Addie Bell’s Shortcut to Growing Up

by Jessica Brody

Everyone makes wishes. Addie's wish just happens to come true.

Seventh grader Addie Bell can’t wait to grow up. Her parents won’t let her have her own phone, she doesn’t have any curves, and her best friend Grace isn’t at all interested in make-up or boys. Then, on the night of her twelfth birthday, Addie makes a wish on a magic jewelry box to be sixteen…and wakes up to find her entire life has been fast-forwarded four years! Suddenly she has everything she’s always wanted (including a driver’s license and a closet full of cool clothes)! But Addie soon discovers that a lot more has changed than she expected—including her friendship with Grace. Can Addie turn back time and take back her wish…or has she lost the chance to experience what could have been the best years of her life?

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fiction, Friendship

350 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Jessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, Amelia Gray is Almost Okay, A Week of Mondays, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, the Unremembered trilogy, and the System Divine trilogy which is a sci-fi reimagining of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, co-written with Joanne Rendell. She’s also the author of the #1 bestselling novel-writing guides, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel as well as several books based on popular Disney franchises like Descendants and LEGO Disney Princess. Jessica’s books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. She’s the founder of the Writing Mastery Academy and lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.

Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody

Reviews

[Sandhya Menon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is from my eight-year-old daughter who reads above her grade level. She finished the book in three days, and this is what she thought:

I liked that Jessica added a lot of detail and that there's magic. Addie learns a lesson and can go back in time. There are a lot of morals. She loses her best friend Grace when she turns sixteen and she wants to go back to the way things were before she used the magic box to turn sixteen. It has some funny parts like when Addie says Connor's breath smells like farts! I want to read more books by Jessica Brody in the future!

[Gouri Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgosh this was so good!!💖💖
It is sad but has the best happy moments as well…❤️
It is fantasy but looks real…❤️
It is about betrayel but friendship as well…❤️

I really loved this one!!❤️ It is about a girl , Addie Belle who is just about to turn 12. But she wants to be 16 very badly, wanna use her sister’s makeup, wanna hang out with her best friend, Grace and wanna own a dog. One day, her neighbour, Mrs.Toodles gives her a magical box, and tells her that if she writes a wish on a paper and put that paper in the box and lock it with the special brass key, her wish will come true💕

This was just what I NEEDED!!💖 I really loved the writing style, the magic, the cute realtionships and the friendships💕💕 Addie learns a very important lessons towards the end. It has a very happy ending!!😊 AND THIS WAS SOOO FAST PACED!!❤️❤️

I loved it!!❤️

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story that reminded me of 13 Going on 30. I thought that this book was better than that movie, though. This story was funny and sweet, and the MC was likeable. Also, I liked Jacob/JT and Grace.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lustige Teenager Geschichte für die junge Generation - doch auch mir hat es zugegeben einfach sehr Spaß gemacht, das Buch zu lesen. Für alle die etwas wie die Filme "30 über Nacht" oder "17 again" brauchen.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addi wanted me to read this. It was really cute and nostalgic and a little bit sad. Growing up too fast is just not it.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addie Bell wants nothing more than to be sixteen like her older sister, Rory, who wears makeup, is popular, and has a boyfriend. After she and her best friend Grace have a fight on her twelfth birthday, she makes a wish using a special jewelry box given to her by an elderly neighbor, and everything changes. When she awakens the next day, her wish has been granted, and Adeline has everything she ever wanted. However, as she quickly realizes, having missed out on those four years between twelve and sixteen leaves her at a serious disadvantage. Not only does she not know how to drive her car or put on makeup or even pull together and outfit, but she doesn't really understand how to deal with boys or how to flirt. And the trigonometry and French she should know after studying the subjects for years? Forget it! Adeline is completely lost. While she certainly is popular and her best friend is Clementine Dumont, someone who barely gave her a glance in her earlier days. Although her outward appearance proves that she is sixteen, at heart Adeline is just as innocent as a twelve-year-old could be expected to be. Over the next few days, she comes to realize that many things have changed in her family and the world around her, and she doesn't even recognize herself. Grace is nowhere in the picture, and Clementine is annoying beyond words. The story is amusing, and if nothing else, it might serve as a cautionary tale for some girls longing to grow up faster than they need to. After all, once those early teen years and that innocence are gone, they're gone forever. Many middle graders will be able to relate to Addie's feelings of annoyance as she squirms at the thought of still participating in what she starts to consider to be babyish activities and yet is not quite ready for older, more mature activities. Jessica Brody knows her teens and her reading audience well and delivers the story with her usual sure-handedness.

