Little Bigfoot, Big City

The Littlest Bigfoot #2

by Jennifer Weiner

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes the second book in the “cheerful” ( The New York Times Book Review ) and “charming” ( People ) trilogy about friendship, furry creatures, and finding the place where you belong.

Twelve-year-old Alice Mayfair has a secret. She’s not human. But who—or what—is she? While Alice goes in search of her past, her best friend Millie Maximus, a tiny Bigfoot with a big voice, prepares for her future. Together they plan to sneak off to New York City , where Millie hopes to audition for The Next Stage , the TV show she’s sure will rocket her to stardom and free her from the suffocating expectations of her tribe.

Meanwhile Jeremy Bigelow’s Bigfoot research has put him on the radar of a shadowy government organization led by a mysterious man named Trip Carruthers. The Bigfoots have something, a chemical so powerful and dangerous that the government will do anything to obtain it. And Jeremy is tasked with securing it once and for all.

In an unexpected twist of fate, Jeremy, Alice, and Millie find themselves facing off at a crossroads. But in order to determine where they’re going, they have to first figure out where they come from—and draw the line between what is good, what is evil, and what it means to be a hero.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult, Audiobook, Juvenile, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2017

About the author

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Reviews

[Bill Syken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: This author is my wife. But I love this story! When I read the Littlest Bigfoot books I always wonder if I should be reading more middle-grade books. This is such a fun read but also smartly addresses topics such identity and friendship and the pain of self-doubt. Can't wait for the third part of the trilogy.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for Little Bigfoot, Big City: Littlest Bigfoot Series, Book 2 (audiobook) by Jennifer Weiner read by Keith Nobbs, Emma Galvin, and Jen Ponton.

This is such an amazing YA adventure. Young people with different levels of furriness are exploring the word around them and testing their skills. They are trying to figure out which culture they belong in all while being watched by a secret government agency. Come to find out they’re not the first generation to test the bounds.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so long ago and I’m still wondering WHERE IS THE SEQUEL. This series was AMAZING and it leaves off with questions. I can’t remember if it left off on an exact cliffhanger or not, but it is not a conclusion.

[Sarah B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well... That was a very unexpected ending!

And while I did enjoy the short scene between Millie and her mother, overall I really didn't care for this book at all. The thing that had attracted to me to the first book - the friendship and the magical wonder of finding a village of Yare (bigfoot) - was missing from this book. In fact it had turned a complete 180 degrees to be almost the exact opposite. Now Millie only cares about getting onto her favorite talent show and her friendship with Alice is forgotten. Which is just awful. I guess the message the book is sending is you cannot trust your friends or maybe they only want to use you so they can get what they want (like to go on that talent show). And isn't that an awful message to put into this book?

And how it is decided who gets onto that show, the online voting, just turned me off even more. It's not about talent or skill at all. It's only about how many fake friends you have online. I just found that depressing! And I felt sorry for Millie too, for falling into that trap.

And there are elements in this story that didn't interest me at all. The spying and sneaking around like Jeremy does...that secret government agency. Blah! Boring!

I had been looking forward to reading this sequel but now I just think its awful and too boring. The best parts were removed in favor of some dime-a-dozen spy plot!

And the ending is so open... And from 2017 too! I guess we will never know. I guess I don't care either as this book was just so bad.

[Katy O. · Rating 3 out of 5]

(includes a spoiler at the end of the review!)

I loved book 1 in this trilogy SO SO SO MUCH, so I couldn't help rate this one as compared to LITTLEST BIGFOOT. There is still a wonderful message about body acceptance and friendship, but this one is a lot heavier on Bigfoot/Yare science and suspense than I would like. I'm excited for Book 3 to wrap everything up, though, since I'm invested in the storyline and this one definitely ended on a cliffhanger!

Thanks to Simon Kids/Aladdin for the review copy.

!!!!!SPOILER BELOW!!!!!!



So, is it just me that is disappointed that Alice ended up being half Yare? To me, that almost takes away all of the amazingness of body acceptance and such. Basically, if you're bigger than everyone else, you are NOT normal. Huh. Still pondering this.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful children fantasy story,,,two books in a fantastic series.

[Siri K · Rating 5 out of 5]

crazy cliffhanger but i cant wait to read the next book ive been waiting since like 6th grade

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Bigfoot, Big City by Jennifer Weiner, is a middle-grade tale that blends fantasy with everyday life, exploring the themes of friendship and feelings of belonging. Its quirky characters, mystery and drama will keep readers engaged. The sequel to The Littlest Bigfoot, it can also be read as a stand alone novel.

