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So Done
When best friends Tai and Mila are reunited after a summer apart, their friendship threatens to combust from the pressure of secrets, middle school, and the looming dance auditions for a new talented-and-gifted program.
Fans of Renée Watson’s Piecing Me Together will love this memorable story about a complex friendship between two very different African American girls—and the importance of speaking up.
Jamila Phillips and Tai Johnson have been inseparable since they were toddlers, having grown up across the street from each other in Pirates Cove, a low-income housing project. As summer comes to an end, Tai can’t wait for Mila to return from spending a month with her aunt in the suburbs. But both girls are grappling with secrets, and when Mila returns she’s more focused on her upcoming dance auditions than hanging out with Tai.
Paula Chase explores complex issues that affect many young teens, and So Done offers a powerful message about speaking up. Full of ballet, basketball, family, and daily life in Pirates Cove, this memorable novel is for fans of Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish and Jason Reynolds’s Ghost.
Fans of Renée Watson’s Piecing Me Together will love this memorable story about a complex friendship between two very different African American girls—and the importance of speaking up.
Jamila Phillips and Tai Johnson have been inseparable since they were toddlers, having grown up across the street from each other in Pirates Cove, a low-income housing project. As summer comes to an end, Tai can’t wait for Mila to return from spending a month with her aunt in the suburbs. But both girls are grappling with secrets, and when Mila returns she’s more focused on her upcoming dance auditions than hanging out with Tai.
Paula Chase explores complex issues that affect many young teens, and So Done offers a powerful message about speaking up. Full of ballet, basketball, family, and daily life in Pirates Cove, this memorable novel is for fans of Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish and Jason Reynolds’s Ghost.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
73 people are currently reading
3734 people want to read
About the author
Paula Chase
15 books201 followersI'm a creature borne of pop culture. It's created a volatile mix of hope and cynicism within me that I help myself understand by putting my young characters through the world's paces.
I have a big heart for young readers. Young Adult and Middle Grade novels are my home.
And because no one lives in a vacuum, I co-founded The Brown Bookshelf to ensure that the spotlight on children's lit created by persons of color never dims.
I have a big heart for young readers. Young Adult and Middle Grade novels are my home.
And because no one lives in a vacuum, I co-founded The Brown Bookshelf to ensure that the spotlight on children's lit created by persons of color never dims.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
February 16, 2022
I can't believe that this is my first Paul Chase book! I should be ashamed of myself for waiting so long to start this series.
So Done is the first book in a middle grade series told in dual POV that focuses on two characters Tai and Mila. They are best friends, but things change when Mila comes back from spending time in the suburbs with her aunt. Tai immediately feels as though Mila looks at their low income housing project differently and is more focused on their dance audition than their friendship. Unfortunately, Mila is holding in a secret that has potential to destroy her relationship with Tai.
One thing that I loved about this book is that it is unapologetically Black. From the character development to the plot development, it is easy to tell that Chase wrote this novel with Black kids in mind. While the scenarios of the main characters is universal for a lot of middle grade students, the actual sequencing of events definitely makes it clear that Chase attempts to capture the Black experience. Seeing Pirates Cove through the development of the story was interesting. Chase didn't shy away from showing readers the good, bad, and ugly providing a rich and vibrant perspective of the community. The relationship between Tai and Mila is interesting and very true to a lot of middle grade experiences. As an adult reader, Tai drove me CRAZY, but when I thought about how I was at her age she didn't bother me as much. A lot of the narrative focuses on her attempting to figure out why her relationship with Mila is no longer the same. In a way, I think she feels left behind without realizing that it's a pretty traumatizing experience that is making Mila reconsider her place in Pirates Cove. Actually, I think that a lot of readers will find the dynamic between these two characters to be extremely interesting as they read as polar opposites.
Chase is known for touching on topics that are considered taboo in middle grade books and I think that's apparent in this novel. She doesn't shy away from those difficult conversations, but they are things that impact this particular age group especially those involving family dynamics. Mila is being raised by a single father while Tai is being raised by her grandmother. Her father is present on page, but really is in and out because of his own battles with addiction. Nevertheless, I appreciated the balance that she gives readers with the incorporation of the arts program. It was so interesting watching all of the kids talk about their passion whether that was ballet/dance, drama, playing a musical instrument, etc. They were all so determined to do well at their auditions to qualify for placement into the program. Chase also did a great job utilizing this specific aspect of the book as a jumping place for the next book in the series.