[Jill Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about 12-year-old Addie who wishes she was 16. Addie watches her older sister (who is 16) and just knows that being 16 holds all the freedom and fun that she longs for. She wants to be pretty, popular, and experience all the exciting things she sees her sister is doing. When Addie's wish mysteriously comes true, she has to learn to navigate life as a 16-year-old, with no memory about the intervening 4 years! This means she has no idea how to handle trigonometry, speak French for class, or even how to find her locker. Worst of all, her best friend at 12 is no longer her best friend - or even speaking to her - and she has no idea what happened. Addie has to solve all of this while trying to maintain life at 16 - not an easy feat!

This is my first Jessica Brody book and now I have no idea why. Her writing is fantastic and the story was so much fun. I liked Addie from the first page and even though I knew the story was going to be a bit painful, having to watch Addie blunder through things, it was fun at the same time. The character grows a lot through the pages and it was a satisfying read overall. Now I'm off to check out all of Brody's other books!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up

Jessica Brody has done it again. She’s one of my favorite authors, and this might be my favorite middle grade book ever. It was so cute, with vibes of 13 going on 30. There was less romance than I would have liked (because he was great and I loved him) and it didn’t seem feasible that 12 year old Addie (in 16 year old Addie’s body) could teach herself to drive using only YouTube videos, but those were my only complaints. I loved Addie’s relationship with the old lady Mrs. Toodles, I loved Grace, and I loved the love interest. Addie had a lot of growth as well.

I can’t wait for Jessica Brody’s next book.

[Emily Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and enthralling middle grade read that will remind you of 13 going on 30 and sixteen wishes.

[firmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!!

It is a lot like Jessica Brody's other book, A Week of Mondays. Both were amazing! I think I might have liked this one better...

[Midnightdraws · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good it just makes sure you don't overuse power to me at lest

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adeline Bell hates so many things about being 12 years old. She doesn't have a dog, her parents always call her by her childish nickname "Addie", her 16 year old sister never wants to hang out, and even her best friend Grace wants to keep doing childish things. Addie wants to grow up. Fast. When her elderly neighbor gifts her with a magical wish-granting jewelry box Addie scoffs at the idea but still puts her wish inside anyway: "I wish I was 16". In a story that is an adorable mix of movies like Freaky Friday, Click, 13 Going on 30, and Big; Addie discovers that skipping 4 years might mean she has a dog and a stylish new bedroom decor; but she also doesn't REMEMBER anything from that 4 year gap. Which makes French class a nightmare and driving a crashing-disaster. Plus? It looks like she's not even friends with Grace anymore but instead seems to be a minion on the Mean Girl's squad! Maybe being a high schooler isn't all it's cracked up to be. Addie has to work to figure out who this 16 year old version of herself IS and has to decide if it is really the sort of "her" she'd ever want to become. And if she ever wants to undo this wish; she'll need to find the long-lost key to that magical jewelry box. This is sweet and nostalgic and very fun.

Anything you didn’t like about it? It's predictable and not a deep read and the awkward/embarrassing moments might make you cringe while you're laughing but overall it is charming, light, and easy to get sucked into

To whom would you recommend this book? (Read-alikes if you can think of them) Middle schoolers dreaming of being older will really enjoy this but also young high school readers could enjoy a bit of nostalgia about the days of wishing they were older and the pros/cons that Addie finds during her time as a 16 year old.

FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Amanda Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Addie was all about taking shortcuts in life and wanted to go from being 12 to 16. Little did she know that her wish would not be everything that she had hoped for. Everything changed so much and not good changes either. She did not like the changes to her new life. Addie realized throughout this book to appreciate the moment for what it was and enjoy the present instead of always thinking about the future so much. She realized her wish was a big mistake. In the end everything turns out to be ok and just the way Addie wants it to be.

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

bahahahhaa i read this like three times when i was like six because it was the only this i had in my kindle. i remember thinking i was so cool when i found out how to say trigonometry in this book 💀💀💀💀

[foxy books · Rating 5 out of 5]

INHALT:
Sechzehn über Nacht

Addies zwölfter Geburtstag ist eine einzige Katastrophe – niemand nimmt sie ernst, alle behandeln sie wie ein Kind! Als sie sich von einem Wunschkästchen wünscht, endlich sechzehn Jahre alt zu sein, geschieht das Unglaubliche: Am nächsten Morgen ist sie sechzehn, sie hat den lang ersehnten Hund, jede Menge Make-up und einen mega beliebten YouTube-Channel. Wie cool ist das denn!?
Doch Addie merkt schnell, dass ihr vier Jahre älteres Ich ihr fremd ist und so gar nicht dem entspricht, wie sie sich selbst sieht. Eins ist klar: Sie muss so schnell wie möglich in ihr altes Leben zurück! Aber wie?

Eine rasante Komödie über das Erwachsenwerden.

Quelle: Fischer Verlage

BUCHINFOS:
Einmal Teenie und zurück* | Autor: Jessica Brody | Seiten: 400 | Einband: gebunden | Erschienen am: 22.08.2018 | ISBN: 978-3-7373-4102-8 | Preis (D): 14,00€ | Verlag: Fischer KJB

COVER:
Das Cover passt wie die Faust aufs Auge zur Thematik. Ich persönlich finde es ein kleines bisschen zu kitschig, kann mir aber vorstellen, dass es für Mädchen in der entsprechenden Altersklasse auf jeden Fall ansprechend ist.

MEINE MEINUNG:
Addies 12. Geburtstag ist der absolute Reinfall und langsam hat sie es echt satt, dass jeder sie wie ein Kind behandelt. Wäre sie doch nur endlich sechzehn, so wie ihre ältere Schwester Rory – dann sähe die Welt ganz anders aus. Rory hat einen Freund und ein Handy, jede Menge Schminke und total coole Klamotten. Addie ist sich daher sicher: mit sechzehn ist das Leben viel einfacher. Als Addie dann von ihrer Nachbarin ein altes Wunschkästchen geschenkt bekommt, wünscht sie sich also nichts sehnlicher, als endlich sechzehn zu sein. Und obwohl sie nicht an diesen Hokuspokus glaubt, ist sie am nächsten Morgen gleich vier Jahre älter. In ihrem neuen Leben hat sie einen Führerschein, tonnenweise Schminke und Klamotten und einen eigenen YouTube-Channel. Mega cool, oder? Was anfangs noch toll ist, wird aber schnell zu einer Art Spießrutenlauf und Addie muss erkennen, dass sie für ihr 16 jähriges Ich noch nicht bereit ist. Bloß wie kommt bekommt sie ihr altes Leben zurück?

Die Grundidee des Buches ist absolut nichts Neues, aber ich mag diese unbeschwerten Geschichten, die vor Lebensfreude und Realität sprühen, echt gerne. Der Einstieg in das Buch ist mir daher auch recht leicht gefallen und ich konnte mich mit Addie und ihrer Situation wirklich gut identifizieren. Wem von uns ist es denn nicht auch schon mal so ergangen? Ich wette, jeder hat sich schon einmal gewünscht älter zu sein, weil das ja so viel cooler ist. Doch während am Anfang nahezu alles perfekt erscheint, kommt die Einsicht schnell. Addie vermisst ihre alten Freunde, ihre Familie und das, was sie mal gehabt hat. Ich fand es super, dass die Autorin auch die Kehrseite gezeigt hat und Addie sich wirklich bemühen musste, um ihr altes Leben zurückzubekommen.

Das Buch hat mich auf jeden Fall überrascht, denn ich habe mit einer klischeehaften Teenie-Story gerechnet, die zu einem gewissen Teil auch hier zu finden ist. Aber der andere Teil des Buches ist um einiges intensiver. Das Buch schildert eine zauberhafte Geschichte über Freundschaft und das Erwachsenwerden und lässt dabei auch die Hindernisse und Stolpersteine nicht aus, die wir wohl alle kennen. Letztlich vermittelt die Autorin eine wichtige Botschaft: Bleib du selbst, verändere dich nicht für andere und genieße deine Jugend.

Erzählt wir das Buch aus Sicht von Addie, die mir sehr sympathisch war. Aber auch insgesamt hat mir die Zusammenstellung der Charaktere gut gefallen. Ich mochte Addies Familie, ihre beste Freundin Grace und selbst die Schulzicke, die zwar absolut das Klischee erfüllt, aber definitiv zu so einem Buch dazugehört.

Der Schreibstil ist flüssig und packend, weshalb ich das Buch auch an nur einem Nachmittag verschlungen habe. Der Handlungsverlauf ist zwar nicht spektakulär, aber stellenweise sehr humorvoll. Ich wollte immer direkt wissen, wie es weitergeht und konnte das Buch deshalb nicht aus der Hand legen.

BEWERTUNG:
Ein schönes, humorvolles und vielleicht auch inspirierendes Jugendbuch mit toller Botschaft.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this book, mostly because it seemed like it was going to be a shallow romp through middle school drama, and the very idea of reliving middle school drama did not sound at all appealing to me. And, while it's true that I no longer worry about middle school social drama, I do remember what middle school and high school felt like, allowing me to really relate to the character of Addie.

Though Addie's wish is to grow up as fast as possible, my wish at that age would've just been to fit in and have friends. I remember wanting to learn how to drive (I later learned that it's actually not fun at all), but I otherwise enjoyed being young and not having to worry about adult problems. I suppose many of us would like to go back and relive the days when we could be care-free, and to relive the moments we once took for granted. This is likely why this book struck a chord with me, as it reminded me of who I used to be and helped me to reflect upon the things I might do differently if I was granted a magical do-over.

The plot of the story seems very similar to 13 Going On 30, where a young girl wishes she could be an adult and wakes up to realize she's become one overnight. It also gave me a bit of a Freaky Friday vibe, but without the body swapping. I've always loved the idea of playing with time and "What Ifs," and how different things might be if a single decision in someone's life was changed. This story sucked me in from the very start, making me wonder how Addie would come to realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

While I was never in a hurry to grow up (change has always terrified me, and I love the familiar and comfortable), I related to Addie in a real way, wanting to be prettier and cooler and fit in with the popular kids at her age. Addie's story also left me feeling a twinge of regret for the friendships that faded over time in my own life, as I was as close to some of them as Addie is to Grace. While I'd like to say that I don't have many regrets, this book made me reflect on the past and the idea of nostalgia, something I'm sure the author alsp had in mind while she was writing it.

Even though this is far less dark than some of the stories I've read (especially the historical fiction), I couldn't help but tear up a little at some parts of the book. I could really feel Addie's pain, and was so invested in her story that I couldn't put it down. I imagined myself in her shoes, waking up to find that four years had passed and I was a completely different person. The magnitude of this loss would be hard for anyone to grasp, especially a 12 year old girl. The author does an excellent job of making Addie relateable and believable, even to adults who will remember feeling like Addie at some point in their lives.

I would highly recommend this book to any young girl who is eager to grow up as quickly as possible, if only to remind her that there are some pretty awesome perks to being little, even if they aren't always obvious. This book also helps to illustrate that things only become more complicated the older we get, reminding us to cherish the simplicity of childhood while we can. This book is great for lovers of both realistic fiction and fantasy, as it incorporates elements of magic into a story about a girl who just wants to find a "shortcut" to growing up. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the idea of nostalgia through this book, and I'm very glad I picked it up!

[The1selectioner]

Addie Bell wishes she was turning 16 instead of 12. Maybe then she wouldn't be such a freckle faced nobody, but rather, a cool and popular somebody like her big sister Rory. After a fight with her best friend Grace, Addie is so desperate for change that she wishes on a magical jewelry box. She wakes up the next day and discovers that she traveled four years into the future. Shocked and elated, Addie eagerly starts learning about her new life. The more she uncovers about herself the less she likes the person she's become, a realization that leads her to question everything she thought she wanted. This adorable middle grade debut by YA and adult author Jesscia Brody, is packed full of humor and heart.

Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up has become one of my favorite middle grade cutesy contemporaries. It was such a fun and happy read for me. The pacing and writing of the novel was solid and despite it's lack of originality, I still really enjoyed the plot. Mrs. Brody really put a spotlight on Addie and her journey (more so then other authors I've read), which I didn't mind because I really enjoyed reading from Addie's perspective. She's relatable, upbeat and likable. It was fun to follow her as she tried to deal with teen situations, such as driving, flirting and dancing, as these often led to uncomfortably awkward and sometimes hilarious encounters. I thought the author did a really good job at portraying how a 12 year old would realistically handle these situations. It was also refreshing to read about a girly-girl character since these days it's becoming less and less common in literature. The supporting cast worked well together. J.T. was such a tenderheart. Mrs. Toodles was a kind and rather eccentric old lady (I quite enjoyed her relationship with the protagonist). Grace was relatable and a great best friend to Addie. Honestly I don't think there was a character in the book that bothered me, even the villain (who I didn't like) wasn't that bad.

A big theme in the novel is the importance of enjoying your childhood and not racing through it. This pervasive issue is sadly not being talked about nearly enough. I think it was an excellent choice to put this life-lesson in a middle grade novel since kids at this age in particular are targeted by societal and peer pressures to grow up as quickly as possible.

All in all Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up is a fantastic middle grade contemporary novel that I'd recommend to fellow contemporary lovers, older middle grade readers and anyone looking for a fun lighthearted read.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Addie Bell hasn't been happy with some of her parents' rules lately. She can't wear make-up, straighten her hair, or have a cell phone, and despite her relentless begging, her parents won't allow her to have a dog. And when she and her longtime best friend, Grace, get into a big fight on her birthday, she finds herself wishing she could just skip the next four years and finally be sixteen, just like her big sister Rory.

When she writes down her wish and locks it inside the jewelry box her neighbor gave her, she never expects it to actually work.

But to her surprise, it does, and she wakes up the next day to find that she's sixteen!

At first, it seems perfect! She's got her own car, a drawer full of make-up and a ton of cute clothes, and her best friend is popular girl Clementine Dumont!

But as the days pass, she slowly starts to realize how much she missed. She has no idea how she became friends with Clementine, she doesn't know anything about driving (or flirting), and worst of all, she and Grace aren't friends anymore. Despite finally getting what she wanted, Addie wants nothing more than to go back and fix things with Grace... and she can, if she can find the key to the jewelry box.

Addie really reminded me of myself when I was twelve. There were times that I wished I was older so I could do the things my sister did at sixteen. (But driving, unfortunately, is still out of the question for me, since I am completely blind.) There were times where I thought, "Wow. Middle school is the worst. Can't I just skip over it and go to high school?" But now that I'm in high school, I sometimes wish I could go back, just like Addie did.

This book addresses a really important theme. Living in the moment really does matter, because there are some things that we just can't get back once they're gone. We all have our bad days, of course, but just because you've had a bad day doesn't mean that every day will be as rough as that one was. By living in the moment, you can experience so much more. But if there really was a way to skip over parts of life that we didn't want to experience, we would be missing out on a lot.

Overall, I think that this book has a really powerful message and is great for middle-schoolers. Oh, and also, if you liked the Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass, you'll probably like this too.

And that concludes my five paragraph essay of a review. Thanks for reading.

[Kelly Gunderman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!

Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up was an interesting book, and to be honest, probably one of the first middle grade-young adult crossover books that I've ever read. I wasn't sure it was supposed to be geared more toward middle graders, since the Addie Bell in the beginning of the book is twelve, or if it was more aimed at the young adult crowd, since the majority of the book focused on sixteen year old Addie, but I could definitely see this book appealing to both age groups.

Addie Bell is about to turn twelve - and she isn't too happy about it. She longs for the days when she is a teenager, like her older sister Rory, so that she can wear makeup, have a cellphone, drive a car, and stop dressing in the babyish clothes that line her closet. It doesn't help that her best friend is still somewhat "childish" - wanting to have tea parties and do their school assignments on fairy tales. Addie Bell is so over this - she doesn't know how much longer she can handle it.

When her neighbor, Mrs. Toodles, an elderly woman with whom Addie spends plenty of her time, listening to stories, having cookies, and drinking lemonade, gives her a birthday gift - a story and a jewelry box that Mrs. Toodles tells Addie has the power to magically grant wishes, Addie thinks that Mrs. Toodles can't possibly be for real. A jewelry box that grants wishes? There's no way. Right?

