Skip to main content

Review: Honest June


Written by Tina Wells
Random House, 2021. Fiction. 274 pgs.

A fairy godmother granting you a wish seems like the answer to any problem but June Jackson discovers that being put under a spell can make life more difficult. June is a people pleaser who doesn't see anything wrong with bending the truth if it keeps everyone happy. So June wears clothes her mother picks for her that she detests and she is playing field hockey after school for her father. But what June really wants is to be able to write but she couldn't possibly tell her parents this! But when she is put under a truth telling spell by her fairy godmother, June learns that telling the truth is always the best choice.

June is a delightful spunky character who is very relatable. I could empathize with her feelings since I am also a people pleaser. Growing up is hard and I enjoyed seeing the growth that June made as she learned that being honest and expressing ones true feelings will bring freedom. This was a fun light read that reinforced some good life lessons. A great book for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction with a fun fairytale twist and a pinch of magic.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

An ABC of Flowers

An ABC of Flowers   by Jutta Hilpuesch New York, NY : Philomel Books, [2019] It turns out there really is a flower for every letter. This sweet book has a photograph of every flower and  a sweet cartoon illustration to go along with it. All your favorite flowers are here (forget-me-nots, mums, and sunflowers), along with some you probably haven't heard of before (billy ball, kalanchoe, xeranthemum?).  This is a perfect book for reading together, and readers of any age will enjoy every page. Don't miss this great springtime alphabet book. 

Display: Teddy's Top Picks

  Bear in the Air Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Amy Bates New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010. Picture book. When a teddy bear is lost by the child who loves him, the bear begins an adventurous journey to get back home again. -- Editor Blanket and Bear, A Remarkable Pair Written by L.J.R. Kelly Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013. Picture book. When a boy loses his beloved blanket and bear, they travel a great distance to make their way back to him. -- Editor A Bear to Share Written by Jessica Alba, Nora Weinstein, and Kelly Patricof  Illustrated by Alicia Mas New York, NY : Baby2Baby/Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Tiana loves her teddy bear, Bach. She doesn't mind that he's a little worn and somewhat torn. So when her mother suggests she make room for a new bear, Tiana can't believe her ears! Will Tiana have to lose the one bear she really loves? Or will she find room in her heart for t...

Review: Nell O'Dell Hates Quests

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests By Emily B. Martin Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2026. Fiction. 324 pgs. Unlike her parents, famed ex-questers who founded the inn at the Golden Crossroads, Nell O'Dell has no interest in questing. In fact, she has had quite enough of the hoards of questers who crowd the inn each year. Questing, Nell thinks, is a waste of time. But alas! A government mix-up means that Nell will need to travel to the office of the Exchequer to show her family's deed and save the inn. This important mission couldn't possibly be a quest, could it? How about after the deed is stolen by a mysterious girl with a dragon in the middle of the night? Whether she likes it or not, Nell is on a quest—big time - it's up to her to save the crossroads and protect the future of the world. Part quest fantasy and part satire of a quest fantasy, this series opener is a riotous good time. Nell's dry reluctance to engage in questing makes for a humorous plot point, especially a...