Reviews

Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger

jennifyr's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad 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? Yes

4.0

This is a cute middle school book about a 12 year old girl Hadley whose life is upended when her mom goes to jail and she has to move to another state with her estranged older sister. On top of that, her vision loss is getting worse and she is now legally blind. She "ain't a dog person", but connects with a despondent dog named Lila at the rescue shelter where her sister works and they foster her. Both Hadley and Lila help to heal each other over the course of the book. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a great job with the vernacular of a Southern tween voice. My daughter selected this book for her 5th/6th grade book club. 

emilyprinci's review against another edition

2.0

Another cute story by Kody Keplinger. Some issues I had: why is this girl 12 but has a babysitter and acts like she’s 15, I could not stand the way Hadley spoke. She said ain’t and improperly spoke for the whole novel, it made it not enjoyable. Not focused on romance which I enjoyed. A cute story about a girl whos going through a rough patch and meets a dog in a similar way and they both end up happier in the end. Hadley was kinda annoying though.

kate_2323's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rikaic03's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

sc104906's review against another edition

5.0

I received this as an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hadley is going to live with her sister while her mother is being sent to prison. Hadley is mad at her mom for doing bad things and she is mad at her sister, who abandoned her years ago and never looked back. Hadley's sister works with the local animal shelter training dogs and when Hadley is approached by a timid rescue, Lila, she is tasked with training Lila so that she can be adopted. Hadley and Lila are having trouble adjusting to their new lives. It becomes more difficult for Hadley as she continues to lose her sight. Hadley takes classes to learn how to navigate the world better as her sight decreases. In a pact with Lila, the two will "train" together.

This novel was super sweet. I loved both of the main characters and just wanted to hug them. This is a perfect middle grade novel. Keplinger has shown that she has chops in the children's section.

manda_reads's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted slow-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

4.0

paige_g's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book so much! I have reread this book so many times and completely loved it each time!

Hadley is a young girl who has suffered much in her lifetime. She is going blind, and her mother is now in jail for stealing, she now has to go live with her 24 year old sister, Beth, who she hasn't seen since she was 9. Her sister lives a few hours away from Hadley, so Hadley must leave her best friends, and she must leave her school, and get ready to begin a new school, with new kids, and a new life.

Her older sister, Beth, volunteers at an animal shelter, and there Hadley meets a pitbull dog who isn't interesting in people- much like her. Her name is Lila. They decide to foster Lila, and Hadley makes a deal with Lila: Lila will behave so she can be adopted and not put down, and Hadley will learn how to use a cane for her mobile disability.

Hadley is finally feeling settled-ish in her life with Lila, and her older sister, and her maybe? friend when another plot twist happens.


I love this book, and would sell my soul to read it again for the first time. Love it will all my heart! <3

Thanks for listening to me ramble on and on about this book. Hope you enjoy!,
Paige :)

blondetheoneandonly's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

ericadeb's review against another edition

4.0

This was such a sweet story or growth and acceptance, and the end was perfect and so satisfying. I wanted to cry, but managed to hold it in. I am passing this book along to my nine year old because I know she will love it too.

shighley's review against another edition

3.0

Boy, was Hadley lucky to have so many wonderful friends and people caring for her. She is going through quite a bit; I was very interested in the part about dealing with her loss of vision and would have liked to learn a bit more about it. As others have mentioned, the grammar got a little tiresome.