The story's two protagonists, twelve-year old Alice Mayfair and her Bigfoot best friend, Millie Maximus, are both a mission. But while Alice's mission is to undercover the secret of her past and live in the woods amongst the Bigfoots, Millie's mission is to prepare for a future in New York city as a singer onstage. Their friendship is tested when Millie befriends popular Jessica Jarvis, who helps Millie enter a singing contest - and Alice befriends Jeremy Bigelow, who helps Alice uncover what may be the real truth of her not-so-human history. But readers will find that this story takes some unexpected paths, leading both Alice and Millie to make some new discoveries. Their discoveries show them that while they are individuals with different dreams, they are also friends who are alike in many ways.

Readers who enjoyed the first book in the series, Littlest Bigfoot, will no doubt want to continue on this journey with Alice & Millie in Little Bigfoot, Big City. The ups & downs that the girls go through are relatable and will strike a chord with many young readers. The question of our humanity as well as our selves - who we are and what we dream of doing - is one that will resonate with many as well.

At its heart, this book is about looking past our differences in order to understand and live in the world together, and that is a message that I think should earn this book a place on many middle-school library shelves. The addition of the well-known historical mystery of Bigfoots and a secret (and possibly sinister?) government organization into the plot gives the book a unique flavor that will intrigue many students as well. A middle-grade novel that is poignant, fresh, and mysterious - Little Bigfoot, Big City is a book to share with the tweens in your life.

*Note* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from @KidlitExchange.

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

While I didn’t love this one as much as I loved the first book, I still really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to reading the conclusion of the series when it comes out. This series has such a cool premise, and this is a great continuation of that. It dives a lot more into the underlying subplot that was hinted at in the background, with the shadowy government organization stuff. (And isn’t that one of the most fun phrases in certain media? Welcome to Night Vale uses a line like that now and then, and it has such atmosphere to it.) Which leads us pretty well into…

Plot Talk: Like I said, this continues the plot from the first book and delves a lot more into it. It answers a lot of the questions raised in the first, and raises a few more of its own. I kept reading like fifty pages at a time, realizing I should take more notes, and then not actually doing it because it was pulling me in too much. There’s a bit more focus on the plot in this one, with the kids doing a lot of detective work and Alice especially trying to learn about herself and her history, and it’s really exciting. I think kids would have a lot of fun with this.

Characters: One thing I enjoyed about this is our main characters don’t always make the best choices, or act in the best ways, but they don’t seem out of character. Particularly, both Alice and Millie make some unkind choices towards each other, but they don’t get into territory where they’re truly nasty or meaning to hurt each other. They’re both just young girls not sure what they’re doing, with both of them kind of new at being friends, and they make mistakes, but they acknowledge those mistakes and talk about them, and eventually apologize. It’s a very healthy representation of friendship.

I continue to love Alice. Young!Laina would have adored her. She just speaks to me so much, and I know there’s a little girl out there who thinks her body is too big or hairy or ugly and I hope she gets to read a book like this where the main character has not lost an ounce of weight, but she has become confident in herself and has learned to appreciate herself. I think the point of the book is more about the plot in this one than the message of acceptance, and I did miss that some, but I’m also kind of okay with a chubby character getting to have adventures and stories not revolving around her weight.

Millie is still precious, and I adored the time taken to have her connect with her mother and go into her mother’s backstory a little more. I honestly did still even like Jeremy. He’s dealing with the consequences of his actions in the first book, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing him grow and learn a little bit more confidence.

PG-13 stuff: Some of the action could get a little scary for younger or more sensitive readers. Alice almost gets kidnapped, and Millie spends a fair bit of time overwhelmed by New York and upset and readers who deal with sensory overload might find that upsetting, but they also might identify with her, so, your mileage may vary and all that.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: I think maybe Jeremy’s friend Jo having surgery to help her walk again and talking about anything being worth it to walk could border on problematic. I don’t think it becomes a miracle cure or anything, as it’s mentioned that she would have to have several surgeries and it’d be a long journey, but I’m going to link to this post by Disability in Kidlit and say that it raised red flags for me, at least as something I should bring up. There’s also a brief discussion of person-first language that I’d like to see someone who uses a wheelchair talk about.

