for it.
preciousparfait's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.0
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
5.0
I got kind of nervous as I started to read this book. The way it talked about Mia having a secret, I assumed it had something to do with an adult having inappropriate contact with her, and I wasn’t sure how explicit or intense that would be. Since I’m pretty sensitive to the topic, I felt a little tense until I got to that part of the story. It didn’t include anything nightmarishly explicit. I don’t say that to downplay what Mia experienced at all, simply that as a reader, it didn’t end up being something I couldn’t handle reading.
Mia’s grandmother made me smile so much. She’s strong and brave and pretty committed to her course. I liked the relationship she has with Mia, and the way each encouraged the other. Mia’s friendships with Clover and Anna were great, too. I loved how they bonded over their shared passion for their Launch Camp projects and then over other experiences.
At one point in the book, after Mia has heard from several of the women in her life about experiences where they were harrassed or treated inappropriately by men, she wonders if this is something that all women experience. I felt like it’s such a reasonable question, and such a hard part about growing up, right? Because too many women do have those stories. I know I do.
While it’s heartbreaking watching someone realize something troubling about the world, I loved the way it becomes part of Mia’s healing, too. She’s not alone. She’s not wrong for feeling the way she did, even though at the time, she felt completely alone and ashamed for feeling uncomfortable.
I also loved that, even though I thought the topic was really well-addressed, the story wasn’t only about these things. Mia is never defined by that experience. She’s always many things– a girl with lots of interests and talents and relationships.
Plus I have to talk about the cricket farm. I know I say this every time I read a book with a protagonist with an unusual interest or talent, but I love that the author brought such a different family business to the story– not only a cricket farm, but crickets for a food source! I thought that was really fun.
I think readers who are looking for a balance of light and heavy topics will enjoy CHIRP a lot, especially fans of BE LIGHT LIKE A BIRD by Monika Schröder or FLORA & ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Mia’s grandmother made me smile so much. She’s strong and brave and pretty committed to her course. I liked the relationship she has with Mia, and the way each encouraged the other. Mia’s friendships with Clover and Anna were great, too. I loved how they bonded over their shared passion for their Launch Camp projects and then over other experiences.
At one point in the book, after Mia has heard from several of the women in her life about experiences where they were harrassed or treated inappropriately by men, she wonders if this is something that all women experience. I felt like it’s such a reasonable question, and such a hard part about growing up, right? Because too many women do have those stories. I know I do.
While it’s heartbreaking watching someone realize something troubling about the world, I loved the way it becomes part of Mia’s healing, too. She’s not alone. She’s not wrong for feeling the way she did, even though at the time, she felt completely alone and ashamed for feeling uncomfortable.
I also loved that, even though I thought the topic was really well-addressed, the story wasn’t only about these things. Mia is never defined by that experience. She’s always many things– a girl with lots of interests and talents and relationships.
Plus I have to talk about the cricket farm. I know I say this every time I read a book with a protagonist with an unusual interest or talent, but I love that the author brought such a different family business to the story– not only a cricket farm, but crickets for a food source! I thought that was really fun.
I think readers who are looking for a balance of light and heavy topics will enjoy CHIRP a lot, especially fans of BE LIGHT LIKE A BIRD by Monika Schröder or FLORA & ULYSSES by Kate DiCamillo.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
inkygirl's review against another edition
5.0
“Sometimes getting up in the morning and being you, no matter what’s happened to you and no matter what anybody says, is the bravest, most defiant thing a woman can do.” Loved this book so much. I had planned to read it over several evenings but ended up finishing it one sitting; I couldn't put it down! This book needs to be in every school library. I wish it had been in mine. (Also, I am now dying to try all the yummy-sounding cricket recipes mentioned in the book. Never thought I'd use "yummy" and "cricket" in the same sentence, but there you go.)
book_lover22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
suzannedix's review against another edition
4.0
A story about overcoming guilt and shame and fear NOT of your own making. Mia and her family are returning to Vermont to live near Mia's grandmother and her new cricket farm. An expert in the field of entomology, Mia's grandmother intends to sell cricket protein on a large scale but someone is sabotaging her farm. Mia is convinced that her grandmother is brilliant and correct about the problems she is having at the farm but her parents are less sure. They want her grandmother to "settle down" and sell the farm but Mia and her new friends are on the case. Through a series of experiences at two summer camps Mia is attending, she and her friends craft a plan to market the cricket farm and suss out who is the culprit. This is the light-weight part of the story which is full of sweet and funny situations. The heavier issue is one from Mia's recent injury in gymnastics back before they moved to Vermont. A male coach who Mia once admired becomes too interested and too handsy. Mia doesn't know what to do, doesn't feel comfortable telling anyone, quits gymnastics and tries to bottle it all up. But this issue of her grandmother not being taken seriously helps Mia to see that speaking out can begin the healing process and also be helpful to others.
Grades 5 and up.
Grades 5 and up.
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
3.0
Not the type of book that I would pick up on my own, but I’m very glad that I did end up picking it up :)