Review: Bye Forever, I Guess

By Jodi Meadows

New York: Holiday House, 2024. Fiction. 284 pages.

Ingrid just lost her only "real world" friend, Rachel. More like Ingrid realized that Rachel was never really her friend to begin with. If only friendship in real life was as easy as her online friendship with Lauren, who she meets with online almost every day to play their favorite MMORPG, or if talking in person was as easy as it was to text with "Traveler," someone who texted her number by accident. But Ingrid will have to allow herself to be vulnerable with her friends if she wants to find her true community and learn if "Traveler" wants to be more than friends.

This book is a quirky, adorable middle-school romance that deals with the insecurities of gaining and losing friends as a young teen. I loved how it gave validity to the strong friendships that can develop online while emphasizing the importance of internet safety: Ingrid's grandmother regularly communicates with the guardians of Ingrid's online friends and information privacy is kept by the main characters until trust is gained. Overall, readers will love to see Ingrid gain confidence in her worth as a friend and change her perspective.

Comments

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog