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Ava and Pip #3
Ava XOX
Return to the world of Ava and Pip in the third book in the series, featuring the beloved diary format and strong, spunky Ava…this time during Valentine's Day! This installment follows Ava as she discovers her first crush, deals with a friend being bullied, and learning the power of words (and how to be careful with them).
Love is in the air―and Ava thinks she's allergic.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and Ava couldn't care less. That is, until a new girl, Kelli, asks out Ava's friend Chuck…and he says yes! What?!? Ava is NOT okay with this. But since when does she think about boys? For the first time ever, words fail Ava. She isn't sure what she's feeling (Like? Love? Friendship? Frustration?), or what "going out" even means. After all, fifth graders aren't allowed to go anywhere by themselves, are they?
To top it off, Pip's friend Tanya is being bullied for her size. Ava wants to help―but, uh oh, it's not as easy as she imagines.
Pick up Ava XOX if you are looking for:
A relatable story perfect for family discussion
Books on growing up for 10 year old girls
Books on first crushes for tweens
Reluctant readers
Aspiring writers
Love is in the air―and Ava thinks she's allergic.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and Ava couldn't care less. That is, until a new girl, Kelli, asks out Ava's friend Chuck…and he says yes! What?!? Ava is NOT okay with this. But since when does she think about boys? For the first time ever, words fail Ava. She isn't sure what she's feeling (Like? Love? Friendship? Frustration?), or what "going out" even means. After all, fifth graders aren't allowed to go anywhere by themselves, are they?
To top it off, Pip's friend Tanya is being bullied for her size. Ava wants to help―but, uh oh, it's not as easy as she imagines.
Pick up Ava XOX if you are looking for:
A relatable story perfect for family discussion
Books on growing up for 10 year old girls
Books on first crushes for tweens
Reluctant readers
Aspiring writers
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
31 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Carol Weston
25 books89 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Carol's newest novel, SPEED OF LIFE, is for ages 11+ Starred reviews: Kirkus, PW, Booklist, SLJ. New York Times: "perceptive, funny, and moving." Newbery medalist Richard Peck calls it "wonderful." Julia Alvarez says, "You won't want to put it down." Carol is also the author of AVA AND PIP, AVA AND TACO CAT and AVA XOX, (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), a series about a fifth grade "word nerd." NYTBR says AVA AND PIP is "about sisterhood, but it's also a love letter to language." (nyti.ms/1ggyDHV) Carol has been "Dear Carol" at Girls' Life since 1994. Her first book, GIRLTALK (HarperCollins) was translated into 12 languages. A Yale grad with an M.A. from Middlebury, Carol has been a guest on Today and The View and loves visiting schools. The author of The Diary of Melanie Martin series (Knopf), her fan page is: www.facebook.com/writercarolweston. She posts helpful videos at www.youtube.com/girltalkwithcarol. She and her husband live in NYC, and have two daughters and a cat. twitter.com/carol_weston
Carol's newest novel, SPEED OF LIFE, is for ages 11+ Starred reviews: Kirkus, PW, Booklist, SLJ. New York Times: "perceptive, funny, and moving." Newbery medalist Richard Peck calls it "wonderful." Julia Alvarez says, "You won't want to put it down." Carol is also the author of AVA AND PIP, AVA AND TACO CAT and AVA XOX, (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), a series about a fifth grade "word nerd." NYTBR says AVA AND PIP is "about sisterhood, but it's also a love letter to language." (nyti.ms/1ggyDHV) Carol has been "Dear Carol" at Girls' Life since 1994. Her first book, GIRLTALK (HarperCollins) was translated into 12 languages. A Yale grad with an M.A. from Middlebury, Carol has been a guest on Today and The View and loves visiting schools. The author of The Diary of Melanie Martin series (Knopf), her fan page is: www.facebook.com/writercarolweston. She posts helpful videos at www.youtube.com/girltalkwithcarol. She and her husband live in NYC, and have two daughters and a cat. twitter.com/carol_weston
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 7, 2017
Ava and Pip is a cute series for girls (9 - 12) about siblings, writing, being creative, looking for your strengths, friendship and more. The family loves words and language. They especially love palindromes, words that spell the same forward and backward. Their father is a play-write and he encourages his daughters to use their strengths.
The main character in the book, Ava, is spunky, very smart, outspoken at times, quiet at others, sensitive and caring. This book has a new set of problems and emotions for Ava to deal with. It is coming up to Valentine's Day and Ava starts experiencing new feelings for her best guy friend, Chuck. Is this her first crush? When she hears the news that Chuck is suddenly going out with a very bubbly, pretty and popular classmate we see a side to Ava that is not the nicest. She becomes jealous and starts thinking, writing and talking about Kelli in a negative way without really getting to know her. There are also other issues going on with Pip and her friends that Ava becomes involved with and gets her into some trouble with the older girls. We follow Ava along as she tackles serious issues including newly developed friendships, trust, feelings of inadequacy, body issues, and bullying.
These books are very relateable. The problems are real and although not the most pleasant to deal with, children do have to deal with them. The solutions in the story are also ones that would work in real life, although perhaps not that quickly and easily. The characters in the books, including the secondary ones, are well developed and all play an important role in the story. Not only would I recommend this book, but the whole series. They are age appropriate, deal with real and topical situations, promote writing and reading in a positive light and help girls to realize that it is okay to be strong, feisty, smart and work hard to fulfill your dreams. A wonderful series for every family, public, school or classroom library.
The main character in the book, Ava, is spunky, very smart, outspoken at times, quiet at others, sensitive and caring. This book has a new set of problems and emotions for Ava to deal with. It is coming up to Valentine's Day and Ava starts experiencing new feelings for her best guy friend, Chuck. Is this her first crush? When she hears the news that Chuck is suddenly going out with a very bubbly, pretty and popular classmate we see a side to Ava that is not the nicest. She becomes jealous and starts thinking, writing and talking about Kelli in a negative way without really getting to know her. There are also other issues going on with Pip and her friends that Ava becomes involved with and gets her into some trouble with the older girls. We follow Ava along as she tackles serious issues including newly developed friendships, trust, feelings of inadequacy, body issues, and bullying.
These books are very relateable. The problems are real and although not the most pleasant to deal with, children do have to deal with them. The solutions in the story are also ones that would work in real life, although perhaps not that quickly and easily. The characters in the books, including the secondary ones, are well developed and all play an important role in the story. Not only would I recommend this book, but the whole series. They are age appropriate, deal with real and topical situations, promote writing and reading in a positive light and help girls to realize that it is okay to be strong, feisty, smart and work hard to fulfill your dreams. A wonderful series for every family, public, school or classroom library.
February 19, 2022
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2022: A Book with a Palindrome Title.
This is the third Palindrome Titled book.
I was so pleased with the final book of this series. Ava learns lessons in every book , she is 11 in this book and seems to grow the most. You read about friendships, loves( good book for valentine), heartbreak. It also has bullying and much more. 3.4🌟
This is the third Palindrome Titled book.
I was so pleased with the final book of this series. Ava learns lessons in every book , she is 11 in this book and seems to grow the most. You read about friendships, loves( good book for valentine), heartbreak. It also has bullying and much more. 3.4🌟
May 15, 2016
I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Ava is back! So delighted that this girl is getting more and more books about her life, about growing up, and about words.
And this time we got a whole group of new situations happening in her life. Just as is the case with each book, this book also features several real life problems. For instance we have jealousy, bullying, weight problems, people being way too sensitive about the word fat (and maybe this sounds mean, but I am frankly getting tired of people being so oversensitive about stuff, there is no need. Let everyone be in their own value, no need to freaking bully a little girl over the word fat, while she is just trying to help.)
Of course the book also features palindromes, symmetrical palindromes, words that might be difficult for kids, more word stuff, sisters, friendship, school, growing up, cats, great parents and much much more.
The book is really packed to the brim with stuff, and at times it was just a bit too much for me. I also didn’t particularly like Ava for a bit, I know, she was just confused about her feelings, she was just jealous, but I didn’t like that. I didn’t like how she was hurtful to that girl (though she never said it to her face, thankfully). She is all against that kind of stuff, but in reality is doing the same thing to someone else. :( And again, she kept quiet, but I was just cringing so much when she was talking about that girl. :( I just missed our old Ava, who is sweet, caring and brave.
I felt sad for Tanya, no one deserves what happened to her at some parts of the book.
The Aesop fables, meh, I didn’t particularly like them in the previous book and I still don’t like them now. I mostly just skipped/skimmed them and continued reading the better parts of the book.
Ava and Chuck, that was just truly so sweet. It was fun seeing Ava realize her feelings. I won’t say what happened more, people will just have to read the book and find out.
It was fun though, as it fitted with Ava’s age, and that girls around that age start thinking about boys, boyfriends, kissing and relationships. The author did a good job on writing about it.
I can’t wait for new books from Ava to come out, I hope that Ava will be getting more books, I am quite curious as to what the next book will be about. Of course words, but what else?
Also that cover is just adorable!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would, it is a fun book about a great girl (though she really should let go of the jealousy) and about her family and friends. About growing up and how to handle that.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ava is back! So delighted that this girl is getting more and more books about her life, about growing up, and about words.
And this time we got a whole group of new situations happening in her life. Just as is the case with each book, this book also features several real life problems. For instance we have jealousy, bullying, weight problems, people being way too sensitive about the word fat (and maybe this sounds mean, but I am frankly getting tired of people being so oversensitive about stuff, there is no need. Let everyone be in their own value, no need to freaking bully a little girl over the word fat, while she is just trying to help.)
Of course the book also features palindromes, symmetrical palindromes, words that might be difficult for kids, more word stuff, sisters, friendship, school, growing up, cats, great parents and much much more.
The book is really packed to the brim with stuff, and at times it was just a bit too much for me. I also didn’t particularly like Ava for a bit, I know, she was just confused about her feelings, she was just jealous, but I didn’t like that. I didn’t like how she was hurtful to that girl (though she never said it to her face, thankfully). She is all against that kind of stuff, but in reality is doing the same thing to someone else. :( And again, she kept quiet, but I was just cringing so much when she was talking about that girl. :( I just missed our old Ava, who is sweet, caring and brave.
I felt sad for Tanya, no one deserves what happened to her at some parts of the book.
The Aesop fables, meh, I didn’t particularly like them in the previous book and I still don’t like them now. I mostly just skipped/skimmed them and continued reading the better parts of the book.
Ava and Chuck, that was just truly so sweet. It was fun seeing Ava realize her feelings. I won’t say what happened more, people will just have to read the book and find out.
It was fun though, as it fitted with Ava’s age, and that girls around that age start thinking about boys, boyfriends, kissing and relationships. The author did a good job on writing about it.
I can’t wait for new books from Ava to come out, I hope that Ava will be getting more books, I am quite curious as to what the next book will be about. Of course words, but what else?
Also that cover is just adorable!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would, it is a fun book about a great girl (though she really should let go of the jealousy) and about her family and friends. About growing up and how to handle that.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 15, 2016
(The review also covers parts of Ava and Pip books 1 and 2!)
Carol Weston's Ava and Pip series follows fifth-grader Ava Elle Wren as she navigates her way through various highs and lows at home, at school and with friends. A s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-r speller, aspiring author, younger sister, daughter, cat-lover, and palindrome fiend, Ava is a genuine, candid and spirited young protagonist.
In Ava XOX, Ava goes on an unexpected roller coaster of emotions as she starts experiencing maybe-more-than-just-friends feelings for her best guy friend, Chuck. Surprised to find herself feeling this way, Ava finds herself in an even bigger puddle of emotions when she hears the news that Chuck is suddenly going out with a very bubbly, pretty and popular classmate. Weston has crafted another great- and layered- story here with Ava's well-developed first-person narrative: not simply focused on the 'young first crush' side of the story, we also follow Ava along as she tackles other serious issues including newly developed friendships, trust, body issues, and insensitive and mean schoolmates.
Over the course of reading three Ava and Pip books, I have come to appreciate just how distinctive and refreshing Ava's voice is. While perhaps not the most immediately cuddly and/or easy-to-love character, I find that Ava is, rather awesomely, a character I grew to like more and more as the series went on. Weston does such a fantastic job of bringing such a unique main character (and multidimensional secondary characters) to life; and the on-going treat of word plays and palindromes will likely inspire readers- if not have them see words and letters in new and unexpected ways. While I have enjoyed each of the three titles in this series- all well-written, engaging and heartfelt- I would argue that Ava XOX seems the strongest yet! I do hope us readers get at least a few more stories featuring Ava and her world!
Readers who like their heroines more robust, a little feisty and a lot relatable, will likely really come to adore Ava. Fans of characters such as Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik or Judy Blume's Sheila the Great or those who enjoy reading the (mis)adventures of protagonists such as Ramona Quimby, Ivy & Bean or Clementine might especially love Ava's honest and plucky voice.
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November 6, 2022
So, I loved Ava and Taco Cat and did not realize it was a series at first. but I made a mistake in thinking this would be a good series to continue. This is the third (and thankfully final) book in the series and I am so tired of it.
Firstly, there is a child in Ava's sister's class named Tanya who is being bullied for being overweight. She asks for advice after Pip tells her about how Ava had given her a list of tips to make more friends, so Ava makes her a poster of healthy ideas. It is well-intentioned and Tanya is not offended, but Ava does offer some pretty generic advice and focuses less on loving your body and being healthy and more on obvious things like "drink water" and "eat vegetables." I think some better advice might be "consult your doctor" and "focus on how you feel not what you weigh," and "bullies are ignorant and don't deserve your attention," but the point is Ava made a well-intentioned effort. She is confronted by this by three "bullies," who actually have very valid points, so I don't understand why they needed to be made into bullies. The book could have focused on them educating her and her working together with them to revise the poster. Instead, Ava is made out to be the "victim" in this situation and I don't like that, especially in today's society where anyone who gets called out for anything wrong just refuses to listen and learn about things.
Anyway, that's the first plot. It has nothing to do with the title "Ava XOX." I think that's another thing I disliked about this series is there are like 2-3 subplots that end up being full plots, and probably just could have been their own book because putting them both into this book means neither plot got full attention it needed. The plot that matches up with the title is about Ava's best guy friend Chuck getting his fist girlfriend. Ava is jealous and proceeds to literally dog Kelly and everything she does, and conspire on how to break them up. It's gross. I can understand that children have flaws and make mistakes but Ava's literally been mean as snot to other girls for three whole books now and should have learned at least a little bit.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Firstly, there is a child in Ava's sister's class named Tanya who is being bullied for being overweight. She asks for advice after Pip tells her about how Ava had given her a list of tips to make more friends, so Ava makes her a poster of healthy ideas. It is well-intentioned and Tanya is not offended, but Ava does offer some pretty generic advice and focuses less on loving your body and being healthy and more on obvious things like "drink water" and "eat vegetables." I think some better advice might be "consult your doctor" and "focus on how you feel not what you weigh," and "bullies are ignorant and don't deserve your attention," but the point is Ava made a well-intentioned effort. She is confronted by this by three "bullies," who actually have very valid points, so I don't understand why they needed to be made into bullies. The book could have focused on them educating her and her working together with them to revise the poster. Instead, Ava is made out to be the "victim" in this situation and I don't like that, especially in today's society where anyone who gets called out for anything wrong just refuses to listen and learn about things.
Anyway, that's the first plot. It has nothing to do with the title "Ava XOX." I think that's another thing I disliked about this series is there are like 2-3 subplots that end up being full plots, and probably just could have been their own book because putting them both into this book means neither plot got full attention it needed. The plot that matches up with the title is about Ava's best guy friend Chuck getting his fist girlfriend. Ava is jealous and proceeds to literally dog Kelly and everything she does, and conspire on how to break them up. It's gross. I can understand that children have flaws and make mistakes but Ava's literally been mean as snot to other girls for three whole books now and should have learned at least a little bit.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
November 5, 2015
Huge thank you to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Netgalley for this ARC!
If there is a series I adore and hold close to my heart, it's Ava and Pip. This series does an amazing job of being something middle graders can relate to, and isn't written in a way that feels dumbed down. This time around, this third novel focuses on Ava having a secret crush and all the crazy surrounding that.
If I'm being honest, this was the book of the bunch that I connected with the most. I knew what it was like to be Ava's age and having a crush on a boy who seemed off limits. Moreover, her feelings of inadequacy and jealousy were totally something I could relate to. That wanting to be the girl, but it not being in your favour. I equally love the reveal when she discovers that she does have a crush, and that sort of explosion that occurs in her mind because it's something she struggles to articulate. I really just loved the portrayal of Ava's emotions and found them to be done in such a realistic way.
If there was one part of the book that made me a bit uncomfortable, it's what happened to Tanya and Pip. I get that that kind of bullying still very much exists, but it still made me uncomfortable. I also didn't like Ava's approach to helping Tanya either with her problem because while I get that she meant very well, it's also none of her business. However, I was a bit more forgiving when the novel showed how Ava learns her lesson, and more specifically when she learns about issues with body types. I feel like applauding Weston for that just because it's something that often goes undiscussed by parents.
With each installment I continue to fall in love with this series, simply because there's a genuineness in Ava's voice that just sucks you in. She's a good kid, and the books do such a fantastic job of teaching morality, but also still having fun in its presentation. Ava XOX is a solid entry into this series, and I can only hope Carol Weston has more adventures in store for Ava very soon.
If there is a series I adore and hold close to my heart, it's Ava and Pip. This series does an amazing job of being something middle graders can relate to, and isn't written in a way that feels dumbed down. This time around, this third novel focuses on Ava having a secret crush and all the crazy surrounding that.
If I'm being honest, this was the book of the bunch that I connected with the most. I knew what it was like to be Ava's age and having a crush on a boy who seemed off limits. Moreover, her feelings of inadequacy and jealousy were totally something I could relate to. That wanting to be the girl, but it not being in your favour. I equally love the reveal when she discovers that she does have a crush, and that sort of explosion that occurs in her mind because it's something she struggles to articulate. I really just loved the portrayal of Ava's emotions and found them to be done in such a realistic way.
If there was one part of the book that made me a bit uncomfortable, it's what happened to Tanya and Pip. I get that that kind of bullying still very much exists, but it still made me uncomfortable. I also didn't like Ava's approach to helping Tanya either with her problem because while I get that she meant very well, it's also none of her business. However, I was a bit more forgiving when the novel showed how Ava learns her lesson, and more specifically when she learns about issues with body types. I feel like applauding Weston for that just because it's something that often goes undiscussed by parents.
With each installment I continue to fall in love with this series, simply because there's a genuineness in Ava's voice that just sucks you in. She's a good kid, and the books do such a fantastic job of teaching morality, but also still having fun in its presentation. Ava XOX is a solid entry into this series, and I can only hope Carol Weston has more adventures in store for Ava very soon.
Read
November 19, 20151. AVA XOX is the third book in the Ava and Pip series by Carol Weston. Written in journal format, it's the story of 5th grader Ava as she deals with various issues in her life. This book talks about Valentine's Day (and boys), the importance of language, as well as body image and acceptance.
2. Confession: I have not read the first two books in the series. But that did not stop me from loving Ava from the get go! She's adorable, from her loathing of meatless mondays to her obsession with palindromes and other word choices. She gets herself into a bit of trouble in this book, but clearly her heart is always in the right place.
3. I love the sister relationship between Ava and Pip. They're separated in age by two years so even though they go through similar situations, they're clearly in different life stages. They get along for the most part but of course they have rifts every now and then. One of the funniest scenes is when Pip takes 2 pieces of gum from Ava's night stand and Ava freaks out on her because that gum was a GIFT from CHUCK. haha
4. The diversity. I enjoyed how there were casual mentions of different ages, different races, different sexualities. I wish I had read a book series like this when I was Ava's age. Very good representation of what the world is really like.
5. I like the friendship between Ava and Chuck. It's very realistic and it made me laugh at the end when he admitted that he wasn't even sure how he became Kelli's boyfriend in the first place. The agreement that he and Ava came to at the end was cute. I think it's important in middle grade books to show that boys and girls can be friends.
Thank you for the review copy, Netgalley and Sourcebooks.
2. Confession: I have not read the first two books in the series. But that did not stop me from loving Ava from the get go! She's adorable, from her loathing of meatless mondays to her obsession with palindromes and other word choices. She gets herself into a bit of trouble in this book, but clearly her heart is always in the right place.
3. I love the sister relationship between Ava and Pip. They're separated in age by two years so even though they go through similar situations, they're clearly in different life stages. They get along for the most part but of course they have rifts every now and then. One of the funniest scenes is when Pip takes 2 pieces of gum from Ava's night stand and Ava freaks out on her because that gum was a GIFT from CHUCK. haha
4. The diversity. I enjoyed how there were casual mentions of different ages, different races, different sexualities. I wish I had read a book series like this when I was Ava's age. Very good representation of what the world is really like.
5. I like the friendship between Ava and Chuck. It's very realistic and it made me laugh at the end when he admitted that he wasn't even sure how he became Kelli's boyfriend in the first place. The agreement that he and Ava came to at the end was cute. I think it's important in middle grade books to show that boys and girls can be friends.
Thank you for the review copy, Netgalley and Sourcebooks.
November 18, 2015
This newest Ava release find Ava experiencing her first crush. She is struggling to understand her new found hormones as she navigates what it means to like boys or to "go out" with someone when you are in the 5th grade and can't even leave without a parent or guardian. Words to describe how she is feeling are hard to find for the first time in Ava's life and I think that is the perfect way to illustrate what it means to have your first crush, you just can't find a way to say what is going on in your head or with your feelings and that is so realistic.
Also, she is approached with some bullying and body shaming issues and also finds that this isn't a topic that is easy to understand or explain. She tries to help but that also isn't the easiest task she has ever undertaken.
I think this last installment is very age appropriate and topical and that any middle school aged student would gain a lot from reading it.
Series:
Overall, a phenomenal collections of middle grade stories told through the importance of writing and language and with a tenacious main character that you can't help but love.
I will say that I do see these stories appealing more to a female reader than a male reader but they are definitely age appropriate and cover a wide range of topics and introduce children to social issues such as bullying, body shaming, pet adoption, friendship, family, and so much more.
I couldn't suggest this series with any more praise. It is wonderful.
******I received both Ava and Taco Cat and Ava XOX from netgalley.com and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Also, she is approached with some bullying and body shaming issues and also finds that this isn't a topic that is easy to understand or explain. She tries to help but that also isn't the easiest task she has ever undertaken.
I think this last installment is very age appropriate and topical and that any middle school aged student would gain a lot from reading it.
Series:
Overall, a phenomenal collections of middle grade stories told through the importance of writing and language and with a tenacious main character that you can't help but love.
I will say that I do see these stories appealing more to a female reader than a male reader but they are definitely age appropriate and cover a wide range of topics and introduce children to social issues such as bullying, body shaming, pet adoption, friendship, family, and so much more.
I couldn't suggest this series with any more praise. It is wonderful.
******I received both Ava and Taco Cat and Ava XOX from netgalley.com and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2016
Ava loves words. She collects palindromes, words like her name that are spelled the same frontward and backward. She enjoys jokes and riddles, rhymes, and vocabulary. And she loves to write. Her story is told through her diary entries as she records her experiences and thoughts. In this book, Ava is having some serious difficulties. Her friend Chuck now has a girlfriend and Ava thinks she may possibly wish she were dating Chuck (instead of Kelli with the sparkly headbands). Then, when she makes a poster of tips for healthy living, some of the older girls at school take the tips as a personal insult and things get really tense. What can a well-meaning 5th grader do when she is misunderstood like that?
The situations are all true to life and deal with things like teasing, bullying, jealousy, crushes, worrying about your weight and other things that kids have to handle every day. Ava's family is depicted as supportive, but not perfect. She even mentions that her mom is not the ideal movie mom that always knows the right thing to say. And she rates some of her dad's "meatless Monday" recipes with rather low scores.
For readers who enjoy realistic fiction and stories with school, friends, and family situations, Ava is entertaining and you might even pick up a tip or two about healthy eating habits or word games.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
The situations are all true to life and deal with things like teasing, bullying, jealousy, crushes, worrying about your weight and other things that kids have to handle every day. Ava's family is depicted as supportive, but not perfect. She even mentions that her mom is not the ideal movie mom that always knows the right thing to say. And she rates some of her dad's "meatless Monday" recipes with rather low scores.
For readers who enjoy realistic fiction and stories with school, friends, and family situations, Ava is entertaining and you might even pick up a tip or two about healthy eating habits or word games.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
January 15, 2016
I had missed Ava since the last installment and was glad to find the same character that I know and love in this most recent book. Like the previous books, Ava XOX is in a diary format filled with witty word games and playful anecdotes.
One of the things I liked best about this newest book was that as Ava gets older, Weston is able to explore some more advanced topics. It was brave of her to tackle the issue of body image and obesity, and I think she did it in a sensitive and constructive way. I think that Weston's young readers will get a lot from this part of the story.
The fun story line about Ava's new crush provides a delightful contrast to the more complicated Tanya situation and will keep readers coming back for more. This brought me right back to my own middle school days!
Overall its a great story! Highly recommend!
One of the things I liked best about this newest book was that as Ava gets older, Weston is able to explore some more advanced topics. It was brave of her to tackle the issue of body image and obesity, and I think she did it in a sensitive and constructive way. I think that Weston's young readers will get a lot from this part of the story.
The fun story line about Ava's new crush provides a delightful contrast to the more complicated Tanya situation and will keep readers coming back for more. This brought me right back to my own middle school days!
Overall its a great story! Highly recommend!
March 13, 2016
I was charmed by Ava (and her family) also in this third book in the series, in which she is trying to make sense of changing feelings and friendships, especially as one of her friends starts "going out" with a classmate. Lots to figure out for Ava, as growing up is never easy. Young readers will get lots of pointers from her on how to deal with changes, and hopefully see that it's okay to let things happen in their own time, not having to follow the pace set by others.
November 4, 2015
A really well-done, nuanced job at delving into the issues of weight and body image for the middle school audience. A bit heavy-handed, but well-done. I continue to adore Ava and her love of language.
December 2, 2015
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
This is a wonderful continuation of the Ava and Pip series! I love these characters, and the author handles complicated issues with thoughtfulness and care. A great book to read as part of the series or as a standalone.
This is a wonderful continuation of the Ava and Pip series! I love these characters, and the author handles complicated issues with thoughtfulness and care. A great book to read as part of the series or as a standalone.
June 21, 2016
Ava and Pip are at it again! I really like how the kids are kids and not rushing to grow up into the teen angst of so many juvenile novels.
February 28, 2016
Another delightful book by Carol Weston! We love the trio of Ava books at our house! YAY for a fun read!
November 9, 2022
Ava XOX by Carol Weston (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016) continues 11-year-old Ava’s story over the course of her fifth-grade year. I was a bit nervous going into this book because the premise is that Ava begins to have a crush on a boy in her class, and I certainly don’t want my soon-to-be 11-year-old daughter to start to think about having crushes.
Apparently, I need not worry as she still declares boys in her class gross. I need not have worried about this book, either, because although Ava does realize a little bit of her changing feelings, she also recognizes her own place as a child and does not want to hurry into becoming a teenager.
Previous books in the Ava and Pip series saw Ava’s sister Pip becoming a girlfriend to a boy in her class. Pip is just 14, so even in that setting, I thought she was rather young to be singling out someone as a “love interest.” But, in the book, the two teenagers mostly spend time together and talk together. There is talk about “a kiss,” but even in this third volume, the teenagers did not seem ultraserious. (I can’t even remember when Pip did kiss him. Or did she?) When Pip’s boyfriend writes “I love you” on the Valentine’s Day card, she is incredibly uncomfortable, because that is not what she feels yet. Instead, the two decide that what they really mean is “I ❤ You” (I [heart] you), which to them means they like to be around each other and they make each other’s hearts go “pitter-pat.” (Ok, so that explanation is never provided in the book, but that is how I interpreted it.)
As I mentioned, given Pip’s boyfriend in the previous book, I worried that Ava would now likewise get a “boyfriend,” which makes me roll my eyes. At age 11, that is ridiculous. Thankfully, it kind of turns out that way for the fifth graders in this book too. At one point, one of the kids says something like, “How could we go out? We can’t go anywhere by ourselves.” (I don’t have the page number, because I don’t take notes when reading juvenile fiction.)
In Ava’s school, a fellow fifth grader “asks out” Chuck, who is Ava’s friend and has been since Kindergarten. Throughout the remainder of the book, Ava begins to feel jealous of that friend. To the discerning reader, it is clear that Chuck is not quite sure what to make of this “going out” situation either. He doesn’t seem interested in listening to Kelli, and she doesn’t have a sense of humor that matches his personality.
Although this book shows Ava’s jealousy toward Kelli’s friendship with Chuck, who happens to be a boy, the whole book still feels similar to the jealousy Ava had in the previous book Taco Cat, in which her best friend Marabelle likewise began spending time with a new friend — Zara. At the end of Taco Cat, Ava had learned that everyone can have multiple friends. At the end of XOX, Ava and Chuck both learn the same: there is no need to label a friendship “best” or “boyfriend” when it is obviously special. Getting along with a friend — sharing jokes, listening to each other, and helping with spelling words — is worth it, no matter if it’s boy-girl or girl-girl.
While my 10-year-old daughter and I read the previous two books together (one aloud, and the other via audio), we didn’t have time this month to do so yet. I’m hoping we can read it together during our holiday breaks. So, I’m not sure how she will react to the situation in this book (since she declares boys “gross” still), but I do hope that it gives her a new perspective on boy-girl friendship at 11. There is no need to rush into the “going out” label because it’s completely unnecessary! Just enjoy being a friend.
Apparently, I need not worry as she still declares boys in her class gross. I need not have worried about this book, either, because although Ava does realize a little bit of her changing feelings, she also recognizes her own place as a child and does not want to hurry into becoming a teenager.
Previous books in the Ava and Pip series saw Ava’s sister Pip becoming a girlfriend to a boy in her class. Pip is just 14, so even in that setting, I thought she was rather young to be singling out someone as a “love interest.” But, in the book, the two teenagers mostly spend time together and talk together. There is talk about “a kiss,” but even in this third volume, the teenagers did not seem ultraserious. (I can’t even remember when Pip did kiss him. Or did she?) When Pip’s boyfriend writes “I love you” on the Valentine’s Day card, she is incredibly uncomfortable, because that is not what she feels yet. Instead, the two decide that what they really mean is “I ❤ You” (I [heart] you), which to them means they like to be around each other and they make each other’s hearts go “pitter-pat.” (Ok, so that explanation is never provided in the book, but that is how I interpreted it.)
As I mentioned, given Pip’s boyfriend in the previous book, I worried that Ava would now likewise get a “boyfriend,” which makes me roll my eyes. At age 11, that is ridiculous. Thankfully, it kind of turns out that way for the fifth graders in this book too. At one point, one of the kids says something like, “How could we go out? We can’t go anywhere by ourselves.” (I don’t have the page number, because I don’t take notes when reading juvenile fiction.)
In Ava’s school, a fellow fifth grader “asks out” Chuck, who is Ava’s friend and has been since Kindergarten. Throughout the remainder of the book, Ava begins to feel jealous of that friend. To the discerning reader, it is clear that Chuck is not quite sure what to make of this “going out” situation either. He doesn’t seem interested in listening to Kelli, and she doesn’t have a sense of humor that matches his personality.
Although this book shows Ava’s jealousy toward Kelli’s friendship with Chuck, who happens to be a boy, the whole book still feels similar to the jealousy Ava had in the previous book Taco Cat, in which her best friend Marabelle likewise began spending time with a new friend — Zara. At the end of Taco Cat, Ava had learned that everyone can have multiple friends. At the end of XOX, Ava and Chuck both learn the same: there is no need to label a friendship “best” or “boyfriend” when it is obviously special. Getting along with a friend — sharing jokes, listening to each other, and helping with spelling words — is worth it, no matter if it’s boy-girl or girl-girl.
While my 10-year-old daughter and I read the previous two books together (one aloud, and the other via audio), we didn’t have time this month to do so yet. I’m hoping we can read it together during our holiday breaks. So, I’m not sure how she will react to the situation in this book (since she declares boys “gross” still), but I do hope that it gives her a new perspective on boy-girl friendship at 11. There is no need to rush into the “going out” label because it’s completely unnecessary! Just enjoy being a friend.
March 14, 2018
I feel like this was an okay book. If you could do decimal ratings, I would say 3.6 maybe. The previous books in this series were much better, as a series for kids goes great until you put in a book about 'crushes'. If there was more on Tanya and what Ava did for her and Ava's friendships, it would drastically change the book for me. That was something I know would improve the quality of this book.
After 2 books in this series about Bea and Pip, and Taco Cat, written in diary style (Ava as the main character), a third book comes in starring Ava herself a little bit more this time, but also with a new character, Tanya, Pip's new friend. Ava is in 5th grade and someone new has just moved to her school: Kelli. Immediately, Ava knows she doesn't like Kelli. Kelli becomes smitten with a boy in her class, Chuck, who happens to be one of Ava's friends. She asks if he wants to go out, and he says yes. Ava feels insecure, not knowing if this should upset her or not, but naturally it does. The whole book is constantly mentioning Ava's feelings about this and it almost gets a little old at some point. Ava's best friends Maybelle and Zara think that Kelli is nice and become friends with her. Ava feels like the whole world is against her!
On top of all that, Tanya, Pip's friend, is struggling with weight problems. One day, when Pip and Tanya have to do a presentation on Borteno? a Spanish artist, they realize it's not a good situation. Borteno's? style of art captures people much chubbier than they actually are. Tanya feels bad and when they give their presentation in front of the school, people laugh and tease her which makes Tanya feel terrible. Ava ends up making a list of tips for Tanya on how to lose weight, just like she made tips for Pip in the first book on how to undo shyness. I feel this part of the book is much stronger and more interesting. It engaged me more, and I enjoyed reading these sections more.
Overall, this is a pretty typical middle school book, a followup to "Ava and Pip", and "Ava and Taco Cat". It's okay, and a pretty quick read, too. I finished it in about 2 1/4 hours. I enjoyed reading this somewhat, and hope to see more from Carol Weston.
After 2 books in this series about Bea and Pip, and Taco Cat, written in diary style (Ava as the main character), a third book comes in starring Ava herself a little bit more this time, but also with a new character, Tanya, Pip's new friend. Ava is in 5th grade and someone new has just moved to her school: Kelli. Immediately, Ava knows she doesn't like Kelli. Kelli becomes smitten with a boy in her class, Chuck, who happens to be one of Ava's friends. She asks if he wants to go out, and he says yes. Ava feels insecure, not knowing if this should upset her or not, but naturally it does. The whole book is constantly mentioning Ava's feelings about this and it almost gets a little old at some point. Ava's best friends Maybelle and Zara think that Kelli is nice and become friends with her. Ava feels like the whole world is against her!
On top of all that, Tanya, Pip's friend, is struggling with weight problems. One day, when Pip and Tanya have to do a presentation on Borteno? a Spanish artist, they realize it's not a good situation. Borteno's? style of art captures people much chubbier than they actually are. Tanya feels bad and when they give their presentation in front of the school, people laugh and tease her which makes Tanya feel terrible. Ava ends up making a list of tips for Tanya on how to lose weight, just like she made tips for Pip in the first book on how to undo shyness. I feel this part of the book is much stronger and more interesting. It engaged me more, and I enjoyed reading these sections more.
Overall, this is a pretty typical middle school book, a followup to "Ava and Pip", and "Ava and Taco Cat". It's okay, and a pretty quick read, too. I finished it in about 2 1/4 hours. I enjoyed reading this somewhat, and hope to see more from Carol Weston.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2017
#3 in the Ava series. This is a good choice for pre-teen girls who like to read or write. Ava is now in fifth grade, and while she isn't ready for a bra or a boyfriend, some of the girls in her class are starting to delve into both. Ava's long time friend, Chuck, is suddenly going out with the popular Kelli, and Ava doesn't like that one bit. She only likes Chuck as a friend of course, but fifth grade seems to soon to be anything more than that. Ava loves to write, and records all of her issues and anxieties in her journals, which make up the book. In addition to the junior romance, this book tackles the subject of obesity, fat shaming and healthy eating. There are a lot of good lessons for readers in grades 4 and 5.
May 21, 2017
I really enjoy the Ava and Pip books.
This one left me a little wanting. I'm waiting for Ava to grow up a bit more as she doesn't seem to reflect kids of her age who I teach everyday. Her language is still somewhat childish which is what I believe kept me from buying into the story the way I did with #1 and #2. I really appreciate the language play though it didn't seem to fit well with the tween character who Ava is now.
All said, I have a number of students who really love the series so far. They are around the grades 2-4 age.
This one left me a little wanting. I'm waiting for Ava to grow up a bit more as she doesn't seem to reflect kids of her age who I teach everyday. Her language is still somewhat childish which is what I believe kept me from buying into the story the way I did with #1 and #2. I really appreciate the language play though it didn't seem to fit well with the tween character who Ava is now.
All said, I have a number of students who really love the series so far. They are around the grades 2-4 age.
March 13, 2022
valentines is right around the corner and ava didn't care about it until this new girl askes her friend chuck out, she isn't sure how to feel (like?, love?, friendship, Frustration?) like she doesn't even know what going out means. fifth graders aren't ever allowed to anywhere by themselves some of the people think that are allowed to go out by themselves, like at night or like in the middle of the day and To top it off, Pip's friend Tanya is being bullied for her size. Ava wants to help-but, uh oh, it's not as easy as she imagines.