Overall, I really enjoyed my read of this and it definitely won't be my last Paula Chase novel.
So Done is the first book in a middle grade series told in dual POV that focuses on two characters Tai and Mila. They are best friends, but things change when Mila comes back from spending time in the suburbs with her aunt. Tai immediately feels as though Mila looks at their low income housing project differently and is more focused on their dance audition than their friendship. Unfortunately, Mila is holding in a secret that has potential to destroy her relationship with Tai.
One thing that I loved about this book is that it is unapologetically Black. From the character development to the plot development, it is easy to tell that Chase wrote this novel with Black kids in mind. While the scenarios of the main characters is universal for a lot of middle grade students, the actual sequencing of events definitely makes it clear that Chase attempts to capture the Black experience. Seeing Pirates Cove through the development of the story was interesting. Chase didn't shy away from showing readers the good, bad, and ugly providing a rich and vibrant perspective of the community. The relationship between Tai and Mila is interesting and very true to a lot of middle grade experiences. As an adult reader, Tai drove me CRAZY, but when I thought about how I was at her age she didn't bother me as much. A lot of the narrative focuses on her attempting to figure out why her relationship with Mila is no longer the same. In a way, I think she feels left behind without realizing that it's a pretty traumatizing experience that is making Mila reconsider her place in Pirates Cove. Actually, I think that a lot of readers will find the dynamic between these two characters to be extremely interesting as they read as polar opposites.
Chase is known for touching on topics that are considered taboo in middle grade books and I think that's apparent in this novel. She doesn't shy away from those difficult conversations, but they are things that impact this particular age group especially those involving family dynamics. Mila is being raised by a single father while Tai is being raised by her grandmother. Her father is present on page, but really is in and out because of his own battles with addiction. Nevertheless, I appreciated the balance that she gives readers with the incorporation of the arts program. It was so interesting watching all of the kids talk about their passion whether that was ballet/dance, drama, playing a musical instrument, etc. They were all so determined to do well at their auditions to qualify for placement into the program. Chase also did a great job utilizing this specific aspect of the book as a jumping place for the next book in the series.
Overall, I really enjoyed my read of this and it definitely won't be my last Paula Chase novel.
August 14, 2018
If you go back and look at some of my past reviews, I allude to the fact that there was a time when you could find books with black characters, and the black culture was basically ignored. The character might run his hands through his "curly" hair, or you might find a mention of mocha or camel skin, but there was nothing of the culture that came with that hair and skin. Then you might have the polar opposite. There were books that were full of brown skin, guns, drugs, gangs, sex, and there was one character fighting to get away from the horrors of his community.
Those books tells the stories of some black experiences, but not all of them.
Mila and Tai live in the Pirates Cove. In Pirates Cove there are rules to be followed. Tai loves her community and she loves the rules. If you step to her she'll step to you. Always have your girls at your back, and walk with your head held high. There's an intricate dance to managing Pirates Cove and Tai is the 8th grade queen of it all.
Mila, although Tai's best friend, is quite the opposite. She's just come back from a Summer with her Aunt and all she wants is to go back. She's hates the song and dance that's required with living in the cove. She hates the rules of her friend circle, and more importantly, she no longer feels safe in her neighborhood, but no for the reasons you may think.
This book alternates between Mila's point of view and Tai's point of view., and I'm glad it does. We, the readers, are able to see two very different perspectives on the same urban community. Tai's glad to have her best friend back, the peanut butter to her jelly, her second banana, her silent backup. Mila is ready for a change, she's shedding her nickname, moving up a level in her ballet class, and contemplating her friendship with Tai, her best friend who's house she can't bare to look at. Her best friend who talks over her and puts her down around other kids in the neighborhood, her best friend who pushes, prods, and nags, until she gets her way. The one person who Mila is just beginning to stand up against.
