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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
The plot was a bit predictable for me but I'm a bit older than the intended audience so I expected it. Other than that I NEED more of Mattie and Gemma in my life. I finished this book in two days and loved it.
Absolutely loved it, read the whole thing in one sitting. Such a sweet book, helped me in this time of wondering and questioning my own feelings.
This is such a lovely book. It tells the story of Mattie, a twelve year old girl who loves English and hanging with her friends. Mattie tends to over think things, being reluctant to say how she feels about anything until she's certain. Something I completely identify with even now. When Mattie's 8th grade class put on a production of Romeo and Juliet, Mattie realises she might have feelings for the girl playing Juliet - the beautiful, clever, funny and talented Gemma. But what does it mean if you suddenly start fancying girls or at least one girl? Are you gay? Or is it an anomally? The book follows Mattie through the production of the play and the working out of her own feelings.
It is just so sweet and funny and really intelligently written. The characters all feel believable - special shout out to Mr Torres who was awesome and reminded me of my own favourite teachers. There's no real bad guys here, not even Willow. There's also no complete answers at the end but the point is that it's ok not to have answers, it's ok to be just wherever you are now. I did love Mattie's relationship with her sister Cara. And Mattie and Gemma sparkled with chemistry both romantic and friendly. Add to this a clever mirroring of Romeo and Juliet (without the teen suicides) and lots of great Shakespearean insults and call backs and this was one of the best books I've read this year. My one minor gripe was that the ending was a little abrupt.
We need more books with bi main characters like this. Recommended reading for everyone but especially those wantimg to write for a mid grade audience - this is how you do it, you'd be a 'purple hued malt worm' to miss it.
It is just so sweet and funny and really intelligently written. The characters all feel believable - special shout out to Mr Torres who was awesome and reminded me of my own favourite teachers. There's no real bad guys here, not even Willow. There's also no complete answers at the end but the point is that it's ok not to have answers, it's ok to be just wherever you are now. I did love Mattie's relationship with her sister Cara. And Mattie and Gemma sparkled with chemistry both romantic and friendly. Add to this a clever mirroring of Romeo and Juliet (without the teen suicides) and lots of great Shakespearean insults and call backs and this was one of the best books I've read this year. My one minor gripe was that the ending was a little abrupt.
We need more books with bi main characters like this. Recommended reading for everyone but especially those wantimg to write for a mid grade audience - this is how you do it, you'd be a 'purple hued malt worm' to miss it.
Mattie is in eighth grade and is super psyched that their class play is Romeo & Juliet! She never really thought about acting before but decides to try out. She gets cast as Paris but her two best friends are cast, as well...and her new friend Gemma is playing Juliet! Things get complicated, though, when Mattie realizes that maybe she doesn't think of Gemma as just a friend...
This book is completely adorable! I love Mattie, Tessa and Lucy. They are great friends and I really want a book from Tessa's perspective (she collects and uses Shakespearean insults. Who wouldn't want to be her friend?!).
The realization that Mattie has a crush on a girl is handled sensitively and it's a super sweet crush. (And they're in eighth grade so it does make sense that it would happen now.)
Warning, though: this will make you want to watch the movie. Recommended.
This book is completely adorable! I love Mattie, Tessa and Lucy. They are great friends and I really want a book from Tessa's perspective (she collects and uses Shakespearean insults. Who wouldn't want to be her friend?!).
The realization that Mattie has a crush on a girl is handled sensitively and it's a super sweet crush. (And they're in eighth grade so it does make sense that it would happen now.)
Warning, though: this will make you want to watch the movie. Recommended.
Back in March, I read a post from Barbara Dee that broke my heart. Dee had been asked to give an author presentation at a school. However, right before she was to speak, she was pulled aside and told that while the school was thrilled to have her speak on inclusivity…could she please keep it more general and NOT TALK ABOUT HER OWN BOOK?
Excuse me?
Of course I put Star-Crossed on my TBR immediately. Because obviously if a school is censoring the author…it’s probably something I want to read.
And it absolutely freaking is. Star-Crossed might be the best middle-grade fiction I have ever read…maybe the best Shakespeare retelling too! It follows Mattie, an eighth grade bookworm as she traverses the awkwardness of school play rehearsals–Romeo and Juliet, of course. Throughout the book, she slowly comes to realize she has a crush on fair Juliet.
Besides the cute story itself, there are two key factors that made me love this book. First, Mattie starts off with a crush on a boy, and then slowly falls into crush with Gemma. Later, her friend asks her if she might ever like boys again and she tells her it’s possible. Bisexual representation in a Middle Grade story! Yes! And Dee allows her MC to explore her feelings about it…which leads us to point #2.
Coming out is a process, and one that is mostly supported. We don’t see her come out to everyone–the story ends before that happens. But one friend helps her begin to come to terms with what is going on, and another person also helps her talk through it. Neither pressure her or ridicule her…it’s all very loving. I think this is something that is important to show in MG especially, so that kids can know that it doesn’t always have to be hard. It will be, sometimes, but there are supportive people out there.
I just loved this. I hope that not all schools are as closed minded as the one that shut Barbara Dee down, and that they put this book on their shelves. My library in Peoria had the book, and I’m so glad that they did. Books like this one should be available to kids who need to find themselves in the pages.
