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Spotlight Sprinkles
Making Waves
A girl meets the perfect boy on the first day of a cruise only to lose track of him on the ship in this latest installment in the tween middle grade rom-com series, Spotlight Sprinkles!
Emma is so excited for summer vacation to officially start. She’s going on a cruise with her family for five amazing days! The first day they board the boat, the most awesome thing happens. She meets Justin, who is probably the cutest guy ever. And he’s smart and nice and Emma thinks he might like her!
But between drama with her twin stepsisters and being busy making new friends on the boat, it’s hard to find Justin anywhere. And Emma doesn’t think he’s even going to the farewell dance! Will she be able to talk to Justin before the trip is over?
Emma is so excited for summer vacation to officially start. She’s going on a cruise with her family for five amazing days! The first day they board the boat, the most awesome thing happens. She meets Justin, who is probably the cutest guy ever. And he’s smart and nice and Emma thinks he might like her!
But between drama with her twin stepsisters and being busy making new friends on the boat, it’s hard to find Justin anywhere. And Emma doesn’t think he’s even going to the farewell dance! Will she be able to talk to Justin before the trip is over?
160 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 12, 2026
Wait…
This might actually be my favorite in the series. Does the romance happen fairly quickly? Yes, but I think that this will work well with tween readers who are fans of the “love at first sight/insta love” trope. There are also some great conversations about the complications that come with blended families including moments of grief for what was. This was well done!
This might actually be my favorite in the series. Does the romance happen fairly quickly? Yes, but I think that this will work well with tween readers who are fans of the “love at first sight/insta love” trope. There are also some great conversations about the complications that come with blended families including moments of grief for what was. This was well done!
September 4, 2026
Thank you Simonkids for the gifted copy.
Emma is going on her first cruise with her dad, step-mom and step-sisters Lucy and Hannah. On the first day, she meets Justin but when her step-sisters cause drama it thwarts her plans to hang out with him. Will they get to spend time together before the cruise ends? Will Emma and her step-sisters get along?
This is a cute starter romance for tweens. The romance is very mild - she thinks Justin is cute, they dance and there’s a brief kiss on the cheek.
I also liked that Emma deals with the changes in her family and her step-sisters lashing out. She has to find her voice and confidence. I will always support books that show young girls you’re beautiful the way you are - in this one Emma is tall but eventually comes to like this attribute.
There’s a good mix of drama, humor and feel-good.
Guest reviewer:
It was really interesting and exciting. I didn’t like that the characters were buying pictures of each other when they barely knew each other, it was weird.
Emma is going on her first cruise with her dad, step-mom and step-sisters Lucy and Hannah. On the first day, she meets Justin but when her step-sisters cause drama it thwarts her plans to hang out with him. Will they get to spend time together before the cruise ends? Will Emma and her step-sisters get along?
This is a cute starter romance for tweens. The romance is very mild - she thinks Justin is cute, they dance and there’s a brief kiss on the cheek.
I also liked that Emma deals with the changes in her family and her step-sisters lashing out. She has to find her voice and confidence. I will always support books that show young girls you’re beautiful the way you are - in this one Emma is tall but eventually comes to like this attribute.
There’s a good mix of drama, humor and feel-good.
Guest reviewer:
It was really interesting and exciting. I didn’t like that the characters were buying pictures of each other when they barely knew each other, it was weird.
July 25, 2026
Our Middle Grade Book Club just tackled motels, secrets & high-seas romance & let’s just say the kids & I have some major thoughts! 🏨🚢✨
As the adult leader of this wild book club, I’m always on the hunt for stories that spark real conversation while keeping the kids glued to the pages. This month, we paired the heartwarming, powerful Front Desk by Kelly Yang with the ultra-fun, breezy Making Waves by Lee Heart, and it was an absolute hit!
First, we dived into Front Desk. Mia Tang is officially our book club's new hero. Managing a motel front desk at ten years old, helping her immigrant parents hide others in empty rooms & dreaming of being a writer despite her mom's doubts? It’s phenomenal.
My Take: I was so moved by Yang's honest portrayal of the immigrant experience, systemic struggles & sheer resilience. It's an essential, beautiful read.
The Kids' Verdict: They couldn't get over how brave Mia is! One of our members said, "I can't even remember to clean my room & Mia is literally running a whole motel & outsmarting the mean owner, Mr. Yao!"
Then, we completely shifted gears for some pure, sweet fun with Making Waves! This cute middle-grade rom-com follows Emma on a family cruise where she meets the perfect boy, Justin, on day one... only to lose track of him amidst step-sibling drama & cruise activities.
