Hello! I'm Afoma.
  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

  • Book Reviews
    • Picture book
    • Chapter Books
    • Middle-Grade
    • Graphic Novels
    • Young Adult
    • Adult Fiction
    • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Book Lists
    • Picture Book Lists
    • Middle Grade Book Lists
    • Book Lists by Theme
    • Book Lists by Grade
    • Audiobook Recommendations
  • Join My Newsletter!
  • Go to the Blog
  • Summer Reading

Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · March 11, 2021

Review | Reckless Glorious Girl

 Reckless Glorious Girl - Book Review

Summary: Reckless Glorious Girl

Reckless Glorious Girl is Ellen Hagan’s new middle grade verse novel. Beatrice lives with her Mawmaw (her grandmother) and her mom in Bardstown, Kentucky. Her father died in an accident months before she was born.

The book is set the summer before seventh grade and Beatrice is trying to figure out who she wants to be. Although she has two great girlfriends, she’s curious about what life would be like with the popular girls. She’s also crushing on a boy named Rodney, while wishing her more athletic frame (from her Mawmaw) will blossom into a more “womanly” figure. Then, her mom starts dating a not-so-nice guy who thinks they should move to a bigger city.

The Good

I LOVED this book. As with all novels-in-verse, I was suspicious at the start, but Beatrice’s story won me over. It was all the women for me. Her Mawmaw who loves gardening and dancing and cooking LUSH meals — Mawmaw who loves everything homemade. Her mother who envied Beatrice’s easy flow with her grandmother and is trying to make a life for herself outside of widowhood and a busy career. Beatrice’s fiercely-loving girlfriends who had her back every second of the way.

This book is harder to describe because it is an introspective, slice-of-life book. We follow Beatrice through all her longing and soul searching. Still, it wins because it is so atmospheric. Ellen Hagan’s most poetic scenes are in her vivid descriptions of the South, all the food Mawmaw makes, and Beatrice zipping along on her purple bike.

I would, however, recommend this for a slightly older crowd, ages 10 and up. The kids play spin the bottle and crushes are a big part of the discussion throughout the story.

Overall: Reckless Glorious Girl

Reckless, Glorious, Girl is a quintessential coming-of-age story about a girl whose community of women helps her find herself. Set in the US South, this verse novel is chock-full of lush nature, mouthwatering cooking scenes, exuberant sleepovers, and stomach fluttering crushes. If you enjoy introspective heroines and stories centering grandparents, warm female friendships, and the grief of losing a parent you never met, this is the book for you.

Buy This Book

Reckless Glorious Girl - Book Review

I received an eARC of this book from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review.

More Verse Novel Reviews

  • Red, White and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
  • Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
  • Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Have you read this book or any book by Ellen Hagan? I really like her writing! Verse novels FTW, so excited to read more!

Don't Forget to Share!

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pocket
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn

Related

Posted In: Book Reviews, Middle-Grade · Tagged: coming of age, Female friendships, food books, grandparent stories, novel-in-verse, tween crushes

Join My Newsletter

Like what you just read? Sign up for my Friday kidlit newsletter!

Privacy Policy

You’ll Also Love

Review | In the Beautiful Country
Review | Just Right Jillian
Review | Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes

What do you think? Leave a comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

Review | Amina’s Song

About Me
Hi, I'm Afoma! Thank you for stopping by. Learn more about me here.

Get 2 Months Free on Scribd


Follow on Bloglovin’

Follow

We’re Social Too!

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Stock photos courtesy of our partners at DepositPhotos 📸
✨a suspenseful middle grade book✨ ✨chapter books worth reading!✨ Welcoming a second baby? Here’s a delightful picture book with tips for big kids. Although there’s more text in this one than I’d like for a typical picture book, I love that the information is factual and can be very helpful for parents tackling these specific questions with their big kids ❤️ ❓What happened to Rachel Riley❓ As much as I love new releases, I like to make room in my reading plans for books released a couple (or more) years before. Here’s my current backlist stack for 2023. ✨life’s easier when you can be yourself ✨
  • Blog
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Reading Middle Grade · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...