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Things That Surprise You
Emily Murphy is about to enter middle school. She’s sort of excited… though not nearly as much as her best friend Hazel, who is ready for everything to be new. Emily wishes she and Hazel could just continue on as they always have, being the biggest fans ever of the Unicorn Chronicles, making up dance moves, and getting their regular order at The Slice.
But things are changing. At home, Emily and her mom are learning to move on after her parents’ divorce. Hardest of all, her beloved sister Mina has been in a treatment facility to deal with her anorexia. Emily is eager to have her back, but anxious about her sister getting sick again.
Hazel is changing too. She has new friends from the field hockey team, is starting to wear makeup, and have crushes on boys. Emily is trying to keep up, but she keeps doing and saying the wrong thing. She want to be the perfect new Emily. But who is that really?
Things That Surprise You is a beautifully layered novel about navigating the often shifting bonds of family and friendship, and learning how to put the pieces back together when things fall apart.
But things are changing. At home, Emily and her mom are learning to move on after her parents’ divorce. Hardest of all, her beloved sister Mina has been in a treatment facility to deal with her anorexia. Emily is eager to have her back, but anxious about her sister getting sick again.
Hazel is changing too. She has new friends from the field hockey team, is starting to wear makeup, and have crushes on boys. Emily is trying to keep up, but she keeps doing and saying the wrong thing. She want to be the perfect new Emily. But who is that really?
Things That Surprise You is a beautifully layered novel about navigating the often shifting bonds of family and friendship, and learning how to put the pieces back together when things fall apart.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2017
20 people are currently reading
1113 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Maschari
3 books102 followersJennifer Maschari is a classroom teacher who writes books for young readers. She is the author of THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE and THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU. She is hard at work on her next stand-alone middle grade from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins. Jennifer lives in Ohio with her husband and three English bulldogs: Hank, Stevie and Benny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 31, 2017
Again, she nailed it. Middle grade perfection. Teachers, please put this one on your shelves. Your students will love it.
May 9, 2017
Maschari's stories are so beautifully written, with characters that let the reader in on who they are, piece by piece. Things That Surprise you takes us along with Emily, who is quietly struggling with changing friendships, family relationships, and where she fits into it all. I loved watching her navigate through the challenges and learn some important life lessons along the way.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2017
Thank you to Blue Slip Media for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review - all opinions are my own.
Oh, how I love this book! I read it in one morning and halfway through reading it I messaged the author and told her my very personal reasons for just why I loved it so much ~ reasons that I won't go into here, but reasons that give me an insider's opinion on just how RIGHT this book is.
THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is at first glance a middle grade novel about a girl heading into middle school and dealing with the typical agonies of friendship and fitting in. And is that, in a perfect way, but it is also a searingly real look at living with a sibling with an eating disorder and the way diet culture pervades young girls' lives. Maschari has completely nailed how to write about this topic in an non-preachy way, without making anorexia appealing to readers.......which so many novels about eating disorders do. We want books on this topic, but we do NOT want books that introduce this disease in an appealing way to more children. This book treats anorexia as the horrible disease that it is and heartbreakingly conveys the impact it has on entire families.
Oh wait! There was so. much. more that I loved about this book! I loved Emily's innocence and her adoration of the world of Unicorn Chronicles, and the fact that her teacher introduces her to Anastasia Krupnik may just be my favorite thing on earth. The issue of divorce is a large part of the story, and that was so so real to me as well. She just wants her family back! Don't we all, as middle schoolers AND adults, want life to be the way it was before things got hard?
As Emily struggles to make herself a better person and fit in, she realizes that what she thought she wanted may not be so appealing as she dreamed it would be. I can't recommend this book enough - it is a required purchase for middle school libraries and classrooms.
Oh, how I love this book! I read it in one morning and halfway through reading it I messaged the author and told her my very personal reasons for just why I loved it so much ~ reasons that I won't go into here, but reasons that give me an insider's opinion on just how RIGHT this book is.
THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is at first glance a middle grade novel about a girl heading into middle school and dealing with the typical agonies of friendship and fitting in. And is that, in a perfect way, but it is also a searingly real look at living with a sibling with an eating disorder and the way diet culture pervades young girls' lives. Maschari has completely nailed how to write about this topic in an non-preachy way, without making anorexia appealing to readers.......which so many novels about eating disorders do. We want books on this topic, but we do NOT want books that introduce this disease in an appealing way to more children. This book treats anorexia as the horrible disease that it is and heartbreakingly conveys the impact it has on entire families.