When Addie and her best friend Grace have a falling out at a slumber party, Addie wonders how much more of this she can possibly take - she seems to be a sixteen year old stuck in a twelve year old's body. So before bed that night, she writes down her wish "I wish I was sixteen" on a piece of paper, and locks it in the jewelry box.

When she wakes up, her whole world is changed. Addie is no longer twelve years old, in the same babyish bedroom with the little kid clothes and no curves. Addie Bell wakes up to find out that she's actually sixteen years old, in a room full of awesome furniture, cute clothes, makeup, and a dog - something she has been wanting for years and that she hasn't been allowed to have.

"This is the glamorous, uninhibited, greatly improved life of sixteen-year-old Adeline.
It's like someone has unlocked the door and let me out of my prison cell. Someone has finally set me free.
And I have a feeling it's going to be amazing."

So Addie, who now likes to be called Adeline, apparently, is tossed into this world where she is sixteen. Not only is Addie just sixteen - but four years have passed since she made that wish on her twelfth birthday - meaning time kept going, and Addie missed it all - she missed growing up, she missed seeing her sister go off to college, and she even missed getting her puppy. Sure, there are photos of Addie during all these times, but the twelve year old Addie wasn't actually there for any of it.

In fact, more has changed than she expected - for one, she and Grace are no longer friends. Second, she is one of the most popular girls in school, friends with the "mean girl" Clementine. They have a successful makeup/hair/nails vlog that they run together, too, and this Addie has plenty of guys after her - seven of them asked her to a school dance, and she turned down every one of them. But is her friendship with Clementine all it's cracked up to be?

So while Addie struggles to make sense of the world she is living in now (for example, she isn't even sure how to pronounce trigonometry, let alone actually know how to do it), she tries to figure out exactly how to fix things that got all messed up in the past four years - like how she and Grace ended up not friends, and why she hates her.

Addie Bell's Shortcut to Growing Up is a really cute book, definitely light and fluffy. I'd like to say that there isn't anything deep or any meaningful messages in this book, but that would be a lie - there's a strong underlying message about friendship being worth more than anything, and it's easy to pick out - I believe this will resonate will with younger readers, making sure they know that they shouldn't be in such a hurry to grow up, but instead to enjoy every moment of their lives while they go along.

I guess sometimes even adults need to be reminded of this too - as we often spend our lives wishing for the next exciting thing to happen, instead of appreciating all the little moments as they come along.

There's a lot of family interaction in this book, which is a positive thing to note as well. Many books for young adults and middle graders seem to be based on horrible family drama or having the family absent from the story most of the time, so it was a really nice change of pace to see a strong family bond.

Also? This book is really funny. I seriously laughed a lot while reading this. I wasn't really expecting any laugh out loud scenes or anything, but they were definitely there, even when I wasn't expecting it.

This is the first book that I've read by Jessica Brody, even though I have a few others, and I definitely enjoyed it. As I stated earlier, I really do believe that this book will appeal to readers of all ages, and the important messages in the book will be sure to stick with you!

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review - Thank you!

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the movie "13 going on 30. Both were about middle school students who became older after making a wish on a magical item. Only in the movie, the magic came from "magic dust" on a dollhouse, while in the book it was "The Box of Hidden Dreams." The "Box of Hidden Dreams," was given to Addie by her eccentric neighbor Mrs. Toodles because she has "magic in her heart." The way it works is that Addie wrote down a wish to be sixteen and locked it in the box.

Addie made the wish because she had a terrible twelfth birthday. She wore an embarrassing mermaid dress, got orange goo on it after a failed science experiment, and then got sprayed by a shook can of grape soda.

Addie envies her classmate Clementine Dumont because she is looks more mature and gets to wear makeup unlike Addie. Addie also envies her sister Roy because she can drive, wear makeup, and dates mature boys.

When Addie wakes up the day after her birthday to finds that she is the sixteen year old she always longed to be. At first, Addie believes it is a dream come true. She has a dog, straight (non-tangled) hair, a car and driver's license, a redesigned room, tons of makeup, and goes by her real name Adeline.