As Mila begins to figure out who she is, as opposed to who the hood wants her to be, Tai is hurt and confused. Tai and Mila have been best friends forever, the summer has been torture without Mila. When Mila comes back and doesn't want to be called by her nick name, pulls away and makes new friends, doesn't back Tai up in conversation, and starts arguments when they're around other people Tai is flabbergasted. It's like Bean (Mila's nick name) left for the summer and a complete stranger came back in her place.
Unlike Mila's loving, close knit family (shout out to JJ and Jeremy, Mila's brothers. I loved them!) Tai's is a bit of a mess. Tai lives with her grandmother, she's never met her mother, and her father is constantly high and only shows up when he needs, food, money, or a place to stay, and months earlier, he did something so unthinkable, the only response Tai could manage was to pretend like it hadn't happened. But unfortunately Mila can't forget, and it's driving a wedge between them.
I loved seeing Pirates Cove through the eyes of Tai and Mila. If we're being honest with ourselves, we can all be made to feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar communities, particularly underprivileged ones. If Pirates Cover were real, I wouldn't know about the phenomenal dance school and all of the girls, like Mila, who were benefiting from it. I wouldn't know about the TAG program, that (while we never actually see it) may change the lives of these young people. We wouldn't know about people like Mila's dad who bend over backwards to keep drugs off the streets. The media has taught us that nothing good can come from a neighborhood like Tai and Mila's, they taught us that kids like Tai and Mila are doomed from the start, they taught us that fathers leave their children, and they've taught us that no one cares. SO Done has shown us, that the media has it wrong.
Read it if you're in middle school, read it if you're in high school, read it if you've never lived anywhere but Greenwich, Connecticut. This is a book for all ages, all races, and all economic backgrounds.
To read more of my reviews check out my blog at https://allthediversity.blogspot.com/
Those books tells the stories of some black experiences, but not all of them.
Mila and Tai live in the Pirates Cove. In Pirates Cove there are rules to be followed. Tai loves her community and she loves the rules. If you step to her she'll step to you. Always have your girls at your back, and walk with your head held high. There's an intricate dance to managing Pirates Cove and Tai is the 8th grade queen of it all.
Mila, although Tai's best friend, is quite the opposite. She's just come back from a Summer with her Aunt and all she wants is to go back. She's hates the song and dance that's required with living in the cove. She hates the rules of her friend circle, and more importantly, she no longer feels safe in her neighborhood, but no for the reasons you may think.
This book alternates between Mila's point of view and Tai's point of view., and I'm glad it does. We, the readers, are able to see two very different perspectives on the same urban community. Tai's glad to have her best friend back, the peanut butter to her jelly, her second banana, her silent backup. Mila is ready for a change, she's shedding her nickname, moving up a level in her ballet class, and contemplating her friendship with Tai, her best friend who's house she can't bare to look at. Her best friend who talks over her and puts her down around other kids in the neighborhood, her best friend who pushes, prods, and nags, until she gets her way. The one person who Mila is just beginning to stand up against.
As Mila begins to figure out who she is, as opposed to who the hood wants her to be, Tai is hurt and confused. Tai and Mila have been best friends forever, the summer has been torture without Mila. When Mila comes back and doesn't want to be called by her nick name, pulls away and makes new friends, doesn't back Tai up in conversation, and starts arguments when they're around other people Tai is flabbergasted. It's like Bean (Mila's nick name) left for the summer and a complete stranger came back in her place.
Unlike Mila's loving, close knit family (shout out to JJ and Jeremy, Mila's brothers. I loved them!) Tai's is a bit of a mess. Tai lives with her grandmother, she's never met her mother, and her father is constantly high and only shows up when he needs, food, money, or a place to stay, and months earlier, he did something so unthinkable, the only response Tai could manage was to pretend like it hadn't happened. But unfortunately Mila can't forget, and it's driving a wedge between them.
I loved seeing Pirates Cove through the eyes of Tai and Mila. If we're being honest with ourselves, we can all be made to feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar communities, particularly underprivileged ones. If Pirates Cover were real, I wouldn't know about the phenomenal dance school and all of the girls, like Mila, who were benefiting from it. I wouldn't know about the TAG program, that (while we never actually see it) may change the lives of these young people. We wouldn't know about people like Mila's dad who bend over backwards to keep drugs off the streets. The media has taught us that nothing good can come from a neighborhood like Tai and Mila's, they taught us that kids like Tai and Mila are doomed from the start, they taught us that fathers leave their children, and they've taught us that no one cares. SO Done has shown us, that the media has it wrong.