Excuse me?
Of course I put Star-Crossed on my TBR immediately. Because obviously if a school is censoring the author…it’s probably something I want to read.
And it absolutely freaking is. Star-Crossed might be the best middle-grade fiction I have ever read…maybe the best Shakespeare retelling too! It follows Mattie, an eighth grade bookworm as she traverses the awkwardness of school play rehearsals–Romeo and Juliet, of course. Throughout the book, she slowly comes to realize she has a crush on fair Juliet.
Besides the cute story itself, there are two key factors that made me love this book. First, Mattie starts off with a crush on a boy, and then slowly falls into crush with Gemma. Later, her friend asks her if she might ever like boys again and she tells her it’s possible. Bisexual representation in a Middle Grade story! Yes! And Dee allows her MC to explore her feelings about it…which leads us to point #2.
Coming out is a process, and one that is mostly supported. We don’t see her come out to everyone–the story ends before that happens. But one friend helps her begin to come to terms with what is going on, and another person also helps her talk through it. Neither pressure her or ridicule her…it’s all very loving. I think this is something that is important to show in MG especially, so that kids can know that it doesn’t always have to be hard. It will be, sometimes, but there are supportive people out there.
I just loved this. I hope that not all schools are as closed minded as the one that shut Barbara Dee down, and that they put this book on their shelves. My library in Peoria had the book, and I’m so glad that they did. Books like this one should be available to kids who need to find themselves in the pages.
What a great book! It took a little while for me to readjust to middle grade reading level, but the moment I got over the slightly rocky start I was hooked. Friendships that have realistic complications, addressing how parents can be hard to talk to but still giving the main character a guide in the form of her older sister, over dramatic middle school drama that charmingly parallels the plot of Romeo and Juliet while still having a happy ending, talking about how crushes and who you like changes and how that's ok, and a girl crushing on another girl!
Mattie's a sweet bookworm who suddenly finds her life full of secrets and complications when she starts crushing on the new girl while her grade begins to put on a drama — that is, drama as in a play, and drama as in drama. There are crashed costume parties, miscommunicated letters, kept secrets… and yes, that's both in R & J and in Mattie's life. Then Mattie has to step into the role of Romeo, opposite the girl who may or may not like her back, and keep her cool through on-stage nervousness and off-stage worries. Can she pull off both Shakespeare and middle school? Well, duh, yes, because if this had a bad ending it wouldn't have five stars from me. But read it anyway! It's fun!
This story was both positive and very relatable, re: confusion over Crush Feelings. There were some things I thought could have been better — for example, for a book where so much plot is focused on putting on a play, we see very little of the actual final performance. Maybe the stuff that happened on stage then wasn't very important plot-wise, but it would have been nice to have a little more page time about Mattie playing the role of her lifetime and being awesome at it!
There's also some spoilery stuff:I don't mind how Lucy privately confronted Mattie about her feelings for Gemma; I can see how middle schoolers wouldn't be the most tactful about telling someone "hi, friend, you're not straight!". But I did mind the pressure on Mattie afterwards to tell Tessa about being bi, as if not trusting her friends with that information made her a bad friend. I think it might be slightly tone deaf to teach kids that not telling everyone about their sexuality means they aren't being a good friend — it's ok to want to protect yourself from potential jerks by not telling anyone, and it's definitely ok to want to process your feelings yourself before coming out! It strikes me as a little selfish that Tessa was angry for not knowing about Mattie's crush as soon as Lucy figured it out. And a little selfishness may be realistic for middle schoolers, but no one in the story reassured Mattie that she'd done nothing wrong. There was just a scene about how she should have trusted Tessa more and told her sooner, and now Tessa is upset but she'll forgive Mattie because they're best friends. It could have been worse, but I feel the need to point out that nobody is entitled to know your sexuality; Mattie should have told Tessa that she did trust her, but she had to process her feelings on her own, so Tessa should stop being grumpy about it. Just a thought for an otherwise great book!
But anyway, this was a five star book in spite of a few complaints, because I just loved reading it.
Mattie's a sweet bookworm who suddenly finds her life full of secrets and complications when she starts crushing on the new girl while her grade begins to put on a drama — that is, drama as in a play, and drama as in drama. There are crashed costume parties, miscommunicated letters, kept secrets… and yes, that's both in R & J and in Mattie's life. Then Mattie has to step into the role of Romeo, opposite the girl who may or may not like her back, and keep her cool through on-stage nervousness and off-stage worries. Can she pull off both Shakespeare and middle school? Well, duh, yes, because if this had a bad ending it wouldn't have five stars from me. But read it anyway! It's fun!
This story was both positive and very relatable, re: confusion over Crush Feelings. There were some things I thought could have been better — for example, for a book where so much plot is focused on putting on a play, we see very little of the actual final performance. Maybe the stuff that happened on stage then wasn't very important plot-wise, but it would have been nice to have a little more page time about Mattie playing the role of her lifetime and being awesome at it!
There's also some spoilery stuff:
But anyway, this was a five star book in spite of a few complaints, because I just loved reading it.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes