by Joanne Levy
Bloomsbury
July 3, 2012
208 pages
Source: DAC/ARC Tour
Synopsis
After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel. (Taken from Goodreads.)
*I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Opening Line
Despite the suffocating mid-May heat, and the non-breathable fabric of my lavender polyester dress, it was shaping up to be a very good day.
My Take On It
I adore Middle Grade books. Well let me rephrase, I adore GOOD Middle Grade books. If you have read my About Me page, you'll know that once I read Judy Blume, Wylly Folk St. John and Beverly Cleary, my life was never the same. It is always exciting to me to discover a book or author that falls into this specific age group because I firmly believe, based on my own experience, that these books act as a springboard and can encourage a life long love of reading. In other words: never underestimate the importance of good MG literature.
I was initially attracted to Small Medium at Large (which I will now refer to as SM@L after seeing author Joanne Levy do the same) because I have a thing for ghost stories, especially when they involve mediums, seances, Ouija boards and the like. What I was unprepared for was the humor and eerie similarity that SM@L has to one of my fave MG authors: Judy Blume. I'm going to go ahead and say it: I think Joanne Levy has the potential to become the next Judy Blume. SM@L has all the awesome dialogue and humor found in Blume's classics like Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, It's Not the End of the World, and Blubber but has been updated with the addition of a supernatural storyline which is so popular in MG and YA literature today.
Twelve year old Lilah is such an awesome main character. She is precocious and funny, but you know what I like most about her? She acts like a twelve year old girl. In a world of Tween Wonderbra's, Gossip Girl, and the CW, it is SO refreshing to read about a character that acts her age and not like a pint sized high school girl. This book is so PG and I LOVE it. Thank you Joanne Levy for renewing my faith that there are still Tween/ MG girls out there that act this way! In SM@L buying your first bra, holding hands and having your first kiss are the sort of things Lilah Bloom is experiencing and I had a case of perma- grin plastered all over my face as I read.
I love the all the characters in SM@L, including Lilah's lovelorn Dad; her crush, Andrew Finkel; and her group of close friends. But if I had to pick a favorite it would be a close tie between Lilah's deceased Bubby Dora and her boy crazy bestie Alex.
After being struck by lightning, Lilah develops the ability to hear the dead and it is her Bubby, who has been dead for four years, who Lilah hears first. Bubby is sarcastic and a bit nosy. Just what I imagine a typical Jewish grandmother to be. By the way, another thing I love about SM@L is the fact that Lilah is Jewish. Yay! for religious and cultural diversity in MG and YA books! Plus it's yet another similarity to Judy Blume and her MG books!
Bubby is there to help Lilah find someone for her Dad, who still hasn't quite gotten over the divorce from Lilah's mom. Getting her dad back into the dating scene provides some pretty funny and touching moments in the story. Of all the ghosts Lilah encounters, Bubby is my favorite.
And I should also say that this book, though it deals with ghosts and the supernatural, is not at all scary. Most of the ghosts are happy and helpful , with the exception of one, but even that ghost is pretty benign.
In addition to Bubby, I LOVE Alex, Lilah's best friend. Some of my favorite scenes involve these two cohorts. There is a scene where Lilah (with the help of Bubby and another friendly ghost) goes bra shopping. And guess who she encounters after making her purchase? Yep, her school crush, Andrew. Poor Lilah, mortified, tells Alex about this turn of events. Alex tells Lilah not to worry, instead offering this sage advice:
Smart girl, that Alex:)
I just can't express how much I enjoyed this book. I'm no librarian but if I were I would wholeheartedly recommend Small Medium at Large to my MG/ Tween female readership. I'm not quite sure if the book is meant to be the first in a planned series or a standalone, though the door seems to be left open for more supernatural adventures involving Lilah, Alex and the rest. I personally would love to learn more about Lilah and read her adventures as she traverses middle school and beyond:)
4/5 Stars
Check out author Joanne Levy's website here.
Check out some other reviews of Small Medium at Large
Kayla's Reads and Reviews
Hooked On Books
Y.A. Love
I adore Middle Grade books. Well let me rephrase, I adore GOOD Middle Grade books. If you have read my About Me page, you'll know that once I read Judy Blume, Wylly Folk St. John and Beverly Cleary, my life was never the same. It is always exciting to me to discover a book or author that falls into this specific age group because I firmly believe, based on my own experience, that these books act as a springboard and can encourage a life long love of reading. In other words: never underestimate the importance of good MG literature.
I was initially attracted to Small Medium at Large (which I will now refer to as SM@L after seeing author Joanne Levy do the same) because I have a thing for ghost stories, especially when they involve mediums, seances, Ouija boards and the like. What I was unprepared for was the humor and eerie similarity that SM@L has to one of my fave MG authors: Judy Blume. I'm going to go ahead and say it: I think Joanne Levy has the potential to become the next Judy Blume. SM@L has all the awesome dialogue and humor found in Blume's classics like Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, It's Not the End of the World, and Blubber but has been updated with the addition of a supernatural storyline which is so popular in MG and YA literature today.
Twelve year old Lilah is such an awesome main character. She is precocious and funny, but you know what I like most about her? She acts like a twelve year old girl. In a world of Tween Wonderbra's, Gossip Girl, and the CW, it is SO refreshing to read about a character that acts her age and not like a pint sized high school girl. This book is so PG and I LOVE it. Thank you Joanne Levy for renewing my faith that there are still Tween/ MG girls out there that act this way! In SM@L buying your first bra, holding hands and having your first kiss are the sort of things Lilah Bloom is experiencing and I had a case of perma- grin plastered all over my face as I read.
