Book Review: The Friendship Experiment by Erin Teagan

Book Review: The Friendship Experiment by Erin Teagan

Image Courtesy of Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis: Future scientist Madeline Little is dreading the start of middle school. Nothing has been right since her grandfather died and her best friend changed schools. Maddie would rather help her father in his research lab or write Standard Operating Procedures in her lab notebook than hang out with a bunch of kids who aren’t even her friends. Despite Maddie’s reluctance, some new friends start coming her way—until they discover what she’s written in that secret notebook. And that’s just part of the trouble. Can this future scientific genius find the formula for straightening out her life?

My Review: Overall, the Friendship Experiment was actually quite nice. I sympathized with Madeline over her unfortunate loss of her grandfather, and at the big blowup of problems at the end. Her SOP usage seemed a bit odd at first, but I got used to them. Also, Riley and Elizabeth's true identities were revealed. Another key subject of the book was the Von Willebrand disease, which leads to less clotting of the blood. Madeline's sister got a lot of bloody noses. What I liked about that was that Brooke (Madeline's sister) always held her head up high and wasn't really ashamed of the disease, like some might be. In addition, Brooke and Madeline's relationship seemed very real, unlike some books where the older sister is bratty and just mean to younger sibling. It was a pretty well done construction, overall.
There were also some problems with the story. Madeline assumes she is a genius, but she's really just interested in science. I mean, she grows bacteria, but that doesn't make her better than everyone else! At least the author developed her character based on that, though, and her conceitedness wore off. I also didn't really understand how she became friends with her lunch group at all. How did she even get to know them well enough to become friends? Also, I thought there would be more science involved, and even though it was mentioned a lot, there was nothing really overly science-y about the book. The same things like the bacteria, SOPs, and Einstein poster were mentioned over and over again. Standard Operating Procedures don't just mean science. They're just a series of steps. 
Overall, the book deserves 3.5 stars. It was pretty fun to read, but it just had some problems.

P.S. Can I just mention how awesome the cover is?

Book Review: Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

Cover Credit: Goodreads
Goodreads Synopsis: The Patriot Army was shaped and strengthened by the desperate circumstances of the Valley Forge winter. This is where Curzon the boy becomes Curzon the young man. In addition to the hardships of soldiering, he lives with the fear of discovery, for he is an escaped slave passing for free. And then there is Isabel, who is also at Valley Forge—against her will. She and Curzon have to sort out the tangled threads of their friendship while figuring out what stands between the two of them and true freedom.

My Review: Forge was a really nice middle grade read. Curzon's POV (point of view) was interesting to read through, and I loved the historical accuracy (firecakes, hardships, etc.) about the Revolutionary War. The setting in Valley Forge was very enjoyable, as even in YA fiction, usually the 1849's are featured, and not much before then. Of the characters, I liked Eben's friendship with Curzon because of the bumps (or bump) they had along the way.  Isabel was a curiosity to me, mainly because I hadn't read Chains, so I didn't really understand her behavior at first. However, as time went on, I began to like her (though I still am glad Isabel's POV wasn't in this novel, as I liked Curzon's better). I think proper historical fiction isn't present in middle grade very much, so I was happy to see this one. There are only two complaints I had about this book. There is some minor use of language, though it wasn't really a big  problem overall. Also, it did get slightly boring in the middle, so I had to force myself to finish it. Overall, I give this novel 4 stars. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, after all.

Book Review: Finally by Wendy Mass

 Finally by Wendy Mass

Image courtesy of Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis: A humorous look at what it means to FINALLY turn twelve years old.

You can pierce your ears when you're twelve. You can go to the mall with your friends when you're twelve. You can babysit little Timmy next door when you're twelve. You can get a cell phone when you're twelve. Hey, you can even ride in the front passenger-side seat when you're twelve.

When you're twelve, when you're twelve, when you're twelve . . .

My name is Rory Swenson, and I've been waiting to turn twelve my whole life. In exactly 18 hours, 36 minutes, and 52 seconds, it will finally happen.

My life will officially begin.

My Review: First off, let me just say this book was way better than 11 Birthdays because it wasn't repetitive. That being said, I, myself, cannot believe that Rory's parents relented so easily to her list of demands. Even if they had said Rory could pierce her ears and go to the mall with her friends, it's surprising they readily agreed once Rory turned 12, especially after being so overprotective. Rory herself is a fun character. She's really nice and has a bubbly personality. I didn't exactly like Annabelle, her best friend, because she was a bit rude at points, and wasn't really a good friend to Rory. I also didn't really understand the purpose of Amanda and Leo, and it seemed as if they were to bring a deeper understanding into the story, but did not follow through. However, the surprise at the end was cool, and showed that kindness is always rewarded.The plot was what actually caught my eye, and it delivered! It showed that sometimes, desires can be flops, and I think Rory definitely learned that through some unexpected disasters. Those were definitely entertaining, and pretty sad at points, too (you'll understand what I mean when you read the book). Since the plot was great substantially, and the characters were fun to read about as well, I give Finally 4 stars. It was a great, quick middle grade read.

Book Review: Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Yours Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Image Courtesy of Goodreads

Goodreads Synopsis: Another wild mystery needs to be solved and it’s up to the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes to solve it in this hilarious follow up to the heartwarming middle grade mystery, Absolutely Truly.

     Even Truly Lovejoy has to admit that teeny-tiny Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, has its charms—like the annual maple festival, where tourists flock from all over to sample the local maple syrup, maple candy, maple coffee, and even maple soap! But when someone tries to sabotage the maple trees on her friend Franklin’s family farm, Truly has to rally the Pumpkin Falls Private Eyes to investigate.
     Meanwhile, she uncovers another, more personal mystery under the floorboards of her very own home—a diary written centuries ago by her namesake, the original Truly Lovejoy…and it might just prove her family’s ties to Pumpkin Falls run deeper than anyone ever could have imagined. 

My Review: I really enjoyed Yours Truly. I liked the fact that there were a couple small mysteries instead of one large one, unlike Absolutely Truly. They were more interesting, and I felt involved in them as a reader. I also thought that the diary of the "original" Truly was a really nice touch to the story, as it sounded quite realistic and portrayed history perfectly for a middle grade novel. I would have enjoyed more of the maple festival itself, like if Truly went around and bought maple items, instead of just pointing out that there was maple fever going around. The story didn't seem to revolve around it, just a maple tree sabotage and, of course, the diary. The characters were all fun, and their personalities were revealed more in this sequel than the first book. I think there was just a strong connection overall to the wintry setting and characters, which was great.Overall, I give it 4 stars. I cannot wait for the third installment!

Yours Truly, Not a Prima Donna Girl.

Recipe for The Saturday Cooking Club + Mini Review

 Kitchen Chaos Review by JillEllyn Riley Deborah A. Levine

Synopsis: Can their friendships take the heat? A trio of mothers and daughters will find out when they sign up for a cooking class from a famous chef in the first book of the Saturday Cooking Club series—it’s mother-daughter bonding and so much more!

Liza and Frankie have always been best friends. But when new girl Lillian arrives from San Francisco, suddenly three’s a crowd. Especially after the trio is grouped together for a big sixth-grade social studies project—can they put aside their animosity long enough to succeed? When Liza suggests they all take a cooking class with the chef from her favorite cooking show for the project, the girls are on board, but they need an adult to take the class with them. It seems like the perfect opportunity to snag some quality time with their overscheduled, overstressed mothers…if they can convince them to sign up!

Several headaches and close calls later, the girls at last find themselves in Chef Antonio’s kitchen with their mothers in tow—but the drama is only just beginning!

Mini-Review: I loved Kitchen Chaos, and how each girl's relationship with their mother grew. The class itself is pretty fun to read about, especially the catastrophes caused there. Each girl was unique in their own way. I didn't like Frankie that much in the beginning, because of her strong hatred of Lillian, but she did get much nicer later on. The mothers were also really funny and kind, and overall the book was an enjoyable read. The project idea-of taking a cooking class to learn about different cultures- seems like a really fun project. I'm so jealous XD. I'd give it 4 stars overall. Check out the second book if you liked the first one, by the way, called The Icing on the Cake.

********************************************************************************************************

Mini Pizza Recipe

All right, so now its time for the recipe! It's really simple, nothing complex like the book's class makes. In fact, it's just pizza! But it's a really easy version, with burger buns, sauce, and cheese. Yum!

Ingredients:

• burger buns (each one makes a mini pizza)
• marinara sauce (I used the storebought kind with a few tomato chunks)
• cheese (I used a combination of cheddar and mozzarella)

Step one: Take a blank bun, and apply a spoonful of marinara sauce

Step Two: Spread the sauce around the bun, meeting the edge.

Step Three: Sprinkle cheese on the buns with sauce. Don't hold back :). I didn't add any toppings this time, but you can add whatever you'd like. Peppers would probably work really well. 

