I thoroughly enjoyed this author team's first book, Mustaches for Maddie, that I read last year.
Their newest promises to be another delightful read! You can find my thoughts on it below...
Their newest promises to be another delightful read! You can find my thoughts on it below...
SquintMiddle School Contemporary
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 256 Pages
October 2nd 2018 by Shadow Mountain
Summary
My name is Flint, but everyone in middle school calls me Squint because I’m losing my vision. I used to play football, but not anymore. I haven’t had a friend in a long time. Thankfully, real friends can see the real you, even when you can’t clearly see.
Flint loves to draw. In fact, he’s furiously trying to finish his comic book so he can be the youngest winner of the “Find a Comic Star” contest. He’s also rushing to finish because he has keratoconus—an eye disease that could eventually make him blind.
McKell is the new girl at school and immediately hangs with the popular kids. Except McKell’s not a fan of the way her friends treat this boy named Squint. He seems nice and really talented. He draws awesome pictures of superheroes. McKell wants to get to know him, but is it worth the risk? What if her friends catch her hanging with the kid who squints all the time?
McKell has a hidden talent of her own but doesn’t share it for fear of being judged. Her terminally ill brother, Danny, challenges McKell to share her love of poetry and songwriting. Flint seems like someone she could trust. Someone who would never laugh at her. Someone who is as good and brave as the superhero in Flint’s comic book named Squint.
Squint is the inspiring story of two new friends dealing with their own challenges, who learn to trust each other, believe in themselves, and begin to truly see what matters most.
My Review
SQUINT is a story about insecurities, the imperfections of life, the influence one person can have, and finding out who you are and letting others see it. It is a fantastic journey, full of heart and humor. Highly recommended to elementary through high school kids, and even adults!
This book was so very, very good! I loved Flint from the start. I have my own vision problems so I could somewhat relate with the frustration that comes from that. However, anyone could relate to the different social roles or hierarchy of middle school, with all the insecurities and trying to fit in. Then there was McKell. She was also a really good character. She was trying to fit in with the popular crowd who didn't always act as they should and figuring out if she could be accepted as herself. Then there's this whole other situation with her brother, his challenges, and how she develops a friendship with Flint. I loved, loved their friendship! I also loved the character development and some of the discoveries Flint makes about himself and those around him.
As I said, this story is full of humor and heart. It's also has some sadness. There are some tough things these characters work through. I went in with fairly high expectations. I expected it to be fun and sweet, with some depth (as their last book was). What I loved was that it well exceeded my expectations. This is a Middle Grade book... and it made me cry. It's well-written, with fabulous spot-on characters (they got middle school down perfectly), and a story that is full of so much heart. What's not to love?
In the end, was it what I wished for? This story seriously exceeded my expectations. A humorous, fun, emotional moving story! Highly recommeneded!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.
About the Authors
Chad Morris would love to be able to control animal avatars, see history in 3D, and show everyone how he imagines stories. Since the inventions that would make that possible currently exist only in his imagination, he settles for reading, writing, playing basketball, rappelling down an occasional slot canyon, dating his wife, and hanging out with his five awesome kids. Chad speaks Portuguese, can play the Phineas and Ferb theme song on the guitar, and does decent impressions of a velociraptor and Voldemort—but not at the same time. He isn't very good at fixing his car, shopping for anything, cooking, or growing hair.
Shelly was born in Portland Oregon but spent most of her growing up years in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a child you could usually find her wearing a swimsuit and bouncing between the pool, the beach, and her family's ski boat.
She has always loved children and books so it made sense when she started writing books for children. In her spare time she helps her husband, author Chad Morris, write MORE children's books. In her extra-extra spare time she loves the theater, history, kdramas, and traveling. She is also one of the worst tap dancers you will ever meet. But she does it anyway.
She has no regrets, one husband, three chickens, five children, and sixty-four Pez dispensers.
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