Gemma's sister is getting married into a military family. Gemma has also been convinced to audition for the school play. She overcomes a lot in this year but what a wild ride.

I found this to be one of the funniest books I have read in a while. Gemma is great. Her 14-year-old voice is perfect. She has some good moments at the bridal fair (flower girl dresses) and at school and at other's homes. She realizes how shallow so many are including herself. Her dad is a typical dad--embarrassing his kids when not complaining about his lawn and offering advice to others on theirs. Her mom is a typical mom trying to smooth ruffled feathers. Her sister and the 3 R's (read the book) are pains-in-the-behinds. The parents of the others--Nick, Raven, and the groom--give Gemma a contrast to her parents.

I loved the story. I loved Gemma and Raven. I especially loved what Gemma learned over that year on love, family, and people.

I was looking forward to reading this collection of Yeats' poems. I hadn't read anything before, but had of course heard of him. However, I found I was a little bit disappointed, especially by his love-poems. They seemed rather simple to me and either way didn't resonate with me. His poems concerning the situation in Ireland, I liked best in this collection, but I don't think I will be reading more of Yeats.

~Little Black Classics #98~

I enjoyed parts of this book particularly Minn and Jake’s navigation of their friendship, but the misuse of the word hapa means I cannot and would not recommend it. Wong perpetuates the myth that “Hapa = slang for half Asian, half white.” This is not true. Hapa is a word appropriated from Hawaiian by half Asians, and it is inappropriate for Jake to use it as a descriptor for himself. See “On ‘Hapa’ And Cultural Appropriation” for more information (Light, 2009). 

This is a cute little story about a goat that likes human food. His parents ease him into eating goat food (trash) by disguising it as human food. It is a silly story that I am sure will delight children and teachers alike.

Lexile: 490

Reading Level: Pre k- 3rd grade