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gillyreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Fantastic middle grade, full of emotions and exploring the fraughtness of life and change when you’re twelve. Good anxiety representation
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
cec_loves_to_read_books's review against another edition
4.0
What a sweet little read this book was.
In How To Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood we meet Nell McPherson who is a catastrophe expert, and keeps a journal of catastrophe preparedness. But nothing has prepared her for the impending catastrophe of her mum's plans to merge families with boyfriend, Ted and his annoying daughter, Amelia.
To top it off friendship woes mean grade six is turning into an emotional obstacle course as Nell moves away from her old spelling bee friends and into some rule-bending with new girl, Plum.
Nell needs to find a way to face the biggest catastrophe of them all, climate change, which has been too big for her to get her head around despite her grandmother Map being a longtime eco warrior. Nell campaigns for all of grade six to attend the School Strike 4 Climate and suddenly old friends and new are united for the cause. Along the way plans to foil the family merge may even give way to an understanding that it might not be such a disaster after all.
Lots to love and nothing to loathe in this middle grade goodie!
In How To Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood we meet Nell McPherson who is a catastrophe expert, and keeps a journal of catastrophe preparedness. But nothing has prepared her for the impending catastrophe of her mum's plans to merge families with boyfriend, Ted and his annoying daughter, Amelia.
To top it off friendship woes mean grade six is turning into an emotional obstacle course as Nell moves away from her old spelling bee friends and into some rule-bending with new girl, Plum.
Nell needs to find a way to face the biggest catastrophe of them all, climate change, which has been too big for her to get her head around despite her grandmother Map being a longtime eco warrior. Nell campaigns for all of grade six to attend the School Strike 4 Climate and suddenly old friends and new are united for the cause. Along the way plans to foil the family merge may even give way to an understanding that it might not be such a disaster after all.
Lots to love and nothing to loathe in this middle grade goodie!
melbsreads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Trigger warnings: mental health, vomit, death of a parent (in the past), bushfire (in the past), anaphylaxis
Fiona Wood always does a fabulous job of capturing the teen/middle grade voice, and while this was occasionally heavy handed in regards to climate change and youth protest, the way it discussed the complexities of becoming a blended family and the anxiety that can be brought on by such change was well done. The friendship complexities were well handled, although I did want a TAD more character development from Plum.
I do have to note that as a school employee, the publisher's decision to write "grade six blue" every time Nell's homeroom was mentioned made my eye twitch. Like, I know publishing conventions say that you should write out numbers under one thousand (I think??) in words, but please, for the love of God, just write 6 Blue and call it good.
Fiona Wood always does a fabulous job of capturing the teen/middle grade voice, and while this was occasionally heavy handed in regards to climate change and youth protest, the way it discussed the complexities of becoming a blended family and the anxiety that can be brought on by such change was well done. The friendship complexities were well handled, although I did want a TAD more character development from Plum.
I do have to note that as a school employee, the publisher's decision to write "grade six blue" every time Nell's homeroom was mentioned made my eye twitch. Like, I know publishing conventions say that you should write out numbers under one thousand (I think??) in words, but please, for the love of God, just write 6 Blue and call it good.
tattooedlibrarian's review
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jess64au's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book would be great for upper primary students. The main character is in year 6 and trying to adjust to changes in her life. While I found the the main character and her main friends a bit annoying, I suspect it will resonate well with primary age students. I loved the main character's review of the week: word, problem, plan, fruit rating and gratitude. This would be great to introduce into a classroom and personal life.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Fire/Fire injury
elleceeveee's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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
5.0
becsbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
catastrophe
/kəˈtastrəfi/
noun
1. an event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
Nell is a expert in catastrophes but nothing prepares her for the life lessons ahead. Her mum decides it’s time to move in with her boyfriend and become a blended family, Nell hates Ted and his annoying little girl.
To add to the family drama Nell decides it’s time to quit the spelling bee, leaving her friends behind and starts hanging out with new girl Plum, who has no problems bending the rules.
Climate change is something Nell feels strong about and she decides to campaign the school for a strike to raise awareness. Plans fail, old and new friends align and Nell’s family merge in their on time showing her that life isn’t always one big catastrophe.
/kəˈtastrəfi/
noun
1. an event causing great and usually sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
Nell is a expert in catastrophes but nothing prepares her for the life lessons ahead. Her mum decides it’s time to move in with her boyfriend and become a blended family, Nell hates Ted and his annoying little girl.
To add to the family drama Nell decides it’s time to quit the spelling bee, leaving her friends behind and starts hanging out with new girl Plum, who has no problems bending the rules.
Climate change is something Nell feels strong about and she decides to campaign the school for a strike to raise awareness. Plans fail, old and new friends align and Nell’s family merge in their on time showing her that life isn’t always one big catastrophe.
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