My Take: It’s lighthearted, nostalgic & captures that innocent, chaotic energy of tween crushes & family vacations perfectly.
The Kids' Verdict: It was non-stop giggles. They loved the cruise ship setting & were actively rooting for Emma to find Justin before the big farewell dance. As one of our readers put it, "This book made me want to go on a cruise immediately, but I'd definitely make sure to get the boy's phone number first!"
Both of these books brought so much joy, empathy & excitement to our club discussions this month. If you have a young reader in your life, these two are absolute must-adds to their bookshelf!
✨️ Thank you, Simon Kids & Scholastic, and the authors for sharing these books with us!
As the adult leader of this wild book club, I’m always on the hunt for stories that spark real conversation while keeping the kids glued to the pages. This month, we paired the heartwarming, powerful Front Desk by Kelly Yang with the ultra-fun, breezy Making Waves by Lee Heart, and it was an absolute hit!
First, we dived into Front Desk. Mia Tang is officially our book club's new hero. Managing a motel front desk at ten years old, helping her immigrant parents hide others in empty rooms & dreaming of being a writer despite her mom's doubts? It’s phenomenal.
My Take: I was so moved by Yang's honest portrayal of the immigrant experience, systemic struggles & sheer resilience. It's an essential, beautiful read.
The Kids' Verdict: They couldn't get over how brave Mia is! One of our members said, "I can't even remember to clean my room & Mia is literally running a whole motel & outsmarting the mean owner, Mr. Yao!"
Then, we completely shifted gears for some pure, sweet fun with Making Waves! This cute middle-grade rom-com follows Emma on a family cruise where she meets the perfect boy, Justin, on day one... only to lose track of him amidst step-sibling drama & cruise activities.
My Take: It’s lighthearted, nostalgic & captures that innocent, chaotic energy of tween crushes & family vacations perfectly.
The Kids' Verdict: It was non-stop giggles. They loved the cruise ship setting & were actively rooting for Emma to find Justin before the big farewell dance. As one of our readers put it, "This book made me want to go on a cruise immediately, but I'd definitely make sure to get the boy's phone number first!"
Both of these books brought so much joy, empathy & excitement to our club discussions this month. If you have a young reader in your life, these two are absolute must-adds to their bookshelf!
✨️ Thank you, Simon Kids & Scholastic, and the authors for sharing these books with us!
August 8, 2026
I loved this book! The perfect romance for middle grades. It has girl drama (specifically, step sister drama), with a little bit of “first love“ woven in.
I especially liked it because the main focus of the book is really the dynamics between the protagonist and her newly blended family. Her dad just got remarried, and she now has a set of step twin sisters. I do like that aspect, as I feel there may be a fair number of girls experiencing similar life situations. Add in a cruise ship and a crush, and it makes for a fun, entertaining read! Sure to satisfy reluctant readers and those who love to read all the same.
I especially liked it because the main focus of the book is really the dynamics between the protagonist and her newly blended family. Her dad just got remarried, and she now has a set of step twin sisters. I do like that aspect, as I feel there may be a fair number of girls experiencing similar life situations. Add in a cruise ship and a crush, and it makes for a fun, entertaining read! Sure to satisfy reluctant readers and those who love to read all the same.
June 23, 2026
So sweet. It wasn't easy to go on a first trip/cruise as a family honeymoon. Two families become one but the twin sisters are not all taking it well. Breaking rules and betraying make it all worse. The two older sisters are twins, and the youngest is really tall and wants to be friends with everyone, including Justin. Lucy, one of the twins, is handling the family growing badly. I am glad the parents reassure their children and that the kids take changes and try new things.
July 30, 2026
The sole reason I did this book as a "2 Star" is because I am not the audience for it. And so I only found the book okay. However. I know PLENTY of my readers who will enjoy reading this book--it's a clean read about a blended family on a cruise together....and one girl's crush on a boy. Young love.
June 8, 2026
this book is amazing with so many details and surprises
Making waves is a really good book because it has so many details, family adventures, people Changing and so much more
I LOVE THIS BOOK
Making waves is a really good book because it has so many details, family adventures, people Changing and so much more
I LOVE THIS BOOK
June 8, 2026
4.5 Stars- Read on my own and probably finished it in one day. I finished it at night reading with my book light. I enjoyed everything expect the whole divorced parents aspect.
June 1, 2026
I enjoyed this vacation cruise book that I read while on a cruise. It reads/ sounds like (on the audiobook) like a modern Cinderella retelling for middle graders.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews