Amazon.com:What do Katie-Rose, Yasaman, Milla, and Violet all have in common? Other than being named after flowers, practically nothing. Katie-Rose is a film director in training. Yasaman is a computer whiz. Milla is third in command of the A list. And Violet is the new girl in school. They’re fab girls, all of them, but they sure aren’t friends. And if evil queen bee Medusa— ’scuse me, Modessa—has her way, they never will be. But this is the beginning of a new school year, when anything can happen and social worlds can collide . . .
Told in Lauren Myracle’s inventive narrative style—here a fresh mix of instant messages, blog posts, screenplay, and straight narrative—Luv Ya Bunches, the first in a four-book series, is a funny, honest depiction of the shifting alliances and rivalries that shape school days, and of the lasting friendships that blossom from the skirmishes.
I loved the diversity in Luv Ya Bunches, from the characters ethnic backgrounds, to their home situations, to their friends at school, these four girls realize that none of that matters when it comes to true friendship. I also loved the diversity of storytelling methods such as IM conversations, screenplay format, and regular narrative. While format changes are a personal favorite of mine I think they also work well for reluctant readers.
While I had to keep reminding myself that the girls were 5th graders and not in junior high (I guess things were different when I was their age!) I think this story of friendship can be appreciate by anyone from late elementary school age to junior high and beyond, I mean heck I'm nowhere near their ages and I enjoyed reading it!
While I liked all of the characters, personally my favorite character was Yasaman. She's a bit of a loner, a computer/internet guru and a Muslim. It's very exciting to see more and more Muslim characters in young adult and childrens books recently. I'm also excited that this is a start of a series and that we will get to know a lot more about this group of new friends!
Luv Ya Bunches was released on October 1st
Genre: Middle Grade
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher
I loved the diversity in Luv Ya Bunches, from the characters ethnic backgrounds, to their home situations, to their friends at school, these four girls realize that none of that matters when it comes to true friendship. I also loved the diversity of storytelling methods such as IM conversations, screenplay format, and regular narrative. While format changes are a personal favorite of mine I think they also work well for reluctant readers.
While I had to keep reminding myself that the girls were 5th graders and not in junior high (I guess things were different when I was their age!) I think this story of friendship can be appreciate by anyone from late elementary school age to junior high and beyond, I mean heck I'm nowhere near their ages and I enjoyed reading it!
While I liked all of the characters, personally my favorite character was Yasaman. She's a bit of a loner, a computer/internet guru and a Muslim. It's very exciting to see more and more Muslim characters in young adult and childrens books recently. I'm also excited that this is a start of a series and that we will get to know a lot more about this group of new friends!
Luv Ya Bunches was released on October 1st
Genre: Middle Grade
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by publisher
It's nice to see that middle grade books are improving!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Scholastic will be featuring Luv Ya Bunches in their school book fairs!
ReplyDeleteI'm very eager to read this and I agree with you, it's so refreshing and wonderful that there are more Muslims being portrayed in children's fiction.
I really liked this book! And totally agree with you on the diversity. I LOVED it when I realized all of the different things about the characters: Katie-Rose is half-Asian, Yasaman is Muslim, Camilla has two moms. This is the book I'm recommending to my 9-year-old cousin (or maybe I'll just give it to her as a Christmas present).... :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great that the book represents all sorts of girls. It look adorable, I'll check it out! Great review! (:
ReplyDeleteI find it hilarious that we both posted our reviews of this book fairly close to each other even though the book's been out for a month and a half now, lol. I mean, if it had been the week of release, that's not as funny, but since it's been a while, it is.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great review!! :) I can't wait to read more of these girls too!!
A really good middle grade book can be hard to find. I like the diversity.
ReplyDeleteLots of out of the ordinary names in this book! Sounds like a good story for tween girls
ReplyDelete