But Addie soon realizes the drawbacks of skipping four years of her childhood. For one, while she has a license, her twelve-year old brain is terrified and confused once she actually gets behind the wheel the first time. Due to skipping four grades, she doesn't understand subjects like French or trigonometry. She also doesn't know how to apply makeup and does it horribly the first time around. More personally, she finds that she missed her sister graduate high school and she is currently away at Rice University. She also finds out that Grace is no longer her best friends, but rather Clementine.

Addie spends the story trying to figure out why her and Grace stopped being friends and if they can be again. The story also explores the themes of nostalgia, growing up, and the challenges of life at any age.

[Mia]

Addie Bells shortcut shortcut to Growing Up is an adventurous heartwarming Story by Jessica Brody. The story is about an 11 year old girl who wants to be 16, so she could have an amazing life like her sister, when she gets a magical box on her 12th birthday and makes a wish, her wish comes true. She woke up sixteen, with a new room, new friends, and a whole new life. She realizes that she has lost so much of her life, not just four years, but memories and life changing moments. She then realizes she should have my moments. She didn't realize that you should have never made the question first place.
This is a great book because I feel like people can relate to thinking other people have a better life than them just because of how old you are or the way they look. The secondary characters are very important in this book because without them, the story wouldn't be anything. For example, her crazy neighbor who gives her the magical box, also your best friend is no longer her best friend when she's 16, so she doesn't want to be 16 anymore. The plot of the story is a girl who doesn't want to be felt. Which is relatable to people, especially Middle School. Also seems very important because it is about not wanting to hear stuff which is very relatable. The author wanted to make a message that everybody's perfect just the way they are and they shouldn't change for anyone or any reason.
I recommend this to people who don't want to be themself, because they were both with the same problem. I also recommend this to all middle graders in general because this is a book that must have are related or related. Lastly, I recognize this to people who like adventurous, life-changing, and magical because this is what happens in the book a table strip to Growing Up.

[reenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The short version of how I feel about the book and my review told through emojis: 😌🙂😶😮😵😑😐😕🤨😒🙄🤓🙃🙂😌
The long version of how I feel about the book and my review told through actual words:
Ah yes, the stereotypical book of when a girl magically falls into an alternate universe. At first, she's in love and slightly confused, but then she starts to realize how lovely her original life is, and she finds her way back to her normal reality. This isn't the first kind of book I 've read like this, but I haven't read a book where she doesn't just flip positions or wealth, but ages.
It was cheesy and sappy at moments, but endearing. I haven't read an actual book that you hold in your hands for a long time since I'm lazy and I prefer ebooks.
Ms. Jessica Brody did an exceptional job at showing the longing of growing up and the irritations of being a preteen and not old enough for anything. I like that she analyzes what fuels a relationship with a certain someone. She does a beautiful job at showing childhood innocence and a happiness that can't be replicated or forgotten.
I like that Adeline falls for the quirky, nerdy guy instead of the popular, shallow jock. It made me smile and chuckle a few times, but it didn't particularly move me to any emotion.
Happy Tuesday! Hope your day is going well. And if it isn't, I hope that tomorrow or sometime in the near future, it gets better. Because I promise that it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon.
with love,
Reenie
💋

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with a nice moral, although a rather simplistic read in terms of plot.

In this book, Addie Bell is a 7th Grade girl just wishing she could grow up. Her older sister, Rory, makes her feel like being 16 would be perfect-- no problems! Just lots of boys, lots of friends, and makeup. And since all Addie wants is to stop feeling so immature and young. So when she has the chance to make a wish with a magical box, of course she makes one!

But what Addie realizes is that being 16 isn't as easy as it seems.

This book is a nice read for any middle-school aged girls who wish they were in high school already, or feel like their age doesn't fit with the person they are. Although there appears to be a deus ex machina and the plot lacks in complexity, it has a good moral: appreciate the age that you are, and don't take anything or anyone for granted!!

It was also filled with a lot of humour and I found myself laughing out loud at times. The author's writing is very engaging and fun-- although I found myself rolling my eyes at the immaturity of even the sixteen-year-olds in this story (particularly their obscene use of emojis when they text each other! It's incomprehensible, insensible, and exhausting, and completely unrealistic). Sometimes I couldn't tell the difference between the twelve-year-olds and the sixteen-year-olds in this story!

