This one is popping up in mock Newbery discussions (Heavy Medal, Eva Perry Mock Newbery Club). It has received several starred and glowing reviews from the media (NY Times Book Review, Kirkus) and book bloggers (Books and Beautiful World, Nerdy Book Club).
It is not on my list. Call me old and jaded but I couldn’t read more than 50 pages before the saccharine language induced nausea. I put the book down, revisited one page a few days later and finally declared it inedible. It was too cloyingly cheerful, painfully paced, and heavy handed in its plotting. I simply could not see it through. Not for me.
wordstocking 