Reviews

Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

thepetitepunk's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

This was so wonderful for so many reasons. Any books about the struggles of being in middle school—friends, fitting in, deciding what you’re now too old for and what you’re still too young for—will always have a special place in my heart.

haley_cat's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

marieintheraw's review against another edition

4.0

This is such a quiet middle grade story with such a big ending

claire_84's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

librarydosebykristy's review against another edition

4.0

Sweet, almost painful to read story about a girl who is authentic and earnest but just doesn’t fit in. She lives on a goat farm with her two moms, one of whom is pregnant again after two late term miscarriages. Hazel is extremely upset and anxious about her mom’s pregnancy and is just waiting for something to go wrong... she’s also going through that inevitable friend breakup that happens around 8th grade.

Really well written. Give to this to the kids who feel like outsiders but are unwilling to change to fit in.

jaymeee's review against another edition

lighthearted 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? Yes

3.0

adillondev's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

Oh, Hazel is going through it. A beautiful story. Cried multiple times.

arnoldad1's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective tense 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? No

5.0

jananih's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-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? No

3.75

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

What a brave, and beautiful, novel. Thirteen-year-old Hazel has been redistricted to a new middle school for eighth grade requiring her to leave best friend Becca behind. Adding stress to the already difficult situation is the fact that one of Hazel’s moms is expecting a baby. That would be super cool except Mimi’s last two pregnancies ended with late term miscarriages and the family is still reeling from those losses. As Hazel evolves, she begins to understand that love is worth the risk of loss, that friendship is a two-way street and that cheerleaders aren’t automatically bad people.