Review Detail

Emma McKenna is the first in a new series featuring different authors giving voice to different students in the new third-grade class at Curiosity Academy. The events flowed at a nice pace over the course of the first few days of school. Emma was such a relatable character. She is nervous and excited to start at a new school. She has suffered from bullying and that has taken a toll on her self-confidence but with the support of her new friends and friendly staff she faces her fears of speaking in front of the school about her school mascot choice.
There were many humorous incidents throughout that endear us to Emma’s character. There is some drama potential when Lucy, her former best friend and bully ringleader from her old school, ends up being in her class. I liked that this book was lighthearted and did not become a drama-filled book. Not engaging in the drama had my daughter turning pages to find out why Emma considers Lucy her enemy. It does finally reveal the reason and does have a small encounter that is the start of a neutral existence between these former friends.
Overall, this was a fast-paced read with a few illustrations throughout keeping the Middle-Grade reader engaged. There were many relatable events, especially for anyone who has changed schools before. I like the focus on working together, finding your strengths, and finding alternatives to making competitions so that everyone can belong. I highly recommend this book, especially for reluctant readers, third graders, and anyone who has changed schools. This looks like a stellar author lineup and I like the story potential from diverse perspectives in the upcoming books of the series.