zenithharpink 's review for:

Squashed by Joan Bauer
4.0

I find that many of the books I read between the ages of 13 and 17 are basically crap, and primarily featured books that shouldn't have been published. Wretched, wretched. Still, I find myself rereading those books that I managed to hang onto from that time, hating most of them.

HOWEVER, this book is delightful! I loved it when I read it as a teenager, and found myself loving it again as I re-read it. The tone is light and playful, and the main character, Ellie Morgan, is utterly relatable. I love the gravitas with which she approaches both her love of growing as well as her project in growing Max.

I really liked the relationship between father and daughter, they really just didn't understand each other, yet felt like they weren't cared for by the other. It was a pleasure watching them come together.

I would recommend to any who read this as a teenager, any teenagers looking for a fun read, as well as any looking for a light, playful agricultural YA story.