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reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
How cute was this! Totally how I felt when entering 6th grade (such an awkward time in your life). I loved the drawings (can't wait to see a finished copy since I read an ARC) and the quick text. Students will love this especially fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries.
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a delightful book, I am definitely glad I bought it!
This was pretty much a blind buy. About 80% of the books I buy are books that I have been waiting for. Often for months. I already read several excerpts, saw the cover pop up, heard my friends talk about. But this one? I spotted this one on Twitter, checked it out, and decided, just based on the art, to buy it. :P
And boy, I am so happy! Because it was a terrific book. Of the whole book there were just 2 little things that I was a bit annoyed with. First up Abbie's anxiety. I get the feeling, I was young and going to high school (since that is what it is called here, we don't have middle school) was pretty scary, and yes, I was also thinking about my future, and finding my thing. However, I really got a bit annoyed with her. She constantly kept worrying, she constantly kept talking how she couldn't do things, or didn't have a thing. Girl, you are what? 12? You don't need to know what you want to be right now. You don't need to worry so much. Sure, you can think of things, but nothing is set in stone. You will find your thing one day. Enjoy life a bit more.
Also stop thinking that adults don't know what you are going through. :|
My second little thing is that the school does the school lunches that way. Why not make enough for the entire school? It does seem highly unfair now that an older class can get all the food they want and the rest gets the scraps. And then the school gets angry when someone acts against it.
Other than those things I so loved the book. I would have loved to have been able to pick electives as well! I wouldn't be able to pick which one I would want to do. Not because I don't have a thing, but because I have too many interests.
With the exception of her crippling anxiety, I did love Abbie, she was a fun, and also realistic character, and I loved how she just braved on, how she confided in her aunt (and haha, at the advice she got, which didn't make sense until much later). I loved her with her friends. It was so much fun that she went to the bakery so many times, she must get a lot of allowance for her to be able to eat there all the time (or they just waited patiently for the guy to give them the leftovers of the day). :P I loved how she found her thing, and how she handled it all. It was a brilliant idea, and it made a lot of people happy. I wish it could have continued on a bit longer, or that maybe the school would have done x and y, and not z.
It was also fun to read about her family. About her brother, about her sister, about her mom, about her aunt. They do make a wonderful family, and she should be feeling lucky she has them. Her brother was such a sweetie near the end. Awww. <3
Abby's friends were definitely a fun pair. It was also fun that the three of them were so different. One loved drama, the other loved gaming/coding, and Abby didn't have her thing. But yet these 3 are best friends, and they support each other. They help each other. Plus they are all three huge fans of that bakery. :P
The enemies, well I am sure glad they don't get a big role. Now their role was just perfect, we got that they weren't nice, but they weren't overly present.
I also was laughing so hard, Americans are all wondering why there is so much obesity well, gee, maybe you shouldn't have lunches with all sorts of unhealthy stuff like pizza, fries, nuggets, soda, etc. Of course, sometimes it is OK to eat unhealthy, but having that option every day? No, just no. Also the fact that those kids eat dinner as well in the evening. They have 2 big meals in a day. Why not make a healthier option the standard in school, and pizza/unhealthy once every time on special days.
The art was just fabulous, and I love the style, I love how it all connects what is being said, and also that often we have illustrations instead of words. It is what made me want to read the book in the first place and I definitely wouldn't mind more books by this writer/artist!
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was pretty much a blind buy. About 80% of the books I buy are books that I have been waiting for. Often for months. I already read several excerpts, saw the cover pop up, heard my friends talk about. But this one? I spotted this one on Twitter, checked it out, and decided, just based on the art, to buy it. :P
And boy, I am so happy! Because it was a terrific book. Of the whole book there were just 2 little things that I was a bit annoyed with. First up Abbie's anxiety. I get the feeling, I was young and going to high school (since that is what it is called here, we don't have middle school) was pretty scary, and yes, I was also thinking about my future, and finding my thing. However, I really got a bit annoyed with her. She constantly kept worrying, she constantly kept talking how she couldn't do things, or didn't have a thing. Girl, you are what? 12? You don't need to know what you want to be right now. You don't need to worry so much. Sure, you can think of things, but nothing is set in stone. You will find your thing one day. Enjoy life a bit more.
Also stop thinking that adults don't know what you are going through. :|
My second little thing is that the school does the school lunches that way. Why not make enough for the entire school? It does seem highly unfair now that an older class can get all the food they want and the rest gets the scraps. And then the school gets angry when someone acts against it.
