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librariann's review against another edition
3.0
The story was solid, loved the female entrepreneur aspect and adjusting to life in a new town. I just felt the Me-Too-i-ness was so heavy handed. (And the mystery bad guy - just terribly one note.) Maybe it would be less so for a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader. But I had hoped for something more subtle and effective from Messner, who I have enjoyed in the past.
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
4.0
When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade to be closer to her grandmother she's hoping to continue her routine of watching TV and eating snacks. But when Mia finds out her grandmother believes someone is sabotaging her cricket farm Mia and her new friends start working solve the case while trying to drum up more business with new ideas. All of this keeps Mia busy but she still finds it hard to come to terms with the broken arm that ended her gymnastics career and all the lead up to it. With the help of new friends Mia's determined to make her voice heard.
The blurb I initially read focused heavily on the mystery of the cricket farm but this book is more than that. Mia is finding herself again while coming to her terms with happened. It focuses on Mia's business plans with friends and her rediscovering her strength. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Go for people who like coming of age stories or protagonist overcoming a challenge.
The blurb I initially read focused heavily on the mystery of the cricket farm but this book is more than that. Mia is finding herself again while coming to her terms with happened. It focuses on Mia's business plans with friends and her rediscovering her strength. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Go for people who like coming of age stories or protagonist overcoming a challenge.
alissabar's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this mystery and learning more about crickets as a sustainable food source. :) I also think the serious subject of sexual harassment was handled well. I'm not convinced this book would appeal to boys, but a great read for girls.
speterson47's review against another edition
5.0
Mia's Grandma owns a cricket farm, and she is thinking about selling it. Mia is finally physically ready to start up activity again after breaking her arm when falling off of a balance beam. Her mom forces her to pick two activities for the summer, one for her body, and one for her mind. Mia would rather veg out on the couch and avoid both! Our journey following through her summer is one that is extremely relatable and also exciting because it seems that someone is purposefully creating problems at the cricket farm. Will Mia and her new friends from her summer activities be able to solve the mystery?
While the mystery is the forefront of the story, it has so much depth in the friendships that are formed, the obstacles that are overcome, and the strength that the characters find within themselves. Highly recommend.
While the mystery is the forefront of the story, it has so much depth in the friendships that are formed, the obstacles that are overcome, and the strength that the characters find within themselves. Highly recommend.
zinelib's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not always the biggest middle grades fan (except for books by [a:Celia C. Pérez|9838714|Celia C. Pérez|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png] and when I was in elementary school), so it says something that I enjoyed Chirp, about Mia, whose family moves back to Vermont from Boston to be closer to Mia's grandmother, and the scary secret Mia has been holding onto.
Mia has recovered, physically, from a gymnastics injury, but she's not the fearless kid she once was, diving off cliffs into water and performing dangerous feats on the balance beam. Her grandma is also in a bit of a situation; her cricket farm is failing, possibly due to sabotage. Yes, cricket farm! One thing I do like about MG novels are the wild, niche topics they cover. Grandma will sell you crickets in flavors like barbecue, maple syrup (because Vermont), and Mia's favorite, garlic and sea salt. Insects are healthy, don't you know? I mean, they are! High in protein and all. I'm a vegetarian, so I think consuming all flesh is gross, with insect bodies being no worse than flesh.
Family and friend relationships are centered in this novel, along with girl power.
Mia has recovered, physically, from a gymnastics injury, but she's not the fearless kid she once was, diving off cliffs into water and performing dangerous feats on the balance beam. Her grandma is also in a bit of a situation; her cricket farm is failing, possibly due to sabotage. Yes, cricket farm! One thing I do like about MG novels are the wild, niche topics they cover. Grandma will sell you crickets in flavors like barbecue, maple syrup (because Vermont), and Mia's favorite, garlic and sea salt. Insects are healthy, don't you know? I mean, they are! High in protein and all. I'm a vegetarian, so I think consuming all flesh is gross, with insect bodies being no worse than flesh.
Family and friend relationships are centered in this novel, along with girl power.
lostinausten's review against another edition
4.0
A young girl has to overcome her own struggles and help her grandmother's flailing business.
This book starts off so tame and generic and eventually builds up to more serious issues. It begins with Mia and her family moving back to Vermont in order to help take care of her grandmother and her fledgling cricket farm. It turns out that someone is trying to sabotage this cricket farm so there is also a mystery that Mia and her new friends need to solve. (She meets these new friends at a warrior camp and a STEM based camp). Mia is also dealing with a previous injury and some sexual harassment flashbacks from a gymnastics coach..all the while trying to help her grandma. This book also includes other female characters dealing with sexual harassment and the stories they share really bond them. I really appreciated that this book covers such difficult topics, as well as showing burgeoning friendships that develop in order to solve a mystery.
This book starts off so tame and generic and eventually builds up to more serious issues. It begins with Mia and her family moving back to Vermont in order to help take care of her grandmother and her fledgling cricket farm. It turns out that someone is trying to sabotage this cricket farm so there is also a mystery that Mia and her new friends need to solve. (She meets these new friends at a warrior camp and a STEM based camp). Mia is also dealing with a previous injury and some sexual harassment flashbacks from a gymnastics coach..all the while trying to help her grandma. This book also includes other female characters dealing with sexual harassment and the stories they share really bond them. I really appreciated that this book covers such difficult topics, as well as showing burgeoning friendships that develop in order to solve a mystery.
harperphillips96's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 80%, which I hate to do, especially on a read this short, but I had other books to get to and realized I just wasn’t the least bit charmed or invested in this one. It felt heavy handed and I moved on.
canuckmum's review against another edition
5.0
A vital book for middle grade readers, or anyone who has felt like they can’t speak up.
meredithmc's review against another edition
4.0
I knew nothing about this one when I picked it up and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a wonderful summer story, with a mystery thrown in, that also deals with finding the strength to speak up. It doesn’t talk down to its readers and encourages them to find that strength when they need to. I’d be happy to recommend “Chirp” to my middle grade readers.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Great summer story about the challenges that women can face in the business world, and what girls can do today to get themselves ready to succeed. And also eating crickets. It's so much more exciting than I just made that sound. Give this to your inventors and your entrepreneurs. Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.