I love the all the characters in SM@L, including Lilah's lovelorn Dad; her crush, Andrew Finkel; and her group of close friends. But if I had to pick a favorite it would be a close tie between Lilah's deceased Bubby Dora and her boy crazy bestie Alex.
After being struck by lightning, Lilah develops the ability to hear the dead and it is her Bubby, who has been dead for four years, who Lilah hears first. Bubby is sarcastic and a bit nosy. Just what I imagine a typical Jewish grandmother to be. By the way, another thing I love about SM@L is the fact that Lilah is Jewish. Yay! for religious and cultural diversity in MG and YA books! Plus it's yet another similarity to Judy Blume and her MG books!
Bubby is there to help Lilah find someone for her Dad, who still hasn't quite gotten over the divorce from Lilah's mom. Getting her dad back into the dating scene provides some pretty funny and touching moments in the story. Of all the ghosts Lilah encounters, Bubby is my favorite.
And I should also say that this book, though it deals with ghosts and the supernatural, is not at all scary. Most of the ghosts are happy and helpful , with the exception of one, but even that ghost is pretty benign.
In addition to Bubby, I LOVE Alex, Lilah's best friend. Some of my favorite scenes involve these two cohorts. There is a scene where Lilah (with the help of Bubby and another friendly ghost) goes bra shopping. And guess who she encounters after making her purchase? Yep, her school crush, Andrew. Poor Lilah, mortified, tells Alex about this turn of events. Alex tells Lilah not to worry, instead offering this sage advice:
"You watch, I bet he (Andrew) likes you more now that he knows you wear a bra."
Smart girl, that Alex:)
I just can't express how much I enjoyed this book. I'm no librarian but if I were I would wholeheartedly recommend Small Medium at Large to my MG/ Tween female readership. I'm not quite sure if the book is meant to be the first in a planned series or a standalone, though the door seems to be left open for more supernatural adventures involving Lilah, Alex and the rest. I personally would love to learn more about Lilah and read her adventures as she traverses middle school and beyond:)
4/5 Stars
Check out author Joanne Levy's website here.
Check out some other reviews of Small Medium at Large
Kayla's Reads and Reviews
Hooked On Books
Y.A. Love
I also LOVE middle grade and need to find time to read more of it. This sounds like a book I would have adored as a kid!
ReplyDeleteIt is so freaking adorable, Jen. Really:)
Delete"I'm going to go ahead and say it: I think Joanne Levy has the potential to become the next Judy Blume."
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Huge praise. I initially passed on this one because I thought it might be too young for me - I really don't do much MG - but maybe I'll give it a read if it's that good.
I know, HUGE! Blume was my fave author growing up and the similarities between she and Levy were uncanny! Makes me wish I had MG daughters to buy this for:)
DeleteThe next Judy Blume?! Holy freaking cow, I'm ALL OVER THIS! Judy Blume is absolutely freaking amazing! That girl got me book crazy and wrote books my whole family adored, and we were closer because of HER! Anyway, enough about Judy...
ReplyDeleteThis book was on my radar already and I love reading MG to my kids so I will definitely put this on the list to buy! Thanks for letting me know that it really is awesome!
Me too! I had the Judy Blume box sets growing up. And when my parents decided to divorce when I was 8, my mom bought me Blume's "It's Not the End of the World" before they broke the news. Her books were such an important part of my childhood:)
DeleteDefinitely a great readalong with your kids, Candace. It's quick and very PG, good for the older elementary set as well as MG-er's:)
I'm so happy you liked this one as well! And thank you so much for linking to my review :D
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome! I try to do that with all my reviews:) Thank you for stopping by to read mine, I enjoyed your's as well:)
DeleteThis sounds like such a great book and I love the fact that a twelve year old acts like a twelve year old. I am sick to death of the fact that 10 year olds act like 15 and 15 year olds like 20 these days! Books and movies are forcing /encouraging kids to grow up way too fast! (For instance one of my 3 jr bridesmaids threw a fit because she didn't want to wear the sandals I had selected for them because they are flats. You see...at 11 she should not have to wear the same thing as the 10 year olds...she's "almost a teen" and needs to wear heels. Sad thing is that that side of the family backs her up (so basically I get to force her to wear matching shoes for the ceremony & pics and then she changes into 3in heels for the reception! ) Oy!
ReplyDeleteOMG-TMI...you obviously struck a nerve! Sorry!!
DeleteBut great review!!
LOL! No, I TOTALLY understand your points, TOTALLY. I don't have any daughters, I've been blessed w/ two boys, but I have two nieces age 10 and 12, and definitely know what you mean. Ad I said in my review, it makes me happy to know that there are still authors out there writing age appropriate books for elementary and MG readers. That doesn't mean they are dumbing anything down, SM@L is very clever and quick, but it's totally PG and dealing with subject matter (like a first kiss, school dances and buying a first bra) that I sincerely HOPE are the most pressing matters for the average 10-12 yr. old girls.
DeleteBtw, good luck with your wedding! Jr. Bridesmaid's drama or not, I'm sure everything will work out in the end;)
I definitely want to read a copy of this one now. It's been hard to get a hold of, but I may just order it for school, I have read so many good reviews. Like this cover much better than the original.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are able to get a copy for your school soon:) And I like this cover more, too!
Delete