There’s also a lot less focus on Alice’s school, and two of the characters I really liked in the first book don’t show up at all. I really missed them, especially the nonbinary teacher Terry. And beyond a mention of the school accepting students who are queer, there’s not much for that kind of representation. I was disappointed by that.

And last, I think perhaps it lacks in rep of POC characters. Spoilers but important to mention – one of the only POC characters, the only black character as far as I know (and one of the main fat adult characters) might be one of the bad guys. It’s not entirely clear due to the nature of the character/plot, so I’m hoping it turns out well, but that troubled me.

Cover comments: I would hang a poster of this. It is absolutely gorgeous, with all the soft pinky-purple and the lights, and look at Alice and Millie! I actually think Alice looks more accurate this time. She looks a little more chubby and larger overall, especially her legs. I also think it goes really well with the first cover.

Conclusion: This does a lot of things I like, despite having a few problems, and it’s a lot of fun. Really glad I got to read it and I’m excited to read the next one. There aren’t ever enough main characters who aren’t thin, especially when the book is actually positive about those character and doesn’t say they should be ashamed of how they look. Having a basis of that plus a fun adventure and a cool world is great. Overall, I’m giving this four roses out of five.

Other notes:

– Kind of random, but I really enjoy seeing kids use cellphones in positive ways in media. Lucia and I watched a movie recently where they used cell phones as flashlights and taking photos to store clues (it was a mystery) and this book has some of that. I think that works so much better than ignoring that they exist completely.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a certain spark missing from this one that I enjoyed so much in the first book. I think the author is trying to add too much to the story in order to stretch it out even further. It's apparent this is not the end of the series, but I'm doubtful I'll pick up the next installment.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Little Bigfoot, Big City
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Narrated by: Emma Galvin, Keith Nobbs, Jen Ponton
Publisher: Simon & Shuster Audio
Length: Approximately 7 hours and 43 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Simon & Shuster Audio. Thank-you!

Little Bigfoot, Big City is the wonderful follow-up novel to the Littlest Bigfoot. Penelope and I really enjoyed the first book and were excited to read the second book.

Alice Mayfair found at the end of the 1st book that she is not exactly human. If she is not human, then what is she? As Alice tries to investigate where she came from, her friend Millie, who is a little bigfoot, tries to figure out how to get on a singing show in New York City. She uses her friend Jessica Jarvis to be her “face” while she provides the powerful singing voice. Jeremy’s research into bigfoot has made him a target of a shadowy organization that is searching for the same thing. Will our three heroes find their happy endings?

Penelope and I enjoyed this second book in the series. The story is told in alternating chapters by the three different main characters. Penelope really wanted to know more about what exactly Alice was and where she came. She said the mystery was her favorite part. There were some satisfying answers, but the book ultimately was left with a cliffhanger. We looked and didn’t see a book three. NOOO!!! I hope that a conclusion to this trilogy comes out at some point. Penelope liked the friendship between Millie and Alice and the questions of belonging.

My thirteen-year-old son Daniel listened with us as well. He primarily liked Jeremy’s search for answers and the mystery.

This review was first posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2021...

[Talia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fame comes at a price, something Jeremy and Millie have learned all too well.

Jeremy's life has turned upside down since he tried to expose the Little Bigfoot he found in Standish. Now the government knows both his AND Jo's names, and they won't stop terrorizing his family unless he gives up all the information he has.

Millie may have saved her village, but she's still stuck being a Yare when all she wants is to be a regular no-fur girl. When the chance comes up to audition for her favorite TV show, The Next Stage, she takes it wholeheartedly and begins to lose herself along the way. Is fame really what she wants if it means she and Alice aren't friends anymore, and she can't live a normal life?

Alice is miserable. At the end of the first book, she learned she wasn't human, and she's DESPERATELY hoping she might be Yare, like Millie. But Millie isn't being supportive, and Alice has to deal with her problems all on her own. It's hard to deal with your whole existence being a lie, without even a friend by your side.

In this sequel, we get a bigger look into why the government is interested in the Yare. We also learn more about both Millie and Alice's parents (secrets are everywhere, and people are not what they seem.) What I love most about this novel is that Millie got a plot line any other girl could have had. She may be Yare, but on the inside Millie is just the same as we are. All three of these kids deserve the best!

After this sequel, I'm eagerly awaiting #3 in the series ! :)

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 6.3

5 out of 5 Stars!!!!!

Have you ever wanted something so much that you would do just about anything to get it? Have you ever had a secret that you just didn't think you could share with anyone? In the second book from Jennier Weiner's amazing series, The Littlest Bigfoot, this is exactly what is happening with Alice and Millie. Alice needs to find out what and who she is. She has never felt like she belongs anywhere and now she wants answers as to why that is. Millie has always felt trapped and when she get her one chance at fame, will she have the nerve to take it? And then there is Jeremy. When Jeremy finds out the truth about Alice and Millie, will he do what is right or will he use it to make himself famous?
As expected, I couldn't put this book down. It is such an exciting continuation of the first book that you just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. Warning: this book does keep you hanging and wanting the third book to read next. I can not wait for the third book to come out in this series.

Follow me:

Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lauriepurser27
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.weebly.com/

[Amy Volker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book and this one did not disappoint either. The story picks up right when the first left off- Alice has finally found a friend in Millie and believes that she has found her Tribe, she just needs to prove it. Millie has also found a friend in Alice and a way to make her dream of singing on The Next Stage come true. Jeremy has realized that the secret of the Yare and Millie and Alice are worth keeping secret and has decided to help them instead of hunting them. But everything they always wanted will be questioned and torn apart as they all find the truth is more difficult to accept and what they truly want may not be what they need.
I love that these stories have such strong women characters who learn to love themselves just as they are and that they find their own tribe and family who accept them for who they truly are. I can't wait to see how their stories end and if they become happy with what happens.

[Michelle Kenneth - PerfectionistWannabe.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.]

This is such an adorable story. I did not read book #1, and #2 was fine without having read the first book. Imagine a world where a community of bigfoots live. Alice goes to school nearby. Her friend, Millie, is a little bigfoot around her age who dreams of being a famous singer. She gets the other girls in the school to help her audition for The Next Big Stage (an American Idol type of show). When she succeeds in the online competition, she needs to go to NYC to audition in person. But how can she when she's kept her face hidden the entire time?

The girls head to NYC to audition, but all the while, they are followed by a secret government organization.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a lot of fun and I'm sure most young (middle grade) girls will love this story.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Bigfoot, Big City is the second book in the Littlest Bigfoot series by Jennifer Weiner. After book one ends on a cliffhanger, I was excited to get my (smallish) hands on the next book in the series.
This sequel did not disappoint. As we continue to see our protagonists grow and learn more about themselves and the worlds they inhabit. We get to piece their stories together alongside them, attempting to solve the overarching series mystery as well as the smaller questions raised throughout the book.
This book is engagingly written for nearly any age (some tense scenes may be suspenseful for younger readers). I enjoyed the writing, the character development, and puzzling out the plot as new clues surfaced.
I have only one complaint- this novel also ends on a cliffhanger, and was published in 2017. Yet I can’t find any book 3 information anywhere! Please, Jennifer Weiner, give us an update and a pub date for book 3!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

? The sequel picks up right after the events of the first novel, so readers should read this series in order. Alice, a young girl who has always felt out of place with her large size and clumsiness, has learned that her blood test reveals that she is “not human.” Alice is determined to find out what she is and hopes that she is a “Yare” or a Bigfoot like her best friend, Millie. Meanwhile, Millie is determined to audition for an American Idol type television program and dreams of heading to NY to sing. Jeremy Bigelow, who almost outed the Yare in the first book, befriends Alice and become in involved with a secret government agency that may be hiding their true motives. The action and secrets ramp up in this thrilling sequel. The narrative switches between each of the main characters, giving the reader insight into each of their lives. Highly recommended!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Weiner is at the top of my favorite authors list for adult fiction, and her foray into juvenile fiction does not disappoint. This is the second book in a series about Alice, a human (?) girl who does not fit in anywhere, and her new friend, Millie, who is a Yare (Bigfoot). Millie wants nothing more than to be in the "no fur" world and audition for her favorite talent tv show. Alice wants nothing more than to discover she is really part Yare- thus allowing her to run off into the forest for a simpler life. In trying to achieve these goals, both characters lose sight of their friendship until danger brings them back together at the end. The only critique I have of this book is that it ended with such a cliffhanger- it will be hard to wait for the release of the final book in this trilogy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, suspenseful, yet beautifully paced sequel in a trilogy full of characters who quickly capture your heart and feel so real it's like you are them. The emotions and observations about not-easily-categorized behavior and people are spot on and insightful. Love the alternating viewpoints between our three main characters, and the slowly unspooling big web of secrets that take turns with the little dramas, all or which Weiner has ensured are still rooted in real world plausibility. Also noteworthy is the increasing inclusion of adult perspectives and relationships with their children and each other as relevant, sympathetic, empathetic and interesting, even if a little bit of an aside. (SPOILER: Septima and Yetta are given the most background here and Felicia, as well, but I look forward to more of her and Jamie and Maximus in the third book.) I can't wait for the finale!

