Believe

With tons of heart, thought and emotion, this is a journey of a girl finding herself.Melanie is a fifth grader, who keeps to herself and doesn't fit in with the rest of the kids. During one of the regular bullying sessions, she finds a new friend at her side. This friend is exactly the push she needs to gain courage not only to stand up for herself but also to learn who she is and what she even wants. Melanie also begins the journey of healing as she takes the hunt for her missing mother into her own hands...one that leads to a few surprises along the way.Melanie is a lovely girl, who has shielded herself off from others. Her awkwardness is endearing but not as much as her heart of gold. Her very active imagination is what will capture readers as she tries to fiddle her way and find her place in the world. But then, fifth graders will easily relate to how awkward fitting in or standing out can be.The story shines thanks to two main twists. The first one is already clear in the first pages, but young readers probably won't pick up on it for quite some time. It adds a nice touch which had me smiling. The second is also a bit predictable, but it definitely adds the intriguing punch. Especially the ending picked up pace and edged this closer to a four star review, but it wasn't quite enough.This read is short and entertaining. Young readers will find quite a bit to sympathize with and feel connected to. The ideas of bullying, learning who you are, friendship, loss, overcoming certain fears, and embracing family are all wonderful messages and perfect for the intended age group. While so much is included, I found myself skipping paragraphs again and again...and still, had no trouble keeping up with the tale. Also, this is placed in the 1980's. The author brings in quite a bit of pop-culture from that time, and while she does take the time to explain the important references, I'm not sure it will interest this age group or resonate with them.All in all, this is a lovely tale with tons of goodness. I'm sure the right reader will enjoy it quite a bit.

Muy buen libro a mi hermana le encantó.

This was such a beautiful story of one young girl’s journey of overcoming and coping with loss. I loved the main character and her wonderful spirit. She has such an imagination that shines throughout the story. I felt the author wrote a very intriguing story that had me hooked from the start. I wouldn’t quite recommend this to a younger audience. I felt like it might be better understood from a slightly older audience. However, I do highly recommend this book. It’s definitely at the top of my favorites I’ve read this year.Final Rating: 5 Stars

The author's astute handling of grief, and perceptive navigation of the beginning stages of friendship touched my heart. It has several moments where I was verklempt, both with joy and sadness. The characters' emotional journeys are well-crafted.Overall, this was a tenderhearted story of an insightful and imaginative girl that you will adore. I'm looking forward to more lovely writing from this author!

I don't usually read books that make me cry, but this book earned the right. Melanie's story gripped me from the first page with the powerful range of emotion you usually find only in real life. The story is unique and specific, but it resonates with a broader sweep of humanity. Reading the book felt like a real-life experience, and I am richer for having read it.

This book really kept me guessing about Mel's friend Susan and what happened to her mom. It was a real page turn that had a great ending.

I think this is definitely an amazing book that I will definitely read again i would definitely recommend this book to friends and family😍😘😋

Pitch-perfect story about the curse and the blessing of an outsized imagination! I was totally engaged in Melanie's saga throughout, and Mathison absolutely nailed the 1980 setting. Highly recommended for tweens, teens, and adults!

A poignant coming of age story with a good helping of captivating mystery. 11-year-old Melanie is being bullied. She finds a way to cope with the hard days by using her imagination. The main themes of the book are grief, friendship, and trust; all things that 11-year-olds are learning about as they grow up. Believe is a great book for middle-grade readers to enjoy.