Bea is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard

How I Heard About It:
*I've been a fan of Lindsey Stoddard's since her novel Just Like Jackie.  I was excited to hear she had a new middle-grade novel coming out in May of 2021.  I was even more excited when #bookexpedition was able to get a physical ARC of the book.  The novel recently arrived and I spent a couple of days enjoying the story of Bea and her family.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Bea has loved her life with her mom and her soccer.

*All that changes when her mom marries a man with three sons.

*One of the sons is in Bea's class and also plays soccer.

*When a new school year starts, a new girl moves in across the street from Bea, and the girls want a soccer team of their own, life gets very interesting for Bea and her new family.

*A story of family, friendship, and standing up for what is right and deserved.  

What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*I loved the story of Bea, her family, and the kids at school.  

*This middle-grade story has it all:  strong characters, strong plot, and strong desire to turn the page.

*The life-lesson of children standing up for what they believe in is at the center point of the story.

*I so enjoyed the journey Bea and her new brothers took and the changes that occurred from the start to the end of the story. 

*Lindsey sure knows how to capture the heart of a middle-grade reader, and those adult readers looking for the best stories to share with young readers.  

Who Should Read It:
*I would love to see Lindsey's new novel in all classroom libraries from grade three all the up to grade six.  Middle-school readers would also be a target audience for the book.  I can't wait to add another Lindsey Stoddard novel to my classroom.  Happy Reading!  


Rating:  5 STARS out of 5 Stars