Helpful Score: 1
Lauren Myracle's writerly charm and humor persist even as she delves into a sort of chick lit for the elementary school lot. Her characters are fun and real, and the issues they face and the lessons they learnâwhat it means to be a friendâwill touch the hearts of readers of any age.
There are pretty much no weak points in LUV YA BUNCHES. The four girls, who each get to tell their stories via different mediums, are as different yet ultimately as compatible as you and your group of friends. Each girl genuinely has heart, an important character quality that all too often goes missing in the course of writing a story. As a result, readers will want these girls for their best friendsâor sisters, or daughters, depending on your age!
Perhaps most remarkable about Lauren's writing, though, is her ability to incidentally include details that can be big issues on their own. For example, Camilla has two mothers, Yasaman is Muslim, Violet's mother has issues we don't usually see in children's literature, and Katie-Rose is half-Asian. It's remarkable how effortlessly these details fold into the story, becoming simply an important but not overbearing part of their identity. We need more of those kinds of literature nowadays.
Overall, LUV YA BUNCHES is an absolutely perfect read for elementary-age girls and their mothers. With a heartwarming cast of characters, endless entertaining situations, and an important message of friendship bringing out the best in you, it's a winner for everyone. Pick it up, and you won't be able to stop giggling and smiling, reliving the bestâand worstâof fifth grade!
There are pretty much no weak points in LUV YA BUNCHES. The four girls, who each get to tell their stories via different mediums, are as different yet ultimately as compatible as you and your group of friends. Each girl genuinely has heart, an important character quality that all too often goes missing in the course of writing a story. As a result, readers will want these girls for their best friendsâor sisters, or daughters, depending on your age!
Perhaps most remarkable about Lauren's writing, though, is her ability to incidentally include details that can be big issues on their own. For example, Camilla has two mothers, Yasaman is Muslim, Violet's mother has issues we don't usually see in children's literature, and Katie-Rose is half-Asian. It's remarkable how effortlessly these details fold into the story, becoming simply an important but not overbearing part of their identity. We need more of those kinds of literature nowadays.
Overall, LUV YA BUNCHES is an absolutely perfect read for elementary-age girls and their mothers. With a heartwarming cast of characters, endless entertaining situations, and an important message of friendship bringing out the best in you, it's a winner for everyone. Pick it up, and you won't be able to stop giggling and smiling, reliving the bestâand worstâof fifth grade!
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Katie-Rose doesn't have any friends at school. She's really hoping that over the summer, popular girl Milla will ditch her not-so-nice friends and want to hang out with her, instead.
Milla's not too sure who she wants to be friends with. Her current friends aren't always nice, but she doesn't want to be a social nobody, either.
A new girl, Violet, enters the mix, and she's waiting to see which social group she should join. She's not afraid of resident mean girl, Modessa.
Soon, Katie-Rose befriends Yasaman, who loves computers. She's made her own website where friends can chat with each other.
When Milla's good luck charm disappears, the outcome changes everything. Will the four girls find their way navigating through social pressures?
LUV YA BUNCHES is the first book in a new tween series that mentions Myracles's characters from her other popular INTERNET GIRLS series. This one reads as a younger version of that series, and will contain three more books. It's a very cute story - with IM chat and mini screenplays included.
Katie-Rose doesn't have any friends at school. She's really hoping that over the summer, popular girl Milla will ditch her not-so-nice friends and want to hang out with her, instead.
Milla's not too sure who she wants to be friends with. Her current friends aren't always nice, but she doesn't want to be a social nobody, either.
A new girl, Violet, enters the mix, and she's waiting to see which social group she should join. She's not afraid of resident mean girl, Modessa.
Soon, Katie-Rose befriends Yasaman, who loves computers. She's made her own website where friends can chat with each other.
When Milla's good luck charm disappears, the outcome changes everything. Will the four girls find their way navigating through social pressures?
LUV YA BUNCHES is the first book in a new tween series that mentions Myracles's characters from her other popular INTERNET GIRLS series. This one reads as a younger version of that series, and will contain three more books. It's a very cute story - with IM chat and mini screenplays included.
