*I've had this middle-grade novel in my TBR pile for quite some time. I never got to reading the actual physical copy, but ended up downloading it on Audible and taking in the story in that format. The listening experience was enjoyable, entertaining, and engaging.
What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*Seventh grade is hard for all kids, but especially Will who gets teased relentlessly because of his physically different looking chin.
*He has learned to deal with the other kids at school by ignoring them, hiding at home, and spending time with his turtles.
*During his community service project for his bar mitzvah, he is assigned to help an older boy named RJ who is in the hospital.
*As the two boys get to know each other, they slowly reveal bits of pieces of themselves. Will isn't use to having a friend, but finds himself changing and growing because of RJ.
*When RJ shares his bucket list with Will, Will finds himself completely "tasks" that he never thought he would participate in or accomplish.
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*The audio of the story was quite good. The author actually narrated his own story which was awesome to listen to.
*There are a lot of themes in this big novel: friendship, acceptance, risks, loss, and so much more.
*The friendship between Will and RJ was special, deep, and life-changing.
*As I reader, I learned quite a bit about the Jewish faith and what goes into a bar mitzvah.
*The supporting cast of characters were an integral aspect of the story and brought such life and energy to the overall story.
Who Should Read It:
*This is an excellent middle-grade story. I think it could be used as a class read aloud in grades four, five, or six. The story would also be received well by the middle-school audience. The book is rather long so if an individual reader were to take on the story, they would need to have strong and solid stamina. The plot is personal, thought-provoking, and quite emotional. Because of these factors, I believe adult readers would enjoy the story as much as young students. Happy Reading!
Rating: 4 STARS out of 5 Stars
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