Sorry if it took me almost two months before finally having the guts to lift this book off my TBR pile since I really have a lot in that pile (as usual! haha) and with this flu I’m battling with, I can finally catch up with my reading goals.

Being the 27th book to read this year, I decided to delve into some great middle grade reads and chose this one I got from PRWF. Here’s my review:

This light read has been a priority in my TBR since this one’s written by a fellow Filipina, Erin Entrada Kelly, who is a writer based in the US. I’ve been eyeing this read since it promises diversity and representation and overall, the story did not disappoint. Focused on the struggles of children in the middle school, this book tackled a lot of relatable stuff like being bullied, friendship issues, and family misunderstandings. The entire plot and pace felt comfortable to read and I didn’t have a hard time finishing this since it included a lot of Filipino references (and Beatles songs as well!) and what made this read more influential is the empowerment it gives to its readers that is to speak out to whoever bully you are facing and never speaking out is not the answer.

In general, this read is really suited to middle grade readers and to everyone who are experiencing oppression in any forms because this read will surely empower you to stand up against those who harass you and fight for what is right. That’s all for this review!

Best Quotes:

“Sometimes, when you have pain, that’s what you have to do—just keep playing until it goes away.”

“It’s funny how something can be a big part of your life, and then you can forget it’s even there.”