July 26, 2020
I actually liked this book LESS than the other books in the series. This one was just full of drama. It went a little something like this:
"OMG so and so and this person are going out!"
Now they actually find out that they like that person.
"I hate that they're going out. >:("
"I don't want to go out with this person anymore. I break up with you."
"YAY they're not going out anymore!!"
Yadda yadda yadda.
"OMG so and so and this person are going out!"
Now they actually find out that they like that person.
"I hate that they're going out. >:("
"I don't want to go out with this person anymore. I break up with you."
"YAY they're not going out anymore!!"
Yadda yadda yadda.
January 10, 2020
Ava is a fifth grader with a great spelling ability. Even though she calls her best friend, Chuck, just a friend, she can’t help but feel jealous when another girl asks him out. This is written as diary entries so it’s all in Ava’s point of view.
September 4, 2017
Love it, want to read other books in series
October 12, 2017
I gave this book 5 stars because it was very interesting and exciting! Mostly to see what Ava does to deal with all of the 5th grade Valentine's Day drama going on.
December 31, 2017
I 💜 this 📘
Read the first 2 books first before this book though. The first this a are still awesome to read though.
Read the first 2 books first before this book though. The first this a are still awesome to read though.
Want to read
April 17, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Read
October 2, 2025I think this book lowkey made me gaslight myself into having a crush at the ripe age of like seven lmao
December 19, 2016
In her third novel about Ava Wren, author Carol Weston takes on issues of body image and weight, along with first crushes and bullying. When she is asked by an overweight classmate to come up with some advice for losing weight, Ava makes a list of helpful tips, and then turns it into a poster to be displayed at school. Unfortunately, Ava uses the word "fat" in her poster, which winds up inadvertently offending some of the girls in the grades above her, who take their frustrations out on her in cruel ways. In the meantime, Ava's friend Chuck has begun dating a girl he doesn't really like, which causes Ava to realize her own growing feelings for him.
I really loved Ava and Pip, but felt that Ava and Taco Cat did not live up to the standard set by the first book. Ava XOX is much more satisfying, and it actually might be the best book about Ava. Ava's problems in this story are things that could happen to any tween girl, and her honest and open way of approaching each situation is reminiscent of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice. Ava's innate desire to do the right thing and to avoid hurting people is endearing and admirable, and I think many girls can relate to her because she is just like them. As always, this book is an equal mix of friendship and family storylines, told through Ava's diary entries, which are full of word play and always conclude with a clever sign-off.
This book offers a fresh approach to the themes of fitness and body image, making it a possible selection for summer reading lists to accompany this year's CSLP theme of On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! It is also one of the few middle grade novels that portrays middle school dating relationships as they are, instead of putting fifth and sixth graders in unrealistically serious relationships. Most girls Ava's age will understand her conflicted feelings over Chuck having a girlfriend, and they will be relieved when the situation is resolved happily.
I really loved Ava and Pip, but felt that Ava and Taco Cat did not live up to the standard set by the first book. Ava XOX is much more satisfying, and it actually might be the best book about Ava. Ava's problems in this story are things that could happen to any tween girl, and her honest and open way of approaching each situation is reminiscent of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice. Ava's innate desire to do the right thing and to avoid hurting people is endearing and admirable, and I think many girls can relate to her because she is just like them. As always, this book is an equal mix of friendship and family storylines, told through Ava's diary entries, which are full of word play and always conclude with a clever sign-off.
This book offers a fresh approach to the themes of fitness and body image, making it a possible selection for summer reading lists to accompany this year's CSLP theme of On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! It is also one of the few middle grade novels that portrays middle school dating relationships as they are, instead of putting fifth and sixth graders in unrealistically serious relationships. Most girls Ava's age will understand her conflicted feelings over Chuck having a girlfriend, and they will be relieved when the situation is resolved happily.
April 25, 2016
A sweet read about being true to yourself and family drama full of humour. While I have more conservative views on dating now than I did when I was Ava's age, it was all too easy for me to understand her confusion and uncertainty. My friends all grew up before I did, if that makes sense. The feeling of being left out is one I empathised with Ava, as it's no fun feeling the friendship is changing in an almost negative way with the sense of distance and just not sharing the same views.
Ava had a major dilemma in helping her friend see that she needed to live a healthier lifestyle, which made me feel sorry for Ava because she had a lot going on in her life, although that is normal these days, making it harder to phrase her encouragement positively. Ava still uses her passion of palindromes as a coping mechanism which is sweet to read, she muddles her way through the confusing situations in a way I can relate to, and it's an overall heartwarming read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...
Ava had a major dilemma in helping her friend see that she needed to live a healthier lifestyle, which made me feel sorry for Ava because she had a lot going on in her life, although that is normal these days, making it harder to phrase her encouragement positively. Ava still uses her passion of palindromes as a coping mechanism which is sweet to read, she muddles her way through the confusing situations in a way I can relate to, and it's an overall heartwarming read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...
November 16, 2015
Since I'd read and enjoyed the first book, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Netgalley invited me to review this as an ARC copy. Perhaps they were hoping I'd like it more than book two. Unfortunately, I haven't. It just seems to me that Ava's stories, instead of sounding new and original like the first book, are descending to a common denominator that made them sound like so many other stories where the girl is fixated on boys and bodily changes. Ava and Pip raised questions about language and its power to influence or change others. Apart from popping out plenty of palindromes, Ava XOX sounds just like every other elementary girl's book out there. Sadly, I hoped for more.
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