Other than those things I so loved the book. I would have loved to have been able to pick electives as well! I wouldn't be able to pick which one I would want to do. Not because I don't have a thing, but because I have too many interests.
With the exception of her crippling anxiety, I did love Abbie, she was a fun, and also realistic character, and I loved how she just braved on, how she confided in her aunt (and haha, at the advice she got, which didn't make sense until much later). I loved her with her friends. It was so much fun that she went to the bakery so many times, she must get a lot of allowance for her to be able to eat there all the time (or they just waited patiently for the guy to give them the leftovers of the day). :P I loved how she found her thing, and how she handled it all. It was a brilliant idea, and it made a lot of people happy. I wish it could have continued on a bit longer, or that maybe the school would have done x and y, and not z.
It was also fun to read about her family. About her brother, about her sister, about her mom, about her aunt. They do make a wonderful family, and she should be feeling lucky she has them. Her brother was such a sweetie near the end. Awww. <3
Abby's friends were definitely a fun pair. It was also fun that the three of them were so different. One loved drama, the other loved gaming/coding, and Abby didn't have her thing. But yet these 3 are best friends, and they support each other. They help each other. Plus they are all three huge fans of that bakery. :P
The enemies, well I am sure glad they don't get a big role. Now their role was just perfect, we got that they weren't nice, but they weren't overly present.
I also was laughing so hard, Americans are all wondering why there is so much obesity well, gee, maybe you shouldn't have lunches with all sorts of unhealthy stuff like pizza, fries, nuggets, soda, etc. Of course, sometimes it is OK to eat unhealthy, but having that option every day? No, just no. Also the fact that those kids eat dinner as well in the evening. They have 2 big meals in a day. Why not make a healthier option the standard in school, and pizza/unhealthy once every time on special days.
The art was just fabulous, and I love the style, I love how it all connects what is being said, and also that often we have illustrations instead of words. It is what made me want to read the book in the first place and I definitely wouldn't mind more books by this writer/artist!
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
mary00's review against another edition
3.0
I read this with my fifth grade daughter. It was cute enough. The highlight of the book is certainly the clever illustrations. They really are what make the book stand out.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This super cute book highlights the trials and tribulations of middle school! Abbi Wu is trying desperately to find her place in a new school where she seems destined to fail. She doesn’t feel like she has any special talents or interests that allow her to fit in automatically, and she fears that she might never find her niche. The book is full of youthful hyperbole and a whole lot of energy, and it’s sure to connect perfectly with kids who feel like middle school is the absolute worst. (My own son was part of that crowd—middle school was definitely a rough patch for us!) The book is heavily illustrated and just downright fun! And, best of all, it will help kids realize that middle school really can be navigated without disaster!
***Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This super cute book highlights the trials and tribulations of middle school! Abbi Wu is trying desperately to find her place in a new school where she seems destined to fail. She doesn’t feel like she has any special talents or interests that allow her to fit in automatically, and she fears that she might never find her niche. The book is full of youthful hyperbole and a whole lot of energy, and it’s sure to connect perfectly with kids who feel like middle school is the absolute worst. (My own son was part of that crowd—middle school was definitely a rough patch for us!) The book is heavily illustrated and just downright fun! And, best of all, it will help kids realize that middle school really can be navigated without disaster!
***Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
jennymock's review against another edition
4.0
A great tween read more for the 4th-6th grade crowd. It's focused on finding one's place in the world and how relationships with family and friends change during the "Middles." It's a quick read that will please most tween crowds.
tessakris's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t remember how I got this book for my classroom, but I finally got around it today. It’s a good one because it’s about starting 6th grade
kkdemarco's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! A great middle grade read- equal parts funny and heartwarming. This book really explores some important issues middle schoolers (specifically 6th graders) face in terms of fitting in and finding their place in the world. Great for graphic novel or James Patterson fans!
cassie_grace's review against another edition
3.0
It was fine. Cute. It was an advance copy, so the art was about 1/3 finished, 1/3 rough draft, and 1/3 not included. Normally that would be fine, but it was about 75% artwork, like an almost graphic novel, so I feel like I missed out on some of the story. But the finished artwork was well done and the story was entertaining enough. My other complaint is that was so clearly not written by a middle school aged kid. She hardly ever uses her cell phone, she's bad with technology, and she calls the internet "cyberspace" at one point. Like...what? What year is this, 1994?
mrs_bookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
This was a hilarious and realistic book on middle school life. I loved the drawings and the humor-Abbie was such a dramatic character who exaggerated everything and made me flashback to my crazy middle school days. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
acourtofreading's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 Because this is EXACTLY what middle school is like.