Oh wait! There was so. much. more that I loved about this book! I loved Emily's innocence and her adoration of the world of Unicorn Chronicles, and the fact that her teacher introduces her to Anastasia Krupnik may just be my favorite thing on earth. The issue of divorce is a large part of the story, and that was so so real to me as well. She just wants her family back! Don't we all, as middle schoolers AND adults, want life to be the way it was before things got hard?
As Emily struggles to make herself a better person and fit in, she realizes that what she thought she wanted may not be so appealing as she dreamed it would be. I can't recommend this book enough - it is a required purchase for middle school libraries and classrooms.
February 27, 2017
THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is a simple but touching story about the agonizing experience of being in middle school. Maschari’s characters leap off the page and draw us skillfully into a complicated family situation through the eyes of Emily, a sixth grader. It all seemed incredibly familiar. The friendship battles of middle school girls made me cringe in recognition.
As in her debut work, the author intermingles the pets in her characters lives with their paths to self-discovery. I think Maschari’s on to something about how somehow our own introspection is deepened by a furry friend. Looking forward to Jennifer Maschari’s next work!
As in her debut work, the author intermingles the pets in her characters lives with their paths to self-discovery. I think Maschari’s on to something about how somehow our own introspection is deepened by a furry friend. Looking forward to Jennifer Maschari’s next work!
February 2, 2017
Oh, the middle school years. I think most adults can agree that they were the worst. Well, for Emily Murphy, they're just beginning. Her best friend Hazel is convinced middle school offers a blank slate, that she -- and Emily, too, as "Em"-- can reinvent themselves. But what happens when Hazel's the one succeeding at the reinvention, with the new friends on the field hockey team, and Emily feels left behind? When all the changes -- her sister coming home from eating disorder treatment, her dad and his new significant other settling into a new house and making a room for Emily, etc. -- feel like too much, Emily turns to the same place where so many others have looked for answers, by ordering self-help CDs. If she just follows Dr. Franklinton-Morehouse's advice, everything can turn out okay . . . right?
I *loved* following Emily in this journey of self-discovery as she navigates so many big changes. Maschari handles all of the book's topics with such sensitivity. She clearly remembers the moments that defined middle school, in all of their detailed glory, which allowed my heart to really ache for Emily. Evolving friendships, in particular, is something all kids will reckon with, and I loved how Maschari handled this theme.
Highly, highly recommended for middle-schoolers and those about to enter those years in school and life. Tender, funny, and most of all, true.
I *loved* following Emily in this journey of self-discovery as she navigates so many big changes. Maschari handles all of the book's topics with such sensitivity. She clearly remembers the moments that defined middle school, in all of their detailed glory, which allowed my heart to really ache for Emily. Evolving friendships, in particular, is something all kids will reckon with, and I loved how Maschari handled this theme.
Highly, highly recommended for middle-schoolers and those about to enter those years in school and life. Tender, funny, and most of all, true.
June 21, 2017
It's been a rare moment these days where I find a book that I cannot put down. ( I was so lucky to get the ARC). I was drawn into the story by the protagonist Em's voice and it took off from there. Reading this felt like experiencing all the angst of middle school all over again. Em has to deal with her dad's new person, her sister's illness and balancing new and old friendships. I actually cried at parts. This story is told so heart-achingly well. I cannot recommend this book enough.
March 24, 2017
I will read anything Jennifer Maschari writes. Her writing is so captivating and immersive, it takes me to another place. In THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU, it took me to middle school. The book was particularly poignant for me as my oldest son is in sixth grade this year.
It's not that Emily isn't excited for middle school, it's just that she likes things the way they are. Her best friend Hazel. Their obsession with their favorite book series. Their crafty hobbies like making costumes for her dog. The thing is, Hazel is ready for some of the other changes that often come along with middle school--new friends, social drama, boys--and Emily is, well, not. Plus, Emily has some drama of her own at home with her older sister Mina coming home from treatment for her eating disorder.
This is a charming, sweet, sometimes bittersweet story about a time in transition. Fortunately, Emily learns there are many different ways to cross the bridge from elementary to middle school. And she's lucky to have a great support network to help her along the way.
Extremely well written. Lovely details to round out the world. Excellent supporting characters. Artful and sensitive handling of the eating disorder side plot. A lovely follow up to Maschari's moving debut, THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE.
It's not that Emily isn't excited for middle school, it's just that she likes things the way they are. Her best friend Hazel. Their obsession with their favorite book series. Their crafty hobbies like making costumes for her dog. The thing is, Hazel is ready for some of the other changes that often come along with middle school--new friends, social drama, boys--and Emily is, well, not. Plus, Emily has some drama of her own at home with her older sister Mina coming home from treatment for her eating disorder.
This is a charming, sweet, sometimes bittersweet story about a time in transition. Fortunately, Emily learns there are many different ways to cross the bridge from elementary to middle school. And she's lucky to have a great support network to help her along the way.
Extremely well written. Lovely details to round out the world. Excellent supporting characters. Artful and sensitive handling of the eating disorder side plot. A lovely follow up to Maschari's moving debut, THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE.
March 27, 2017
Once you get into the book, it's hard to put down. Love the character development of Emily as she manages middle school, her parents divorce, and her sister's eating disorder.
May 21, 2018
I enjoyed every page of this beautiful story all about change—watching the main character navigate the shifts and changes of her family and friendships. Even while clinging to the way things were, she discovers new friends, new ways of seeing situations, and opens up to new things about herself.
"The shifts are small at first. You don't even know it is happening because all of it is occurring under the surface. Then, little by little, the divide gets bigger and bigger till one day, you look across the wide open ocean at the little speck of land in the distance and say how did that happen, even though it was happening the whole time." (p.228)
"I really think that trying's the best that any of us can do." (p.270)
"The shifts are small at first. You don't even know it is happening because all of it is occurring under the surface. Then, little by little, the divide gets bigger and bigger till one day, you look across the wide open ocean at the little speck of land in the distance and say how did that happen, even though it was happening the whole time." (p.228)
"I really think that trying's the best that any of us can do." (p.270)
April 18, 2017
I adored Jennifer Marshari's first novel, The Remarkable Journey of Charlie Price, and I've been anxiously awaiting this one. THINGS THAT SURPRISE you does not disappoint. It's a sister story, a friendship story, a story for anyone in the throes of middle school or who remembers just how awkward and tense those years can be. The story centers on Emily Murphy, who is a Unicorn Chronicles super-fan. Em is struggling with her parents' split, her sister's rocky road to recovery, and a bit of drama with her longtime BFF Hazel, who suddenly acts way more mature. But never fear, Em has a plan to regain control of her life: Dr. Franklinton-Morehouse's self-help CDs. THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is sensitive, sweet, and true.
June 17, 2017
"Things are always messier than I expect."
Jen Maschari has beautifully captured the messy life of soon to be middle schooler, Emily Murphy. The self-doubt, angst & pressure to fit in. This story was deeply touching & emotional but filled with glittery hope! The story tackles tough issues like living with a sibling with an eating disorder & divorce, in an age appropriate way. The story highlights the heartbreak & love of a family as they come together to help a sister in need. Jen's writing is poetic yet realistic. She tells "real truths" that show readers recovery is a long road & "trying's the best that any of us can do." This book is in my Mock Newbery for 2018 & would be great for the Reading Without Walls Challenge! Grades 4+
Jen Maschari has beautifully captured the messy life of soon to be middle schooler, Emily Murphy. The self-doubt, angst & pressure to fit in. This story was deeply touching & emotional but filled with glittery hope! The story tackles tough issues like living with a sibling with an eating disorder & divorce, in an age appropriate way. The story highlights the heartbreak & love of a family as they come together to help a sister in need. Jen's writing is poetic yet realistic. She tells "real truths" that show readers recovery is a long road & "trying's the best that any of us can do." This book is in my Mock Newbery for 2018 & would be great for the Reading Without Walls Challenge! Grades 4+
January 3, 2017
Review to come!
July 23, 2017
I highly recommend this book for all middle grade classrooms and libraries.
Maschari captures that rough transition that happens in middle grade perfectly.
Maschari captures that rough transition that happens in middle grade perfectly.