This book is funny, thoughtful, and a nice read for middle-schoolers. Although I didn't appreciate it as much as I could have, it was still a very good read and perhaps a finer example of middle-school novels aimed towards girls.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brody, Jessica Addie Bell's Shortcut To Growing Up, 349 pages. Delacorte Press, 2017. $17. $17 Language: G (0 swears 0 ‘F) Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG.

It all started with Mrs Toodles, when she gave Addie the la Boite aux Reves Caches (a jewelry box). Addie wanted to be sixteen and grow up fast. While Grace, Addie's best friend wanted to be a girl and not grow up so fast. When Addie's birthday came she and Grace had everything planned out. But everything went wrong when Addie and Grace got into a fight. Addie makes a wish that changes everything. She wakes up in a different time that she does not recognize. All the drama, adventure, and boys in her life change everything. Can Addie fix this or does she stay like this forever?

What I liked about the the book was the friendships that they had with the characters. How even when they did not have the slightest idea what is going on they look for each other. They try, and no matter what happens they stick together. The friendships are so filled with life that it makes the book so much better.

EL - ESSENTIAL 7th Grade Student Reviewer NM
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Lily Bellmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addie got a jewelry box from her neighbor Ms. Toodles. she says its magic but she says things like that all the time. on her birthday Addie loses her best friend in a fight. she makes a wish. for it to work you must right it on a piece of paper! then hind the key somewhere special. on that piece of paper she wrote "I want to be 16" but without hiding the key! She needs to survive her new life and on the get home. I liked how there was so much drama in the book. How her twelve year old mind and sixteen life were so mixed together. That she makes mistakes that a sixteen year old would never even thought about doing! But I wished she had just use plan logic to solve and somethings that were such bad ideas I wanted to scream!

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's just like she took the movie 30 going on 13 and made it 16 going on 12. I mean, not very original, but I enjoyed the cringe well enough.

הייתי רוצה להגיד שהספר הזה ילדותי בטירוף וממש לא ככה מתנהגות ילדות בנות 12, אבל מרגיש לי שאני אשקר לעצמי ��ז אני לא אגיד את זה. מה שכן, זה היה קרינג' אבל ממש במידה הנכונה. אולי חוץ מהסצנה של הריקוד עם ההוא החתיך, אני ליטרלי הייתי חייבת להכריח את עצמי לקרוא את זה כי זה היה פשוט טו מאץ'.
למי שגדל על הסרט פתאום 30, זה ליטרלי זה בפתאום 16. זה כזה כיף לשקוע טיפה בבעיות דביליות בטירוף של גיל 12, אני לא יכולה להסביר כמה נחמד זה היה לי.
מתאים למי שרוצה משהו חמוד שלא דורש מחשבה ולמי שמתבאס על זה שהוא אדם מבוגר ורוצה להיזכר למה הוא צריך לשמוח שהוא עבר כבר את התקופה הזאת בחייו.

[17EllaP6 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addie is a quirky character. All she wants it’s to be 16, but when that happens she loses everything she loved before. She has a 4 year memory gap she Dosent know the time between her 12th birthday and the 16 year old Adeline Bell life she lives now. She goes by Adeline instead of Addie because that’s baby like. Addie learns and important lesson. Join Addie through an funny, sad and hard journey.

[Kerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 While this is definitely 13 going on 30, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think the lesson on nostalgia is an important one and I hope that middle schoolers will appreciate the idea that if you try to enjoy your present you might not long so much for the past when you get older. It's been done, but I'd enjoy seeing this as a movie. Mostly to see Addie tell Connor that his breath smells like farts.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book, Addie is LITERALLY an immoral person; then, in the middle of the book, she is starting to regret everything she has become, then at the end, she is a totally changed person! 😃😃😃 The plot and conflict are so juicy 🧃, and this is as interesting as Harry Potter! Reading this brings a full range of emotions; funny, sad, happy, nervous, excited, etc. I love that this is a slow-paced book and the emojis!!! 😜😃🤩 THIS WOULD MAKE AN AWESOME MOVIE!!! 🎬🍿

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is freaking adorable. Definitely pre-YA, since Addie is very much mentally twelve throughout the book. TBH, it should be in every primary/middle school library and taught in schools because it is brilliant, accessable, and for once, the protagonist is in the wrong AND acknowledges it, and attempts to make amends, as well as questions and reflects upon her shitty behaviour.