Step Four: Bake them! Bake time and degrees can vary, but I believe these were from 10-15 minutes. 

Step Five: Eat! 

Do I plan to take a cooking class to learn more in the near future? No way. I can't even make mug cakes anymore without burning or over-microwaving them. At least I can always count on this pizza :).

Enjoy!

Book Review: Big Game by Stuart Gibbs

Big Game by Stuart Gibbs

Image Courtesy of Amazon

Amazon Synopsis: Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle’s resident zoo sleuth when a rhinoceros is at risk in Big Game, a follow-up to Belly Up and Poached—which Kirkus Reviews called a “thrill-ride of a mystery.” When someone takes aim at Rhonda Rhino, FunJungle’s pregnant (and endangered) Asian greater one-horned rhinoceros, the zoo steps up security measures in order to protect this rare animal and her baby. But the extra security isn’t enough—someone is still getting too close for comfort. Teddy and company start to suspect that whoever is after Rhonda is really after her horn, which is worth a lot of money on the black market. For the first time ever, the head of the zoo enlists Teddy for help—for once, he doesn’t have to sneak around in order to investigate—and the results are even more wacky, and even more dangerous, than ever before.

My Review: I think the main problem with Big Game is that it too closely resembles Spy School. Teddy is pretty much the exact Ben, and Summer is Erica. I wasn't too crazy about the rest of the characters either. Marge was just really irritating and a bit immature, to be honest. No adult keeps accusing a child of being under arrest without proof and bawls like a baby. Teddy and Summer always spoke to the adults like equals, and vice verse, which was not always a good thing because it led to disrespect between the two age groups. There was also quite a bit of slang used between the adults and children, which was unrealistic, and seemed as if it was just to make the reader laugh. All the slang seems the same, and the plot style of a mystery also seems like Spy School. This disappointed me, because different series should not sound the same, which was completely the opposite in this case. The plot itself was okay, it just was blocked out because of the character resemblance. However, the ending was awesome. The real criminal is surprising and unexpected, so it definitely influenced my rating of the novel positively. I really enjoyed the setting of a zoo like FunJungle, as all of it seemed just like a real zoo and it was definitely a fun scene of the crime to explore. Overall, I give this novel 3.5 stars. It definitely could use some improvement to make it to four stars, but it was quite nice overall. Hopefully, Panda-monium is better!

Book Review: The Whole Story of Half A Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Book Review: The Whole Story of Half A Girl by Veera Hiranandani

Goodreads Synopsis: After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni, half Indian and half Jewish American, finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia's mixed heritage makes her classmates ask questions—questions Sonia doesn't always know how to answer—as she navigates between a group of popular girls who want her to try out for the cheerleading squad and other students who aren't part of the "in" crowd. 

At the same time that Sonia is trying to make new friends, she's dealing with what it means to have an out-of-work parent—it's hard for her family to adjust to their changed circumstances. And then, one day, Sonia's father goes missing. Now Sonia wonders if she ever really knew him. As she begins to look for answers, she must decide what really matters and who her true friends are—and whether her two halves, no matter how different, can make her a whole.

     My Review: This book is a good MG read with more themes I would expect to see in a book for older readers. It mainly discusses themes of finding your way and staying true to one's self, also discussing where one belongs. This is surprising because the main character herself is in 6th grade. At first, I was kind of suspicious about such ideas in a book for younger MG readers, then I decided that the author incorporated them perfectly, explaining them from a 6th grader's point of view and not diving too deep. I would like to give a disclaimer, though, that this book did not show any preferences between skin color, but did involve Sonia thinking if she was "white" or "black". The main point, however, was just to go along with the theme of finding one's self, so I still approve of it for MG readers.
     Sonia herself is okay- I actually sometimes disliked her throughout the novel because of some of the stuff she said and did (like trying to become popular). She's confused between if she is Indian or Jewish because sometimes she feels as if she isn't one or the other. However, at the end it works out, so I guess the right message to younger readers is conveyed. 
     Other characters include Sonia's new "best friend", Kate, who actually seems like a better character to me. She accepts Sonia into her group without worrying how she looks, and treats her really nicely.  Sonia's mom is very supportive, her dad is not as much, going through depression (which is when I feel sorry for Sonia and her little sister, because they have been hit hard as well). To be honest, I think the part with her father was not really resolved as much, so I probably would have liked the story without her father going through depression.
      I didn't like the ending that much because of those reasons, and I feel as if Sonia took some things for granted after the story ended. However, the story was actually really well done for MG readers. Sonia really does change throughout the course of the story, with so many experiences hitting her at once, so there is no lacking character development and the lessons she learns. Also, she finally does find out who she is and who she wants to be friends with, which is good. I would rate this book as 4 stars. I would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to read about prejudice issues and about being the new kid on the block, especially for children who haven't read about those themes very much. The cover from Amazon is above. Enjoy!

Book Review: Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs

 I started the first book of the series, Spy School, less than a week ago, and read everything but Spy Camp until now. This was yet another series I was so, so happy to discover! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves classic contemporary narration mixed with a bit of mystery!

Book Review: Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs

Cover image from Amazon

Amazon synopsis: Ben Ripley enrolls in ski school, where the slopes, and the stakes, get really steep in this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated Spy School, Spy Camp, and Evil Spy School.
     Thirteen-year-old Ben Ripley is not exactly the best student spy school has ever seen--he keeps flunking Advanced Self Preservation. But outside of class, Ben is pretty great at staying alive. His enemies have kidnapped him, shot at him, locked him in a room with a ticking time bomb, and even tried to blow him up with missiles. And he's survived every time.
     After all that unexpected success, the CIA has decided to activate Ben for real.
     The Mission: Become friends with Jessica Shang, the daughter of a suspected Chinese crime boss, and find out all of her father's secrets. Jessica wants to go to ski school in the Rocky Mountains, so a select few spy school students are going skiing too--under cover, of course.
     Ben might not be able to handle a weapon (or a pair of skis), but he can make friends easy peasy. That is, until his best friend from home drops in on the trip and jeopardizes the entire mission...

My Review: This was probably the best Spy School story so far, but I haven't read Spy Camp yet, so I can't quite yet judge. It was funny, the plot was detailed and surprising, and there were friends and enemies discovered. Character-wise, I think Mike showed how much of a long way he'd come from being superior to Ben to becoming an equal friend. Erica became softer in parts of the book, and Zoe, Warren, Chip, and Jawa were also supportive. Jessica, though, was really a brat, and I didn't like her at all. However, I was glad that someone besides SPYDER played the villain, because I think that organization was getting boring (even though one familiar character does make an appearance again, which was a bit old). I'm glad there was no corny humor or anything, it was just sarcasm and some hilarious scenes and dialogues. The plot did not disappoint either. I'd give this book 4 stars, just because I really didn't like the last familiar villain appearance at the end. I can't wait for the 5th installment in the series, Spy School: Secret Service! 

Interested? Go check the book out!

Book Review: A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

 The movie adaptation of this book was just released last month. If you like it  Since you'll like it, I recommend checking out the movie, though I haven't seen it yet. However, the trailer looked awesome, which is why I bought the book in the first place.

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Cover image from Goodreads. A newer edition is available here.

 Goodreads Synopsis: This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, this touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here? Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8 year old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders, will he ever find his purpose? 

My Review: I can't believe how amazing this book was. The whole entire story was just... amazing! I know I sound repetitive, but it's true. The dog in this story (let's just go by Bailey for now, even though he has quite a few names because of all his lives), tells the story through his naive, innocent ways, and you can really see him grow and become less naive as the story progresses. Each time he gets reborn, he comes back and realizes his previous purpose. The story's concept itself was cool, but the execution was better. One can really imagine the bond between him and his owners, especially Ethan, the boy, which is really touching. It's also cool to see a dog's insights in the world and about it. Even though this book was sad at some points, it was also moving, and everything worked out in the end. I actually stayed up until 1 AM to finish this book, as it was so good. I give this book 5 stars. I'm so glad to have found it, and I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know!
Oh, and here are a few notes on the age level. Many recommend this to age 14+ on average, I myself think 12-13 years of age is fine, as it was pretty clean overall. Scholastic says grades 6-8 and 9-12.
Enjoy reading! I hope you'll check the rest of the series out as well!

Book Review: Beauty and the Beast Novelization (Disney) by Elizabeth Rudnick

 My parents surprised me with the 2017 Beauty and the Beast novelization! Since there's only a month before the movie, I've decided to review it! Image courtesy of Amazon.com.



Amazon Synopsis: Belle has dreamt of adventures like the ones she reads in her books, of traveling the world outside her small town. But when Belle's father is taken prisoner by a beast in an enchanted castle, her path is forever changed. Enjoy this tale as old as time about adventure and love, about looking past first appearances, and about the inner Beauty and Beast in all of us in this beautiful novelization of the upcoming star-studded film!