March 2, 2019
4.5 STARS
Middle School isn’t what Emily expects. Her older sister Mina is still in an eating disorder treatment hospital. Her best friend Hazel is growing away from her. And her father’s new wife is difficult to hate.
When Mina tells Emily that middle school is horrible, she’s right for most kids. Insecurity runs high and kids mature at different paces. Jennifer Maschari gives Emily the right mix of angst and imperfection as the tween initially participates in mild bullying before befriending the target and his twin sister.
THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is a hopeful and predictable story that younger middle grade girls will probably enjoy. The story lags when Maschari delves into the details of a science project. Older MG readers will probably find the story too juvenile, but the message of finding your people, the ones who like you for who you are is important and well told.
Middle School isn’t what Emily expects. Her older sister Mina is still in an eating disorder treatment hospital. Her best friend Hazel is growing away from her. And her father’s new wife is difficult to hate.
When Mina tells Emily that middle school is horrible, she’s right for most kids. Insecurity runs high and kids mature at different paces. Jennifer Maschari gives Emily the right mix of angst and imperfection as the tween initially participates in mild bullying before befriending the target and his twin sister.
THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU is a hopeful and predictable story that younger middle grade girls will probably enjoy. The story lags when Maschari delves into the details of a science project. Older MG readers will probably find the story too juvenile, but the message of finding your people, the ones who like you for who you are is important and well told.
September 2, 2017
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own. Things that Surprise You by Jennifer Maschari is about sweet 6th grader Emily Murphy who loves unicorns, infomercials, and reading the end of a book first. Emily has enough on her plate trying to navigate life with her sister in a rehab center and her dad's new girlfriend, so adding the start of middle school to that is a bit overwhelming. Emily is excited to start middle school with her best friend Hazel, so when she finds herself sitting alone on the first day of school, Emily feels lost. But hey, there's only 179 days left in middle school, right? Things That Surprise You is a middle grade novel about friendship and coming of age that almost everyone can relate to.
September 13, 2021
Important, relatable, deep 🧡
As Emily starts 6th Grade, she wants to be a new person. Trendy, fancy, popular. But it’s not easy when her parents are divorced, her friend is drifting away, and her sister is at a treatment facility with anorexia…
Yes! Yes! Yes! This book addresses so many important things in middle school. Belonging, friend changes, passions… but also mental health. I think mental health is a bit underrepresented in middle
grade stories but it is so incredibly important! 🤟
The characters in this book are very real and kindhearted. The writing is deep. Overall, such a great book 🌻
As Emily starts 6th Grade, she wants to be a new person. Trendy, fancy, popular. But it’s not easy when her parents are divorced, her friend is drifting away, and her sister is at a treatment facility with anorexia…
Yes! Yes! Yes! This book addresses so many important things in middle school. Belonging, friend changes, passions… but also mental health. I think mental health is a bit underrepresented in middle
grade stories but it is so incredibly important! 🤟
The characters in this book are very real and kindhearted. The writing is deep. Overall, such a great book 🌻
July 13, 2017
An achingly perceptive, gentle, uplifting Middle Grade novel about friends, family and the power we own when we discover our true selves. Maschari's characters ring true at every level, and the wisdom within these pages is delivered in authentic voices that never feel forced or out of place in the hearts and minds of Middle Graders.
Emily's sister is in a treatment center for anorexia. Her dad's divorced her mom, and moved in across town with someone called Alice. And her best friend Hazel is acting kind of strange. Well, REALLY strange, actually, if you consider how Hazel doesn't seem to be interested in the Starlight/Nightshade/Disastero books and movies anymore, and the mean things Hazel does when she's with her new friends. And to top it all off, Emily is about to start Middle School.
So she orders some CDs from an infomercial that promise a "whole new you" and tries to follow the advice given on them by Dr. Henry Franklinton-Morehouse.
The journey that follows, like Middle School itself, makes its way through twists and turns that can be poignant, frustrating, bewildering, and hilarious.
Through ups, downs, and a little bit of sideways, Emily learns that her true self doesn't lie in the directions given to her by others. The compass lies in her own heart.
Highly recommended.
Emily's sister is in a treatment center for anorexia. Her dad's divorced her mom, and moved in across town with someone called Alice. And her best friend Hazel is acting kind of strange. Well, REALLY strange, actually, if you consider how Hazel doesn't seem to be interested in the Starlight/Nightshade/Disastero books and movies anymore, and the mean things Hazel does when she's with her new friends. And to top it all off, Emily is about to start Middle School.
So she orders some CDs from an infomercial that promise a "whole new you" and tries to follow the advice given on them by Dr. Henry Franklinton-Morehouse.
The journey that follows, like Middle School itself, makes its way through twists and turns that can be poignant, frustrating, bewildering, and hilarious.
Through ups, downs, and a little bit of sideways, Emily learns that her true self doesn't lie in the directions given to her by others. The compass lies in her own heart.
Highly recommended.
January 29, 2018
With the transition into middle school, Emily is trying to figure out if she's still her 5th grade self, or if she's the new and improved 6th grade Em. To make things worse, she's trying to move on after her parents' divorce and older sister's stay in a treatment facility for anorexia. The start to middle school isn't going very smoothly. This is the perfect book for middle school girls! There are so many relatable topics!
September 3, 2017
This book!!! Emily totally stole my heart. She loves a book series called the Unicorn Chronicles. She makes costumes for her dog. And most touching of all, she wants to be a better person, a better friend & a better sister. I adored everything about this adorable & poignant story about middle school, friendships, family, and change. Highly, highly recommend!
March 3, 2019
This was a perfect middle grade. It tackled a lot of heavy issues in an age-appropriate way. I was instantly transported back to the beginning of 7th grade and reminded of just how terrible that time of life is...so many changes, so many new things. I really loved this and think everyone should read it.
July 31, 2017
Friendships change in middle school and it can be so traumatic as friends move on and you're left trying to make new ones so librarians can never have enough good books about friendship on the shelves.
October 6, 2019
I could just taste sixth grade and junior high in every word of this book. The author did an excellent job of describing that time and showing that being yourself is just the best thing.
May 1, 2025
This month’s middle school Book Club pick. Enjoyed it for a middle grade book! Some important themes for kids who are starting MS!
January 23, 2018
Navigating the changes of middle school is always challenging. But Emily isn't just dealing with shifting friendships and increased workloads. She's also worried about her older sister, who is currently in a treatment center for anorexia.
August 20, 2019
Absolutely adored this sensitive, authentic look at mental health. Emily was such a likeable yet realistic main character.
June 11, 2017
Jennifer Maschari’s debut middle grade novel made me fall in love with this author’s storytelling and I was so thrilled to get an advanced copy of THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU! This is a beautiful book about belonging and growing up. “Maybe this is a thing to know about growing up: There are some things in life you’ve got to hold on to. And there are other things you’ve got to let go. The key is knowing the difference.” (quoted from ARC). I’m not sure anyone has an easy time in middle school and Emily is no different. Feeling left behind by a best friend who seems to have mastered the art of surviving middle school, Em feels as if she’s without an anchor. She’s definitely feeling left out as her dad settles into a new house with his new partner—and she’s not sure how to best support her sister as the older teen struggles with an eating disorder. To help manage it all, Emily turns to self-help CDs, convinced the answer lies in a stranger’s advice—because surely someone else must know better than her own. But Emily ultimately discovers that she holds her own truths; she is strong and brave enough to take her own good advice. It is this inner strength that Maschari paints so beautifully in the story. The book is honest and at times hilarious! Pick up this lovely middle grade novel to snuggle beside THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE. You won’t be disappointed.
July 27, 2017
I'm all for the middle grade standard of 'I'm going into middle school and suddenly my best friend isn't my best friend anymore!', but this novel adds additional plot points that really fill in that standard story and make this more original.
Plot points beyond the 'my best friend is changing' plot:
1. Emily's big sister has an eating disorder. It's bad enough that her sister has been gone at a treatment facility for quite some time.
2. Emily's parents have split up, and Em's dad is living with a new woman. Dad + new lady want Em to feel like they are a family. Em isn't so sure about that.
3. Em's best friend Hazel is more interested in her new field hockey friends/lifestyle than she is in being Em's friend. It's like they're in two different worlds, with no warning.
4. Emily is just plain sad, and wants to change who she is. She wants to fit in with Hazel's new group, care about the 'right' things, and be happy. But of course it's never that easy!
There are so many things to learn from Emily's story. Any child dealing with divorce, mental illness, or just plain 'middle school' will find something in here that speaks to them.
Plot points beyond the 'my best friend is changing' plot:
1. Emily's big sister has an eating disorder. It's bad enough that her sister has been gone at a treatment facility for quite some time.
2. Emily's parents have split up, and Em's dad is living with a new woman. Dad + new lady want Em to feel like they are a family. Em isn't so sure about that.
3. Em's best friend Hazel is more interested in her new field hockey friends/lifestyle than she is in being Em's friend. It's like they're in two different worlds, with no warning.
4. Emily is just plain sad, and wants to change who she is. She wants to fit in with Hazel's new group, care about the 'right' things, and be happy. But of course it's never that easy!
There are so many things to learn from Emily's story. Any child dealing with divorce, mental illness, or just plain 'middle school' will find something in here that speaks to them.
December 28, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for THINGS THAT SURPRISE YOU by @jenmaschari
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Emily is entering middle school with her best friend Hazel by her side, except that her older sister is still in a facility for her anorexia and Hazel is preoccupied with field hockey. Emily (or Em as Hazel has begun to call her) is anxious about all this change and confused. She sends away for a self help CD set, but can a stranger help her with her problems?
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I love coming of age books that explore friendships and normal insecurities that come with life, but especially this age group. There is a part where Emily is trying to list all the ways she doesn’t fit in, including not knowing how to act or dress. I remember that feeling so well! Maschari expertly explores how anorexia affects the whole family. I was completely absorbed in the life of Emily Murphy for the time I was reading this book. I highly recommend it to all upper elementary/middle schoolers and for all Elem & middle school libraries. Grades 4+.
_*_*_*_*_*
Emily is entering middle school with her best friend Hazel by her side, except that her older sister is still in a facility for her anorexia and Hazel is preoccupied with field hockey. Emily (or Em as Hazel has begun to call her) is anxious about all this change and confused. She sends away for a self help CD set, but can a stranger help her with her problems?
_*_*_*_*_*
I love coming of age books that explore friendships and normal insecurities that come with life, but especially this age group. There is a part where Emily is trying to list all the ways she doesn’t fit in, including not knowing how to act or dress. I remember that feeling so well! Maschari expertly explores how anorexia affects the whole family. I was completely absorbed in the life of Emily Murphy for the time I was reading this book. I highly recommend it to all upper elementary/middle schoolers and for all Elem & middle school libraries. Grades 4+.
December 19, 2024
Me? Sobbing my heart out over a story of inseparable best friends who abruptly grow apart, to the bewilderment of the one who doesn't understand why they can't just continue to do and enjoy the exact same things they always have? NO... (*pretends to be shocked*)
I honestly expected this to be a 3-star, because the plot sounded like it had too many other things going on in terms of family issues, but for the most part they were balanced surprisingly well. I wasn't looking forward to the sister-with-an-eating-disorder part, but by the time she came home, I totally understand how they were so close despite a 5-year age difference. (But I did feel terrible for her mom, and wished Em had punished her loser walkout dad more for that divorce. At minimum, she did not have to be polite to Alice. Women should feel more shame about enabling men who make their children sad.)
The other thing that had me hesitate on the 4-star line is that I'm still very much not a fan of the (apparently-inescapable??) middle grade trope where a girl goes from attached at the hip to one best female friend, to suddenly finding herself spending a lot of time with a new friend who is a boy...but it's mitigated here somewhat because she also spends some time with that boy's twin sister. And is, if not exactly friends because she's weirdly stubborn about it, at least on friendly speaking terms with other girls she meets in class. This is a low bar but you'd be surprised how hard it is for authors to clear it these days.
Some things I absolutely loved:
-The sheer degree to which I identified with Em(ily)'s feelings - more on this later.
-The English teacher! She felt real, in a way that teachers in children's books often just...don't, either too strict and unfeeling, or too saintly and perfect. Ms. Anderson just casually shows up at release parties for her favorite children's series, kicks back at her desk with some Anastasia K(rupnik) during silent reading time, and does an incredible job of gauging her students' struggles and offering opportunities for them to socialize and/or confide in her without forcing it (it should be noted that Emily mostly brushes her off). SHE'S GREAT, is what I'm saying.
-Bean the Greyhound! So named because she's long and skinny, like a string bean, but also it works because she's brown like other beans. I feel like very few books, especially for kids, showcase Rescue Greyhounds. I didn't even know there was going to be a dog in this book so that was a pleasant surprise.
-The way I cringed HARD when Emily starts off by using her mom's credit card to order some expensive self-help-books-on-CD AND pays extra for rush shipping, waiting for the shoe to drop when she's found out...but it turns out to be the most minor of deals, barely even meriting a "tsk tsk." The relief when I didn't have to die of secondhand embarrassment!!! I'm not sure this has ever happened with such an obvious setup.
-Every glimpse at The Unicorn Chronicles. I say I was never a huge fantasy reader, but obviously I loved Harry Potter, and I VERY much loved me a unicorn book as a kid. This series sounds kiiiiind of like it would have been too cheesy for me*, but just in terms of the whole idea of two best friends who are obsessed with a book series and go on forums and stuff for it, heck yeah, right up my alley.
(*I loved stuff like [book:Birth of the Firebringer|58068, for instance, but I never liked animal books that were too anthropomorphic, so unicorn...detectives? hm.)
But the real reason it's getting 4 stars is that after already quietly crying off and on pretty much from the start, at about 70% in I reached a point where I was crying so hard I physically had to take a break from the book. Every moment of isolation, every moment of pretending not to notice/care when her best friend ditches her for The Cool Popular Field Hockey Girls, the time she fakes sick and just goes home instead of going through with the birthday party sleepover when it's obvious no one really wants her there...I felt it to the bottom of my heart.
I honestly expected this to be a 3-star, because the plot sounded like it had too many other things going on in terms of family issues, but for the most part they were balanced surprisingly well. I wasn't looking forward to the sister-with-an-eating-disorder part, but by the time she came home, I totally understand how they were so close despite a 5-year age difference. (But I did feel terrible for her mom, and wished Em had punished her loser walkout dad more for that divorce. At minimum, she did not have to be polite to Alice. Women should feel more shame about enabling men who make their children sad.)
The other thing that had me hesitate on the 4-star line is that I'm still very much not a fan of the (apparently-inescapable??) middle grade trope where a girl goes from attached at the hip to one best female friend, to suddenly finding herself spending a lot of time with a new friend who is a boy...but it's mitigated here somewhat because she also spends some time with that boy's twin sister. And is, if not exactly friends because she's weirdly stubborn about it, at least on friendly speaking terms with other girls she meets in class. This is a low bar but you'd be surprised how hard it is for authors to clear it these days.
Some things I absolutely loved:
-The sheer degree to which I identified with Em(ily)'s feelings - more on this later.
-The English teacher! She felt real, in a way that teachers in children's books often just...don't, either too strict and unfeeling, or too saintly and perfect. Ms. Anderson just casually shows up at release parties for her favorite children's series, kicks back at her desk with some Anastasia K(rupnik) during silent reading time, and does an incredible job of gauging her students' struggles and offering opportunities for them to socialize and/or confide in her without forcing it (it should be noted that Emily mostly brushes her off). SHE'S GREAT, is what I'm saying.
-Bean the Greyhound! So named because she's long and skinny, like a string bean, but also it works because she's brown like other beans. I feel like very few books, especially for kids, showcase Rescue Greyhounds. I didn't even know there was going to be a dog in this book so that was a pleasant surprise.
-The way I cringed HARD when Emily starts off by using her mom's credit card to order some expensive self-help-books-on-CD AND pays extra for rush shipping, waiting for the shoe to drop when she's found out...but it turns out to be the most minor of deals, barely even meriting a "tsk tsk." The relief when I didn't have to die of secondhand embarrassment!!! I'm not sure this has ever happened with such an obvious setup.
-Every glimpse at The Unicorn Chronicles. I say I was never a huge fantasy reader, but obviously I loved Harry Potter, and I VERY much loved me a unicorn book as a kid. This series sounds kiiiiind of like it would have been too cheesy for me*, but just in terms of the whole idea of two best friends who are obsessed with a book series and go on forums and stuff for it, heck yeah, right up my alley.
(*I loved stuff like [book:Birth of the Firebringer|58068, for instance, but I never liked animal books that were too anthropomorphic, so unicorn...detectives? hm.)