[Heather Baez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was book #2 chosen by the two girls in my mini tween book club. They liked the first one enough to read this one, which frankly kind of surprised me. I couldn't tell how much they were really enjoying, or not enjoying, the book - this one included. The sequel could honestly almost stand on its own. There was enough of what happened in the first book explained in this one, and what wasn't could be figured out.

It's funny what I learn about young girls (now that I'm old, LOL) when I read with them. The two things they didn't like about this book - the chapters were too long (they want to be able to read 1-2 chapters in our 30 minutes), and this one ended on a cliffhanger too! And there's no news on a #3. So, we had to leave the world of the Yare behind. Overall, I thought it was perfectly fine, but wouldn't recommend it. It *did* get 11 year-olds to read though!

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago a woman told me "You remind me so much of the author, Jennifer Weiner. Have you thought of becoming a writer?" I didn't know that author. But this year I won an ARC in a goodreads giveaway written by Jennifer Weiner, and discovered just how wrong that woman had been. There is no way that I could ever write a novel so complicated, so fascinating, so put together. The only problem with it is that the book that I won was the second in a series, and it ended in a cliff hanger. Now I have to get hold of the others in the series.

[Melanie Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for 4th grade and up. There is no inappropriate language (my opinion only) and the wording isn't too complicated. I loved the story line and think it is perfect for the curious reader. It is a strong tale of longing to belong, the struggle of adolescence and friendship in unlikely places. Throw in some mythical creature (or real depending on your believe) and you have an amazing adventure to finding your place in a confusing stage in life.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges: Middle Grade March - Non-human main/important character (2); and, Create Your Own Readathon/Stacking the Series/Steeped in Books - Working List/Level 1i/Book 2. This is an adorable treatment of the Yare/Bigfoot phenomenon through which the identity crises faced by middle graders, both within their families and the world outside of their families and peer groups, are dealt with daily. I hope that the somewhat inconclusive ending is an indication that this series will continue.

[Sadie Forsythe]

I put this on my Own-Won't-Read shelf only because I've passed it to my children. (I didn't just delete it from my shelves because I won it.) I didn't read it all, but I did read the prologue and first chapter. The writing seems good and I liked the tone. It's just a bit too young for me. While sometimes I have the patience to read such books, I don't right now. This is really just a housekeeping note for myself.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line of Jeremy and Trip Carruthers was more intriguing to me this time around than Alice and Millie, although I enjoyed Alice and Millie more in the first book. I could have done with less girl friendship drama but I understand I'm reading a children's book so I need to give it some slack. It was great to see Alice's mother finally act like a mom! Looking out for book #3 to complete the story.

[Mattie:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of friendship in this book builds really well off of the original. I liked the mystery element, it was an add on and it further engrossed me into the world. The ending was kind of strange but I’m excited to see the way it’s built on in the next book.

This book would probably have been a 4.2 star book but the whole thing with Alice’s mom at the end brought it down. It just felt lazy to me. So after that it falls at 4/5 stars.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a well-written book and enjoyable to read. The characters are all well-developed. This story, as book 2, added intrigue and mystery to the plot line. I was both pleasantly surprised and a little disappointed that it ended with the cliffhanger that it did. I hope we don't have to wait long for the next book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story. It was bittersweet and fun and intriguing. The characters were still likeable. Although, I did prefer Alice in thos book. The setting is, for the most part, the same as the first book; the end is in New York City. The ending has me excited to read the next book in this series.

[Bari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the 1st book and this second book carries the story along. I enjoyed revisiting the characters and learning all about Alice. Like many kids Alice's age, she struggles with fitting in and making friends. The relationship between Alice and Mille as well as Alice's friends, is one that is kids can identify with.

This was good and am waiting for the next installment .

[Lkking · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd title in this children's series about kids who don't fit in - with family, friends, etc. Their lives intertwine as they try to discover secrets about themselves and the legendary Bigfoots, who are rumored to have special curative blood and have at least twice the lifespan of humans. Truths are uncovered but the end leaves much unexplained, leaving an open door for the next book in the series.