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imstephtacular's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Racism, Lesbophobia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content
jcstokes95's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Whenever I’m in a slump, I’m going to read middle grade because I LOVED this more than anything else I read this month. When I read books like this, I always wonder what it would’ve been like to have a book like this when I was 12. I cannot think of a single fat MC I read about in that time. This book does dual POVs super well; we follow Maddie and Chloe, former best friends reunited against their will at camp. (Camp, btw, is where all fat girl nightmares happen. I felt very seen.) After a big oopsie during their school play, Maddie decides she’s sick of feeling like Chloe’s shadow and wants to be understood. We watch her try to take revenge for all the ways Chloe has wronged her before they both discover a better way for friendship to work.
This was so warm and cozy while giving real tough struggles to its protagonists. It’s also got incredibly interesting representation of things I had never thought about, but each character is so much more than one thing. I appreciate middle grade that respects its reader and this author clearly understands young people’s complicated, messy emotions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
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