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starla_anne's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Self harm
Minor: Deportation and Pregnancy
acolemanlibrarian's review
emotional
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Car accident
megsib's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Lockington's book made the 2023 Upper Elementary Rainbow Booklist, and it is a wonderful book! I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the pacing of the story. It opens with an epigraph from Miles Davis and another from Janelle Monáe, so I knew I was in for a great read. The complexity of the characters is well balanced for an upper elementary read, and I believe young readers will be drawn to them. They are all also unique and have distinct personalities. Lockington makes a point through the story to not categorize friendship/personality/camaraderie based on identity categories, particularly race for this setting. She isn't overbearing with this and allows for diversity not just in race, class, sexuality, and gender but also through interests, personality, etc.
In my mind this book would be great for 12-13 year olds especially. The ways that Lockington brings in the characters thoughts about bodies, puberty, relationships to caregivers and parental figures seems particularly relatable without being heavy handed. The representation of complicated relationships fraught with emotion and trauma resides alongside representations of loving, supportive relationships. Some of the dialogue from Andi's mom, I wanted to remember, hoping to have the same beautiful, heartfelt yet direct and specific response for children around me.
A final thought--this is a band/orchestra novel and music is throughout the book. I suggest having a way to listen to the music the characters are into and the pieces they are practicing while you read. I came away from this book with a great playlist.
In my mind this book would be great for 12-13 year olds especially. The ways that Lockington brings in the characters thoughts about bodies, puberty, relationships to caregivers and parental figures seems particularly relatable without being heavy handed. The representation of complicated relationships fraught with emotion and trauma resides alongside representations of loving, supportive relationships. Some of the dialogue from Andi's mom, I wanted to remember, hoping to have the same beautiful, heartfelt yet direct and specific response for children around me.
A final thought--this is a band/orchestra novel and music is throughout the book. I suggest having a way to listen to the music the characters are into and the pieces they are practicing while you read. I came away from this book with a great playlist.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Self harm
Minor: Death of parent
avjung27's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Homophobia
booksgamesvinyl's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Racism
pey333's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Death of parent, and Homophobia
emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I'll begin with the positives! This book had a great music camp backdrop - American summer camps are one of my favourite kinds of setting and this trope was executed really well here, with details of events, routines, and different facilities. The book also shows so much respect for middle-graders in that it exhibits how they can be dealing with a lot and that their problems deserve attention and care. Andi and Zora, much like many real-life middle-graders, are facing some really dark situations so I think this kind of book can offer a lot of solidarity and hope. Finally, the writing style was excellent. Lockington used some really beautiful language, ESPECIALLY in the "Interludes" from the camp's POV.
Unfortunately I do have a couple of criticisms to talk about, too. The first is that there was too much retrospection. This really took my out of what was happening in the present to the point where I would forget what the MCs were doing in present time while they were reflecting on the past. It felt like so much happened in the past compared to the present, which really restricted room for character development. I also thought the story was heavier on Andi's POV. It's not that I didn't like Andi (her POV was actually my favourite), but it had the consequence of that I didn't know Zora as well, which also meant her character development felt more rushed.
Despite these negatives I'm still really interested in any future books Lockington may write!
Unfortunately I do have a couple of criticisms to talk about, too. The first is that there was too much retrospection. This really took my out of what was happening in the present to the point where I would forget what the MCs were doing in present time while they were reflecting on the past. It felt like so much happened in the past compared to the present, which really restricted room for character development. I also thought the story was heavier on Andi's POV. It's not that I didn't like Andi (her POV was actually my favourite), but it had the consequence of that I didn't know Zora as well, which also meant her character development felt more rushed.
Despite these negatives I'm still really interested in any future books Lockington may write!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Xenophobia, Drug use, Classism, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Excrement, Pregnancy, Deportation, Body shaming, Ableism, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: disordered eating Minor: forced separation from family, 1 l*z slurbetweentheshelves's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
Such a beautiful middle grade book about changing families, dealing with parental expectations, grief, and figuring out your identity. All set at a summer music camp! Andi and Zora are absolutely relatable narrators, and they're both struggling with their own things. They form a kind of kinship while they're at camp, something that eventually transforms into something more.
You can just feel the emotions behind the story in this book. Andi is struggling with her mother's death, trying to figure out where she fits into this new family with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Zora is trying to balance her parents' expectations with her true passion, dance. I love that they found each other and encouraged each other to follow their passions. It was the best thing about this book, hands down.
You can just feel the emotions behind the story in this book. Andi is struggling with her mother's death, trying to figure out where she fits into this new family with her aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Zora is trying to balance her parents' expectations with her true passion, dance. I love that they found each other and encouraged each other to follow their passions. It was the best thing about this book, hands down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Self harm
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia
summerif's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
lettuce_read's review
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Grief, and Self harm
Moderate: Racism