My Review: Argh, I really didn't enjoy this novelization as much as I though I would, which was disappointing. There were a few things I enjoyed, like the French names of people, because their translations matched, but this really wasn't that good. Belle herself was nice enough, but whenever the author wrote thoughts in her head, they came out sounding a bit pathetic. I didn't even pity Belle very much, to be honest, because her character didn't really connect with me. Her father was an okay character, there wasn't too much character development with him, but Gaston was awesomely portrayed. He was very vain and selfish, just like the original story, and made parts of the book funny. His sidekick, Le Fou, was too naive for me, but he did pick the right side to work with at the end. The Beast himself was pretty well done, along with his staff in the castle. The story was a bit fast-paced in the middle, though. I suppose my real disappointment, however, was really just with Belle, because I expected her to be a lot better than she was in the novelization. I'd give this story 3 stars overall. I still think I'll watch it in theaters, though, because a novelization is just a summary of the movie, and can't always provide enough detail for the audience. 

What do you guys think if you read the novelization? Did you enjoy it?

Book Review: The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern

The Meaning of Maggie

Amazon Synopsis: As befits a future President of the United States of America, Maggie Mayfield has decided to write a memoir of the past year of her life. And what a banner year it's been! During this period she's Student of the Month on a regular basis, an official shareholder of Coca-Cola stock, and defending Science Fair champion. Most importantly, though, this is the year Maggie has to pull up her bootstraps (the family motto) and finally learn why her cool-dude dad is in a wheelchair, no matter how scary that is. Author Megan Jean Sovern, herself the daughter of a dad with multiple sclerosis, writes with the funny grace and assured prose of a new literary star.

My Review: Maggie is sweet and innocent, and easy to connect to. She has no problem with her dad in a wheelchair, except being worried about him, and still thinks he's cool. Her family members are supportive, and her relationships with her two older sisters develop over time. However, I did have quite a few problems with this book. The author made Maggie sort of ramble on at some points, which made her sound pretty immature. Maggie doesn't even have the desired effect on the reader of being a genius, because it wasn't really expanded upon. Also, many issues were unresolved in the book and many different plot lines, like her gym class and running issues. In addition, there were parts of the book I would not find appropriate for the target audience, which was disappointing. I always hate when authors include those few inappropriate words that aren't even necessary and ruin the whole recommended age of the story. Due to those parts and the immature writing style, I'd give this book 3 stars. Not the best book to read.

Book Review: Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee

  I remember reading this book for the first time two years ago after staring at every time I went to the library. Since then, I've reread it a couple of times, and enjoyed it. Like usual, the covers are from Amazon.

Millicent Min, Girl Genius

     Synopsis (from Scholastic): Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn’t know Millicent’s IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother’s advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What’s it going to take? Sheer genius.

     My Review: Millicent Min is a really fun character to share perspectives with, since she's a total genius. The book starts out with her telling the readers about a joke she's going to write on people's yearbooks in Latin, which gives you a scope of who you're dealing with here. 

     But seriously, Millicent is only 11, and really does want friends, and tries hard to make them. Emily is a really good friend to Millicent, so it's obvious why Millicent wants to be her friend. I still don't understand how Millicent thought hiding her IQ would be beneficial, though, because I think she should trust Emily enough to tell her she actually does go to high school. Stanford is fine, and he has his own retelling of the story in the sequel, Stanford Wong Flunk Big-Time. Millicent's parents are really nice and not too corny or anything (I hate it when authors make the protagonist against their parents, so luckily there was no such problem in this book), and so is her grandmother. The book is really funny because of how Millicent tries to over-interpret some situations and how she acts and talks (big words, in essence), and also because of her volleyball experiences. It's also sad at a couple of parts because all she wants is a friend, and even that's hard to get. Still, her report card (given in the book) and academic reports are very impressive, and it really puts being a genius into perspective. 

     Overall, I'd give this book 4.5 stars. It's a perfect read for MG readers who think being genius must be easy. Want the whole series? Check out the covers below!

I haven't actually read Warp Speed yet, so tell me how it goes!

Book Review: Anne of Green Gables (Book 1)

 I keep reading about this classic in other books and had to find a classic to read for a school assignment, so Anne of Green Gables was what I chose. The cover is from Amazon, the synopsis is from Goodreads.

Anne of Green Gables

by L. M. Montgomery 

Synopsis: Everyone's favorite redhead, the spunky Anne Shirley, begins her adventures at Green Gables, a farm outside Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. When the freckled girl realizes that the elderly Cuthberts wanted to adopt a boy instead, she begins to try to win them and, consequently, the reader, over.

