Criss Cross is a book where nothing really…’happens’. There’s no big plot, not really any conflicts- It’s just a group of young teens and their summer experiences in the same town.

I read this first around middle school and enjoyed it, but now in hindsight, I think I enjoyed the illustrations sprinkled throughout and some of the flowery language more than the actual book itself.

Not a bad book, just kind of boring. It’s like watching a Ghibli film with all the conflict, drama, and serious plot cut out and leaving all the slow, quiet, domestic parts remaining. Might be a good book to lend a middle grade kid who wants to feel artsy-fartsy for being able to read flowery, long sentences.