But the real reason it's getting 4 stars is that after already quietly crying off and on pretty much from the start, at about 70% in I reached a point where I was crying so hard I physically had to take a break from the book. Every moment of isolation, every moment of pretending not to notice/care when her best friend ditches her for The Cool Popular Field Hockey Girls, the time she fakes sick and just goes home instead of going through with the birthday party sleepover when it's obvious no one really wants her there...I felt it to the bottom of my heart.
August 11, 2017
The Things That Surprise You, by Jennifer Maschari, is a complex yet highly accessible middle-grade novel about self-discovery, change, and relationships. Its protagonist is sixth-grader Emily, who loves a fantasy-detective book series called The Unicorn Chronicles, eating pizza at The Slice and crafting clothes for Bean, her dog. And Emily has always shared everything she loves with Hazel, her best friend.
As Emily begins middle school, her friendship with Hazel becomes as tough to navigate as the unfamiliar halls. Hazel joins the field hockey team, making a new group of friends who paint their nails, read Teen Scene and talk about boys. At home, things are changing too. Emily's parents have divorced and her Dad has moved into a new house with Alice. And Emily's older sister, Mina, who she and Hazel used to do everything with, has entered a treatment facility for eating disorders. With her life shifting like huge tectonic plates of Earth, Emily's emotions spin inside her as she struggles with the question: Who is the New Em? She seeks advice from an infomercial self-help guru and attempts to tackle this question on her own, determined to be the Best New Emily she be.
The strength of this story is Emily's voice & character; readers know from the beginning she is a girl who is creative, smart, kind and quirky. She's also a sensitive girl who feels things deeply, an inquisitive one who likes mysteries to solve and she's funny. She is unique but also highly relatable, not only for how she is feeling but for the changes her life and friendships are undergoing. Even if you don't have first-hand knowledge of divorce or eating disorders in your family (though many do), chances are you know someone who has. And the ups and downs of family dynamics and sometimes topsy-turvy changes of friendships will likely be familiar ground.
The Things that Surprise You is a novel that speaks to the 12 year old that we've all been or that we are now. In all the questions we ask in our heads (from what to wear to what to say and do to who should be our friends) - the biggest question is: Who am I? Perhaps once we stop asking questions or striving to be some perfect version of ourselves, we can allow ourselves to be authentic and comfortable with our ever-changing "me." Ultimately, that, plus the strength of forgiveness & empathy to heal, are the messages this book left me with at its end. And I also really wanted a Peanut Butter Surprise Waffle (*fake whispers* with M&Ms). :-)
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Novel publish date is 8/22/17.
As Emily begins middle school, her friendship with Hazel becomes as tough to navigate as the unfamiliar halls. Hazel joins the field hockey team, making a new group of friends who paint their nails, read Teen Scene and talk about boys. At home, things are changing too. Emily's parents have divorced and her Dad has moved into a new house with Alice. And Emily's older sister, Mina, who she and Hazel used to do everything with, has entered a treatment facility for eating disorders. With her life shifting like huge tectonic plates of Earth, Emily's emotions spin inside her as she struggles with the question: Who is the New Em? She seeks advice from an infomercial self-help guru and attempts to tackle this question on her own, determined to be the Best New Emily she be.
The strength of this story is Emily's voice & character; readers know from the beginning she is a girl who is creative, smart, kind and quirky. She's also a sensitive girl who feels things deeply, an inquisitive one who likes mysteries to solve and she's funny. She is unique but also highly relatable, not only for how she is feeling but for the changes her life and friendships are undergoing. Even if you don't have first-hand knowledge of divorce or eating disorders in your family (though many do), chances are you know someone who has. And the ups and downs of family dynamics and sometimes topsy-turvy changes of friendships will likely be familiar ground.
The Things that Surprise You is a novel that speaks to the 12 year old that we've all been or that we are now. In all the questions we ask in our heads (from what to wear to what to say and do to who should be our friends) - the biggest question is: Who am I? Perhaps once we stop asking questions or striving to be some perfect version of ourselves, we can allow ourselves to be authentic and comfortable with our ever-changing "me." Ultimately, that, plus the strength of forgiveness & empathy to heal, are the messages this book left me with at its end. And I also really wanted a Peanut Butter Surprise Waffle (*fake whispers* with M&Ms). :-)
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Novel publish date is 8/22/17.
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