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Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · July 15, 2019

REVIEW| OUT OF PLACE

OUT OF PLACE - Book Review

Summary: Out of Place

Cove Bernstein’s life on Martha’s Vineyard isn’t perfect. But at least she’s got her best friend Nina. So even when the other girls call her a dog (for no real reason) and bark at her, she’s alright. She has Nina, and Nina has her. However, when Nina’s dads decide to move to New York to pursue an art career, Cove is crushed and literally friendless. Her mother wants to stay on Martha’s Vineyard forever; she doesn’t even want Cove to leave for a visit to New York.

Things seem to look up when she stumbles on a reality TV show — Create You. Show participants have to sew outfits that represent them and meet the judges’ criteria. Create You is filmed in New York, so Cove hopes that entering the show will be her ticket to reuniting with Nina. There’s only one problem though: Cove can’t sew. In the meantime, the return to school after summer means more bullying.

The Good

This story has a powerful depiction of how bullying affects children. Yet, what I liked is that this isn’t the average “physical bullying” where there’s pushing and shoving. It’s really more mental and emotional. Cove might never have felt physically threatened by the kids who bullied her, but there was enough emotional anguish to go around.

I also liked how well (and yet sensitively) the author portrayed how potent loneliness can be. Cove’s loneliness is a cloud that hovers throughout the entire book. She’s in that in-between age and is constantly looking for a friend, somewhere to belong — you can’t help but ache for her. Toward the end, Cove has to make a moral decision and I just loved how the author handled it.

The reality show element also makes the story interesting, as well as Cove’s being raised by a single parent. More and more kids are in such a situation now. I loved Anna’s character and the role she plays in Cove’s life. Then, finally, there’s Cove and Nina’s pure friendship and how that can evolve when people move.

The Bad

Out of Place left me wanting more about Cove’s mother and her desire to stay where she was. She seemed like an interesting character to explore further. And this story does lag in certain places.

Note: This book also has illustrations, but I can’t comment on them as I listened to the audio. The narrator does well, though, and I’d recommend it, if you’re deliberating.

Overall: Out of Place

Out of Place by Jennifer Blecher is a delicately woven slice-of-life novel about bullying, friendship, and wanting more out of life. This novel perfectly captures what it’s like to be an almost-teen who feels out of place in her world. It also explores how kids can cope when a best friend moves away. If you’re looking for a moving summery novel with unlikely friendships and character growth, you’ll enjoy Out of Place.


Buy This Book

cover of out of place by jennifer blecher


Other Books Like Out of Place

  • Rules of the Ruff by Heidi Lang
  • Wonderland by Barbara O’ Connor
  • Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Have you read this book? What did you think? What are your favorite bullying-related books? I’d love to know!

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Comments

  1. Carol says

    July 15, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    Important topics! 👍

    Reply

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✨how ‘bout a little virtual reality?✨

☀️ Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He's working on research to use VR for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

🥽 I loved the illustration style in this one and while I found the VR setting a bit disorienting, I appreciated the unique lens of the story. The graphic novel format works brilliantly for helping readers appreciate the power of VR. I think with text, it would have just been too much “world-building.” This is more engaging and exciting for kids.

🐢 Lo and Behold is a clever middle grade graphic novel about virtual reality, grief, and parental addiction. Readers who enjoy VR will love this one, but as the Author's Note mentions, it will also be a fantastic introduction for those who, like me, aren't familiar with it. A fun summer read with hints of serious themes.

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✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨ 🗺 ✨surprisingly heartwarming middle grade✨

🗺️ Ginny’s summer is thrown off when her dad gets a surprise redeployment in the middle of their family’s moving to another city. Then, her geography camp gets canceled. Her sister seems to be making new friends, but no one appears to like Ginny–even when she starts her own geography camp. 

❤️ I loved this book way more than I thought I would (from the synopsis). Ginny has such a great voice and she isn’t always the most likable character but she’s always real. I loved watching her grow throughout the story.

📍This sweet, unique young middle grade book made my heart grow and ache for Ginny and her family as they navigated a season of change. Features illustrations and a new geography fact in each chapter.

#amreading #mglit #middlegrade
My current adult reads! HAPPY TRAVELER is a non- My current adult reads! 

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HELLO BEAUTIFUL is a bookstagram darling (need I say more?) and I already know I’ll be reading it for a while. It’s one of those books that really forces you to slow down. The writing is so tender; it feels like the author loves her characters ❤️

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✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨ 🤓 ✨growing up is full of bumps on the way✨

🤓 Sixth grade is off to a rocky start for Rex. His district moved most of his elementary school to another middle school, his best friend ditches him for the popular crew, and his blurry vision means he has to get clunky new glasses–the only kind his family can afford. 

❤️ This sweet graphic novel for fans of Telgemeier is an ode to middle school, family, and finding your people.

#graphicnovel #middleschoolbooks #kidlit
Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find Do you like to hop on the “buzz train”? I find that buzzy books are often worth the hype. Even the few people who dislike them tend to have STRONG feelings about them 👀 which to me is a sign that the story got to you somehow. Of course, not every book is for every reader — hype or not. I share my tip for finding a hyped book that matches your reading tastes.

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✨a different kind of sunshine✨ I loved this g ✨a different kind of sunshine✨

I loved this graphic memoir about the author’s time as a counselor at a camp for kids with cancer. It was my first time reading anything by this author and I totally get the appeal.

This one didn’t end up being as sad as I thought it would be but it was very moving, especially because Krosoczka shares newspaper clippings and pictures of one the families with whom he forged a particularly close relationship even until his college years.

If you’re looking for an engaging graphic memoir for older kids ages 11+ this is a great choice.

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✨a devastating debut✨ This book! Brilliantly ✨a devastating debut✨

This book! Brilliantly written, impressive characterization, and a plot so unexpected. It left me physically shaken (it's not feel-good), but it feels so necessary, so timely. A solid debut about the search for the great American Dream, familial sacrifices, and confronting our ugly inner selves -- all in less than 300 pages. 

You'll like this if you like:

Multiple perspectives (3 perspectives, 3rd person POV)
Character-driven stories
Time-jumping plots
Devastating endings

If you prefer straightforward, plot-rich, fast-paced stories, you might struggle a bit with this one at the start. But it's worth it!

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Hi, new followers! It’s such a pleasure to have a few new faces around. I love finding new readers to follow on the gram. 

My name is Afoma and I run a book blog called Reading Middle Grade. I also run a Facebook Group and newsletter related to my blog. In my day job, I’m a freelance writer and editor, with a degree in medicine.

I’ve lived in three continents (born in Nigeria, med school in Ukraine and the Caribbean). I live in Nigeria now with my husband and many, many books 🤭 I love to cook and travel and run. This year, one of my goals is to become a better runner. I’m currently able to run 2K without stopping. 

Even though we don’t have traditional four seasons in Nigeria, the summer months are my favorite. From childhood, they were the one time when my overachieving, perfectionistic self could RELAX. And do nothing! And even now, I try to take time off in the summer to do nothing.

Some of favorite books this year have been LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU, THE LOST YEAR (I lived in Ukraine for 3 years, so this resonated with me!), and MAAME. 

Thank you so much for following my reading journey! Tell me something about yourself — hobbies, favorite books, anything! ❤️
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