My Review: Anne truly is spunky in a way, and she talks an awful lot in the book, which is fine, because the author does it naturally as if a girl really was rambling on and on. It doesn't feel as if the author is forcing Anne to talk, she just flows from one topic to another without letting anyone else talk as well. This also adds some really funny moments in, when Marilla, her new "mother" tries to talk to her. She also has her fair share of disasters, which each bring out sympathy from the reader, and also a few laughs. Marilla is a great mother to Anne, really supportive of her, though she can't always show it. What I didn't like was that Anne never considered Marilla as someone she really would like to be like when she grew up, even though it was Marilla taking care of her, not her teacher at school or her friend's aunt. Also, the beginning was really long and boring, and I barely could sit through it. If it wasn't a school assignment, I probably would have quit reading it, to be frank. However, the end is really good, and Anne really matures by the time her first year of college is finished. 

Since the beginning really bored me but the end and overall character development was good, I've give this classic 2.5 stars. It definitely was not what I was looking for after hearing so much praise about it. 

Book Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want

This book is Young Adult, not MG this time, but I wanted to review it since I thought it was pretty clean overall and an enjoyable read.

Smart Girls Get What They Want

by Sarah Strohmeyer

Cover from Goodreads:

Amazon Synopsis: Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. After all, real life will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. But when an unexpected event proves they're missing out on the full high-school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. The trio makes a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge and totally rock it.

Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking—and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed; it could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes—until now.

These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want—but that might mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for. . . .

My Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want is an awesome read. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read about nice and smart girls, who don't waste time on unimportant matters and try their best. Gigi, Bea, and Neejra are real friends, and actually work hard in school because they know they need to to have better lives later on. I think that message is really important to convey, especially since the girls are in high school. I also like that they all step outside their comfort zones, and try something new. This book is also pretty funny at times,  and Gigi (the narrator) has a bubbly spirit, which makes her side fun to read. In addition, the girls are respectful to their elders, which I feel is usually lacking in most YA books.

I didn't really have any major problems with this book, but I did feel pretty annoyed at *minor spoiler* how Gigi was convicted of cheating because she got a question right on one of her teacher's tests. The teacher didn't actually see her cheating, just assumed she did because someone near her got it right as well. What type of an accusation is that? Especially with Gigi's record? *end spoiler*. 

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars (it didn't really have that extra bit to turn it to 5 stars, but it was great all the same). I'd recommend it to girls 12 and up, because it is Young Adult fiction, not Middle Grade like I usually review. 

Book Review: Mother-Daughter Book Camp

 I've decided to start posting my book reviews as posts, and under the appropriate sections, just so it's more convenient for you guys to be able to read them right when they come out. And don't forget to vote in this week's poll and be honest ;).  So here it is:

Mother-Daughter Book Camp

Amazon Summary: Spend one last summer with the Mother-Daughter Book Club at camp in this bittersweet conclusion to Heather Vogel Frederick’s beloved and bestselling series.

After so many summers together, Emma, Jess, Megan, Becca, and Cassidy are reunited for one final hurrah before they go their separate ways. The plan is to spend their summer as counselors at Camp Lovejoy in a scenic, remote corner of New Hampshire, but things get off to a rocky start when their young charges are stricken with a severe case of homesickness. Hopefully, a little bit of bibliotherapy will do the trick, as the girls bring their longstanding book club to camp. 

  

My Review: I LOVED the Mother-Daughter Book Camp! I personally think it was the best one of the series because of all the little traditions and ideas that made it real. For example, the tradition of the beads and nicknames sounded pretty fun. The characters were pretty awesome too. All of the characters seemed a lot more grown up (even though Cassidy hasn't given up her pranking ways), especially Becca, as she isn't anything at all like she used to be.

I did have a few small problems with this book. How can they let children and counselors sleep in the middle of the lake on a boat? That seems pretty dangerous, considering how young some of the campers are (and that not all of them can swim). Thank goodness for the life vests. Also, I think the girls should have asked the directors before starting their own club with snacks, as food isn't allowed in the cabin. There was also minimal involvement of the book they are reading itself and their own mothers, which was okay, as I think the more important part was to see how the girls have grown and changed throughout the years. 

In the end, I give this book 5 stars. It's a satisfying end to the series, and I love the directions all the girls are taking in the future (well, except Emma's choice of college. She probably should have thought ahead a little instead of making hurried decisions). The cover of the book from Amazon is below:

Enjoy!