Middle Grade Review: Confessions from a Group Chat

Virginia has three best friends, but she doesn't always feel that they're friends. Virginia hasn't found her niche yet. Her friends pigeonhole her, making it hard for her to grow. In reality, Virginia hides her hobbies from her friends because she knows they won't "approve" because her hobbies are not cool. After a terrible fight, her friends leak her mean texts from the group chat on a school social media account run by students.

Viriginia knows it was wrong to make those comments. And most of them she didn't even mean. She felt pressured by her friends to be someone she doesn't want to be. Luckily, she has the help of her older sister and a new friend to guide her through this friendship crisis. 

My Thoughts: This one has ALL the friendship drama. I just wanted to give Virginia a hug. She had terrible friends (who were really bullies/mean girls). I loved her relationship with her new friend whom she texts when things go sideways.  They have great chemistry. I love the public librarian and how she tried to steer Virginia in different directions. I love how Virginia started playing around with photography and had conversations with her former friend about pictures. I loved the text messages in this one. This book was hard to read at times, but I also didn't want to put it down. Can't wait to see what Jodi Meadows writes next.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Why I Read This: I adored Bye, Forever I Guess by the same author

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have for school and public library collections

Review: Orphan Queen

* First in a duology*

Wilhelmina is a princess without a homeland. Years ago, her parents were murdered in front of her eyes. A boy helped her escape her kingdom unharmed. Now she and a band of her people hope to take back her land.

Wil and her BFF Melanie forge documents and impersonate two ladies to gain access to the palace of her enemies. Will must complete tasks and uncover secret information to bring back to her team.

She meets the Black Knife in the city. The vigilante's already suspicious of her. The more time she spends with him, the more she stops viewing him as a threat.

With two secret identities to keep, Wil know she's only at the palace for a limited time. She only hopes that she isn't discovered and thrown to the wolves. She can't let her people down...

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - learning why Wil didn't have a homeland, the magical creatures destroying the land, and how she infiltrates her enemies castle. I loved her sense of loyalty and love, but how she also had lines that she would not cross.  I liked her thieving ways and her interaction with the Black Knife. 

I liked her friendship with Melanie - even though they had their moments of distrust. I'm interested to see how the exiled Princess will move forward with regaining her kingdom. 

Cover Thoughts: Impressive
Source: Sent for Review

Final Thoughts: I can't wait to read The Mirror King - to uncover what happens next.

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