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lilcraftybrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
julie_responsibly's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the Zoe/Trevor dynamic, Zoe's relationship with her grandmother, and of course, what made me pick up the book in the first place, her budding relationship with her dad who is in jail. As an ex-public defender in MA though, I was annoyed at the old pds-don't-care about their clients and think they're all guilty anyway thing. The Massachusetts public defenders office is one of the best in the nation with an amazing training unit and a hybrid system that results in lawyers not having to take on too many cases at once. But you get paid shit. So the only people doing that work? The people who truly believe in it - the ones who go on to work for the Innocence Project. If you want to address racism and all that is wrong with our criminal justice system, I can think of about 15 other positions of power in the courtroom that would be a better starting point. But once my blood pressure returned to normal, I really appreciated what the book was trying to do, and am definitely picking up the other Zoe Washington!
jenniferlyoung's review against another edition
3.0
Let me just say that I'm not the audience for this book. This falls squarely in the elementary to middle grade category. I heard many rave reviews, so I grabbed it. The writing is good and the story is ok. Lots of great lessons and nuggets of wisdom woven in. But... for an adult reader, it may seem a little far-fetched. No one in Marcus's life ever tried to find this witness? Even when Grandma said she always believed him? And, his own parents and family just wrote him off? All we needed was a 12 year old with a phone? And, I can't believe that Grandma would let Zoe talk to Marcus on the phone (not once, but multiple times) without talking to her mom. Like I said, I'm not the audience for this book, so kids may not think the same things. I loved the friendship between Trevor and Zoe. And, Zoe's independence with and passion for baking. Am I the only one who wants a Fruit Loops cupcake now?
bndy28's review against another edition
5.0
Đọc xong kịp trước tết một cuốn sách thiếu nhi hết sức ấm áp, ngọt ngào này. Nó đan cài được nhiều góc độ trong cuộc sống của một cô bé 12 tuổi: giận dỗi với bạn bè, mơ ước thành thợ làm bánh, rắc rối với gia đình, kết hợp với một bí ẩn xuyên suốt để người đọc có thứ để theo chân nhân vật chính đến trang cuối cùng.
Zoe là một cô bé thông minh, đáng yêu, có chút liều lĩnh nhưng không cố gẳng làm gì đó quá lứa tuổi của mình. Trevor cũng rất đáng yêu, mắc sai lầm đôi chút với Zoe nhưng cũng kịp sửa sai. Khúc cuối khi Zoe đi tìm ra bí mật cũng kịch tính như một cuốn thriller vậy, và cái kết thì tuyệt vời như mình mong đợi.
Zoe là một cô bé thông minh, đáng yêu, có chút liều lĩnh nhưng không cố gẳng làm gì đó quá lứa tuổi của mình. Trevor cũng rất đáng yêu, mắc sai lầm đôi chút với Zoe nhưng cũng kịp sửa sai. Khúc cuối khi Zoe đi tìm ra bí mật cũng kịch tính như một cuốn thriller vậy, và cái kết thì tuyệt vời như mình mong đợi.
tobyyy's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so full disclosure, I listened to this as an audiobook AND I may or may not have dozed off somewhere between 75% and 85% of the book so I *ahem* may or may not have missed a little of the denouement…
…but regardless this is an excellent story. Zoe’s voice is refreshingly real without being either overly tragic or overly heroic. The fight to prove her dad’s innocence makes for an honest but positive story as this book does have a happy ending. I also LOVE how well their blended family functioned and that Zoe was able to find a good, healthy balance between recognizing her biological dad (whom she called by his first name) but still loving her stepdad (whom she called Dad). And I love that her mom was able to make the blended family work without (too much) resentment or stress (at least from Zoe’s perspective).
The narrator was PHENOMENAL too (Bahni Turpin). Her voice, tone, and inflection were PERFECT for narrating a 12-year-old girl’s story in first person. TBH I am considering looking up other audiobooks she narrated because she’s just that GOOD!
…but regardless this is an excellent story. Zoe’s voice is refreshingly real without being either overly tragic or overly heroic. The fight to prove her dad’s innocence makes for an honest but positive story as this book does have a happy ending. I also LOVE how well their blended family functioned and that Zoe was able to find a good, healthy balance between recognizing her biological dad (whom she called by his first name) but still loving her stepdad (whom she called Dad). And I love that her mom was able to make the blended family work without (too much) resentment or stress (at least from Zoe’s perspective).
The narrator was PHENOMENAL too (Bahni Turpin). Her voice, tone, and inflection were PERFECT for narrating a 12-year-old girl’s story in first person. TBH I am considering looking up other audiobooks she narrated because she’s just that GOOD!
abbymoore06's review against another edition
4.0
This novel dealt with a heavy topic in a light way, and I appreciated the author's gentle handing of the narrative. There are several kids' books that highlight characters with imprisoned parents, but this one has extra twist... Zoe's dad claims to be innocent. I did feel like Zoe's journey to clear his name seemed a bit too "easy," but it does take the reader on a unique journey with lots of lessons learned. I also loved the addition of Zoe's passion for baking and how the recipes contributed to the plot.
lbrauz's review against another edition
5.0
Love it!! Kind of young for my students, but it would be a great book for 4th-5th grades!!!
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
My 11 year old read this book and kept saying how much he liked it, so when he finished, it was my turn! As a middle grade book, I think this one explained quite well the problem of wrongful convictions. I liked the baking aspects of the story and how determined Zoe was. It seems to be a plot point in middle grade books that kids run off somewhere without telling their parents, and as a parent, I don’t love seeing that! I am glad that Simon enjoyed this book – he says it’s his favorite of the year so far!
craftylibrarian10's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a great middle grade book to start a conversation about the inequity of the justice system and systemic bias. Zoe is a relatable character that will appear to readers all races and genders. Her story is easily accessible for a child who does not have experience with the prison system and/ or justice system. The story is engaging and written really well. This is one I would recommend parents reading with their children to really engage in the conversation. 4/5 stars
withthebanned's review against another edition
4.0
I loved everything about this book. The main character was so fun, the friendships felt real, the parents were PRESENT. Loved it. I love that the author included an afterword to shed light on such an important topic. I loved this.