It's
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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at
and #IMWAYR day
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July 23, 2024 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Luchy is very excited for the first day of sixth grade. She hasn't seen her best friend, Cami, all summer, because Cami has been visiting family in Colombia. The two not only share Colombian, heritage, but their families both come from the same area. Luchy's father came to the country when he was very small, however, and her mother was born in the US, so Luchy's Spanish is not very good. When she catches up with Cami before school, she's a little worried; Cami is suddenly concerned about what is "cool" to wear, and interested in boys. Luchy would rather wear her leggings and unicorn t shirt, and is NOT happy with the make up kit that Cami gives her for a birthday present. Cami has also taken to hanging out with another girl who is often mean to Luchy. The three try out for the school soccer team, and when Luchy can't find her cleats, she's afraid she won't get a spot. When she overheads Cami and Melissa talking about hiding her cleats, the war is on. Soon, Luchy is taking Cami's homework, and Cami takes her art portfolio with her entire biography project in it. Mateo, who is friends with both of them, doesn't want to take sides, but is more in Luchy's corner; the two play soccer, and Luchy is discomforted to feel that maybe Mateo is cute. Creating a scrapbook of happy memories for Cami doesn't help win her friend back, and Luchy isn't sure what to do, so she escalates the pranks that she plays on her former best friend. This doesn't work well for anyone. Will Luchy be able to come to some understanding of what Cami is going through so that the two can work together to save their friendship instead of tearing each other apart.
Strengths: This had a good mix of family events and school activities, and it made the stakes a little higher that Luchy and Cami's families knew each other. Cami's parents are in the middle of divorcing, which certainly gives some insight into why she isn't willing to put up with Luchy's refusal to change a little. Mateo is a steadfast friend who also manages to keep Cami fairly happy. There are plenty of good details about Colombian culture (this is set in Miami), and some Spanish words and phrases sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed that Luchy was involved in both soccer and in art.
Weaknesses: Why is it always the tween who doesn't want to grow up that is the "good guy"? Until the sabotage started, Cami wasn't all that mean. Luchy was just so absolute in her feeling that Cami was in the wrong. Cami was just observing people around her and trying to keep up, and trying to help Luchy as well. This is a much better plan in order to be successful around other people.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Walker's Let's Pretend We Never Met, Rellihan's Not the Worst Friend in the World, or Lowe's The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman.
Weaknesses: Why is it always the tween who doesn't want to grow up that is the "good guy"? Until the sabotage started, Cami wasn't all that mean. Luchy was just so absolute in her feeling that Cami was in the wrong. Cami was just observing people around her and trying to keep up, and trying to help Luchy as well. This is a much better plan in order to be successful around other people.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Walker's Let's Pretend We Never Met, Rellihan's Not the Worst Friend in the World, or Lowe's The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman.
Blather:
Note to parents of 6th grade girls: You are not doing them any favors letting them wear cat ears and pink leggings to 6th grade. My daughters and I researched what the most nondescript clothes were to wear to middle school. Jeans and t shirts with minimal messages are always a good bet, but each school is different. No reason to paint a target on oneself. Fitting in is a skill that EVERYONE needs to learn. I don't necessarily like wearing jeans to school, but it's what other teachers do. I wear mine with my jackets as a compromise, but if I always wear dresses or pleated skirts, they might think I'm stuck up or strange. Nothing wrong with some camoflage, Luchy!
Didn't realize kids are into cat ears and pink leggings. I thought it was still wearing colorful flannel pajama pants to school.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this one so thanks for the introduction. Contemporary stories like this always grab my attention. The setting of Miami and the Colombian background also have me anxious to read this one soon. Happy MMGM!
ReplyDeleteI love the fashion advice in your last paragraph! There were always some teachers in our school who dressed with pizzazz. I could never carry it off, but at least my clothes were relatively spiffy and comfy.
ReplyDeleteI see the toning down of outfits when I compare what two of grandkids where. The youngest (4) puts on whatever she feels like. Her older sister, now 7, dresses much more boring.
If I had had cat ears in 6th grade, I definitely would have worn them LOL. I feel like I've read several books lately with this theme of the conflict or tension between two friends when one is pushing ahead to more teen interests and the other stays grounded in their childhood likes/dislikes. I suppose it's a fairly universal one, so it makes sense that there would be a lot of books with this plot. This one does sound like it brings some unique elements that elevate it.
ReplyDeleteYour comment at the bottom made me laugh! So true that a little fitting in (especially in middle school), doesn't hurt. But I will say that if you want to wear your dresses and pleated skirts more, you should go for it. I doubt that alone would make people think you're stuck up. I used to care a lot more about what people thought of my "style" so I basically had none. I now (at age 50) have purple hair and wear "louder" clothes, and I get more compliments than I ever did when I blended in! (I work at a bookstore, though, so it's definitely a little easier to feel okay wearing whatever I want.)
ReplyDeleteTwo reviews of the same book. I like books about friendship, and Luchy and Cami's seems complicated. So many kids want to keep up with their changing friends. Like you, I was immatre and shy. Such a hard time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting fashion advice. I had no idea. This book is getting some buzz. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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