January 17th 2023 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
In this sequel to Squad Goals, we shift attention from Magic to her friend Brooklyn. Brookyln is a World Scout whose mother has recently passed away. She lives with her father and her grandmother Betty Jean, and is determined to keep up her mother's interest in the annual cookie sale going. Last year, with her mother's help, she came in second. Now that the high schooler who came in first has graduated, Brooklyn has great hopes for winning the Santa Monica district title, but is thwarted by newcomer Piper Parker who employs underhanded tactics like poaching Brooklyn's traditional customers in her own neighborhood. Armed with her mother's binder of procedures and phone numbers of previous customers, as well as the help of the HoneyBee cheerleaders, Brooklyn works hard to see cookies while also processing her grief about her mother, for which she is seeing a therapist. Will it be enough for her to outsell the nasty Parker and contine her mother's legacy?
Strengths: Brooklyn is an outspoken character who has a firm grasp on her goals. Her grief over her mother is handled well; she's connecting with her grandmother, getting therapy, and has a supportive group of friends who are helping her to have goals and activities to help her move forward. Piper is a standard villain from whom Brooklyn could learn some tactics, and there's just enough cheerleading to keep fans of the first book interested.
Weaknesses: Like books about school elections, this didn't resonate with me personally because I can't image my school ever holding assemblies for a scouting group's cookie sales. It's not even something I've ever heard of, although it is an interesting concept, like the Cadet Corps in Varian Johnson's Twins, or the dance and etiquette classes that come up from time to time.
What I really think: This is a good purchase if Squad Goals has done well in your library or there is a culture of cookie sales. There's plenty of friend drama, and this could stand alone as a title without the first book. The cover is great!
Weaknesses: Like books about school elections, this didn't resonate with me personally because I can't image my school ever holding assemblies for a scouting group's cookie sales. It's not even something I've ever heard of, although it is an interesting concept, like the Cadet Corps in Varian Johnson's Twins, or the dance and etiquette classes that come up from time to time.
What I really think: This is a good purchase if Squad Goals has done well in your library or there is a culture of cookie sales. There's plenty of friend drama, and this could stand alone as a title without the first book. The cover is great!
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