Read it if you're in middle school, read it if you're in high school, read it if you've never lived anywhere but Greenwich, Connecticut. This is a book for all ages, all races, and all economic backgrounds.
To read more of my reviews check out my blog at https://allthediversity.blogspot.com/
September 25, 2018
Perfect for middle schoolers struggling with friendships.
May 21, 2018
Edelweiss provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Do you know how hard it is to find middle grade fiction where African American girls and their culture feature prominently (as in not a sidekick or black-girl-in-a-white-town)...that's NOT historical? (Or about hurricane Katrina?) As a middle school librarian, I have found it's VERY difficult. I'm not saying they aren't out there--but they are hard to find.
So Done features two girls from the same neighborhood--best friends who are headed in different directions. It really does an excellent job of exploring the way friendships (and kids) change during middle school using authentic voices. These characters look and sound like a large portion of our school population who are normally under-represented in literature.
I knew within a few chapters that it was a must-have for our school library. There are a couple of other important topics covered (drug dealing/abuse, sexual harassment/assault, difficult family dynamics) but the focus is really on Metai and Jamila and how their friendship is forced to evolve.
Do you know how hard it is to find middle grade fiction where African American girls and their culture feature prominently (as in not a sidekick or black-girl-in-a-white-town)...that's NOT historical? (Or about hurricane Katrina?) As a middle school librarian, I have found it's VERY difficult. I'm not saying they aren't out there--but they are hard to find.
So Done features two girls from the same neighborhood--best friends who are headed in different directions. It really does an excellent job of exploring the way friendships (and kids) change during middle school using authentic voices. These characters look and sound like a large portion of our school population who are normally under-represented in literature.
I knew within a few chapters that it was a must-have for our school library. There are a couple of other important topics covered (drug dealing/abuse, sexual harassment/assault, difficult family dynamics) but the focus is really on Metai and Jamila and how their friendship is forced to evolve.
September 7, 2019
I... don't know how I feel about this book, and that's very much a me thing. The writing was good, the plot and the characters were good, but I also picked this one up because I needed a quick, fun contemporary because my anxiety was very bad and it ended up dealing with some very triggering stuff that wasn't even hinted at in the synopsis which I think is pretty irresponsible, especially because this is a book for kids. But other than that, this book was a pretty fine read and I'm definitely planning up more by this author. Just... not when my anxiety is already being awful.
(TW: sexual assault, pedophilia, discussions of drugs + drug running)
(TW: sexual assault, pedophilia, discussions of drugs + drug running)
September 28, 2020
Everyone remembers that one childhood friend, their ride-or-die, that travels with them from childhood to adolescence. It's a challenging phase for kids as staggering changes wreak havoc on their bodies and minds, molding them into new people with new passions, desires and fears. I think we'd all agree that even the most rock-solid childhood friendships are sorely tested through this metamorphosis. Sometimes they survive the turmoil, coming out on the other side as something new but stronger. And some times they don't.
So Done
is the story of Mila and Tai, BFF's for life until this transition into adolescence threatens to break their friendship beyond repair.
I loved almost everything out this book, especially the author's use of AAVE which was absolutely brilliant. The story poured off the page and it was practically impossible to put this book down! Told from the perspective of both girls, it was easy to slip into each of their minds and see their side and feel their frustrations and hurts. The writing was magnificent in it's authenticity. The only thing I had an issue with was one plot device that I thought wasn't necessary and to me, spoiled the ending. It felt like the author thought she needed to create an external reason for what triggered the crack in their friendship. I wish they had trusted themselves more and simply stuck to telling the fascinating story of how these girls struggled to sort through the cacophony of psychological and physiological noise puberty brings to their lives. The struggle is actually real because puberty is nothing short of an explosion of change. The overarching question of will they grow together or will they grow apart was what I found so compelling. It didn't need anything more to move the story along.
Overall, an excellent book and I'm definitely going read more from this author. What a voice!
I loved almost everything out this book, especially the author's use of AAVE which was absolutely brilliant. The story poured off the page and it was practically impossible to put this book down! Told from the perspective of both girls, it was easy to slip into each of their minds and see their side and feel their frustrations and hurts. The writing was magnificent in it's authenticity. The only thing I had an issue with was one plot device that I thought wasn't necessary and to me, spoiled the ending. It felt like the author thought she needed to create an external reason for what triggered the crack in their friendship. I wish they had trusted themselves more and simply stuck to telling the fascinating story of how these girls struggled to sort through the cacophony of psychological and physiological noise puberty brings to their lives. The struggle is actually real because puberty is nothing short of an explosion of change. The overarching question of will they grow together or will they grow apart was what I found so compelling. It didn't need anything more to move the story along.
Overall, an excellent book and I'm definitely going read more from this author. What a voice!
November 12, 2018
Grateful to author Paula Chase for sending me an ARC of this moving middle-grade book! SO DONE follows two friends, Metai and Jamila living in a low-income Housing Project. Although, inseparable from childhood, things change when Jamila returns from a summer in the suburbs. Both girls are dealing with secrets and Mila appears to be different after her time in the suburbs, throwing her self into dance auditions for their new afterschool program.
I LOVED this book. I'm embarrassed to report that this is the first book by Paula Chase that I've read, but I loved it. Chase's writing is so fluid and original. Metai and Mila's voices were so distinct throughout the story that I could see them easily in my mind's eye. I also enjoyed how big a role the entire Pirates Cove neighborhood plays in this book. Now, while reading Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend, I can easily say that Chase's Pirate Cove, just like the neighborhood in Ferrante's novel is in itself a living character in this novel. The dynamic between the girls and their friends is so reminiscent of that turbulent age between middle school and high school.
More importantly, SO DONE tackles the struggles experienced even in adult friendships, the importance of stepping up to pursue your goals and the need to speak up even when you're afraid. I loved this book (have I already mentioned that?). Definitely top five reads of the year!
I LOVED this book. I'm embarrassed to report that this is the first book by Paula Chase that I've read, but I loved it. Chase's writing is so fluid and original. Metai and Mila's voices were so distinct throughout the story that I could see them easily in my mind's eye. I also enjoyed how big a role the entire Pirates Cove neighborhood plays in this book. Now, while reading Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend, I can easily say that Chase's Pirate Cove, just like the neighborhood in Ferrante's novel is in itself a living character in this novel. The dynamic between the girls and their friends is so reminiscent of that turbulent age between middle school and high school.
More importantly, SO DONE tackles the struggles experienced even in adult friendships, the importance of stepping up to pursue your goals and the need to speak up even when you're afraid. I loved this book (have I already mentioned that?). Definitely top five reads of the year!
September 3, 2018
Jamila (Mila) and Metai (Tai), who live across the street from each other in a low-income housing project, have been good friends for a long time. Their friendship is strained these days, however, for a variety of reasons. After staying with her aunt in the suburbs for a few weeks, Mila suddenly objects to being called her childhood nickname of Bean and she doesn't want to spend time at Tai's house. Tai, on the other hand, is becoming more and more interested in getting a commitment out of her long-time crush, Rollie, while she also deals with the erratic behavior of her drug-addicted father. Additionally, both girls, and many of their other friends, are interested in auditioning for the new Talented and Gifted (TAG) program, but worry that with so much competition they may not be accepted.
I immediately recognized Paula Chase as the author of the Del Rio Bay Clique series, which I remember ordering for my library back when I was a teen librarian, and which was hugely popular. This book, though written at the middle grade level, is set in the same community, and judging from how well-written it is, it is also likely to be very popular.
So many middle grade friendship stories are set against very generic middle class backgrounds where all the characters talk, act, think, and sound the same. This book, by contrast, makes great use of slang and local color to make the characters sound real and authentic, and develops its setting in such a way that it is not just the backdrop of the story, but an integral part of the way the plot unfolds. Despite the fact that I wasn't familiar with a lot of the slang or subject matter, I was completely drawn into this world and fully invested in the well-being of both girls and in their hopes for getting into TAG. I can imagine that kids who do get the cultural references will be that much more immersed in the story.
There is some mature subject matter in this book that definitely places it at the higher end of the middle grade spectrum. Both Tai and Mila have parents who use drugs, and though it is never explicitly stated, it is clear that Tai's mom and dad were teen parents. There is also a troubling incident involving Mila and Tai's father, which, while handled gracefully by the author, with a clear-cut resolution, might be too much for some readers, especially those who are used to lighter friendship books. For that reason, I think of it as more appropriate for middle school than elementary school readers. Still, there are plenty of positive role models in the story, and the overall focus is on hope and healing, not on darkness and despair, as is fitting for a middle grade novel.
So Done is yet another wonderful 2018 middle grade book (there are so many good ones this year so far!) and certainly a strong middle grade debut for Paula Chase. I'd be happy to see more books like this one in the years to come! (Thanks to Edelweiss for the digital review copy!)
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
I immediately recognized Paula Chase as the author of the Del Rio Bay Clique series, which I remember ordering for my library back when I was a teen librarian, and which was hugely popular. This book, though written at the middle grade level, is set in the same community, and judging from how well-written it is, it is also likely to be very popular.
So many middle grade friendship stories are set against very generic middle class backgrounds where all the characters talk, act, think, and sound the same. This book, by contrast, makes great use of slang and local color to make the characters sound real and authentic, and develops its setting in such a way that it is not just the backdrop of the story, but an integral part of the way the plot unfolds. Despite the fact that I wasn't familiar with a lot of the slang or subject matter, I was completely drawn into this world and fully invested in the well-being of both girls and in their hopes for getting into TAG. I can imagine that kids who do get the cultural references will be that much more immersed in the story.
There is some mature subject matter in this book that definitely places it at the higher end of the middle grade spectrum. Both Tai and Mila have parents who use drugs, and though it is never explicitly stated, it is clear that Tai's mom and dad were teen parents. There is also a troubling incident involving Mila and Tai's father, which, while handled gracefully by the author, with a clear-cut resolution, might be too much for some readers, especially those who are used to lighter friendship books. For that reason, I think of it as more appropriate for middle school than elementary school readers. Still, there are plenty of positive role models in the story, and the overall focus is on hope and healing, not on darkness and despair, as is fitting for a middle grade novel.
So Done is yet another wonderful 2018 middle grade book (there are so many good ones this year so far!) and certainly a strong middle grade debut for Paula Chase. I'd be happy to see more books like this one in the years to come! (Thanks to Edelweiss for the digital review copy!)
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
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July 1, 2018When Mila comes home from a summer spent away from the trailer, she puts a wedge between her and former best friend Tai. She no longer wants to be called by her old nickname, and Tai doesn't take to that -- nor the distance -- well. But Mila has her reasons: she wants more than she thinks she can achieve, and she's leery of Tai's father after what he did to her a few months ago.
Chase writes a really compelling and realistic look at the complex dynamics of friendship. This book lands in the upper middle grade range, and it's true to what happens between friends at that fragile age before high school. Further complicating this story are issues of poverty and access, as well as families challenged by issues of addiction. Neither Tai nor Mila has a rosy home life, but neither lacks love or support needed to grow into the people they can become.
One of the interesting pieces of this is what overlays the story: the school is getting a Talented and Gifted program, which will give access to more lessons and education within the fine arts. Both Tai and Mila have been dancers and plan on trying out for TAG. Tai doesn't take it as seriously as Mila does, in part because she's less invested in ballet than she is in other styles of dance. But she also feels compelled to do so so she doesn't lose her best friend. Near the end, we find out the fate of both girls, and we see Tai confront the truths behind her motivations, and these big moments are well-earned and serve to flesh out the girls even more. Neither is better or worse than the other, and Chase is careful in exploring what drives each of them and what it is that might drive them apart.
This one will appeal to middle grade readers, especially those who care about friendship stories. The modern slang and language will make it even more accessible and relatable.
Chase writes a really compelling and realistic look at the complex dynamics of friendship. This book lands in the upper middle grade range, and it's true to what happens between friends at that fragile age before high school. Further complicating this story are issues of poverty and access, as well as families challenged by issues of addiction. Neither Tai nor Mila has a rosy home life, but neither lacks love or support needed to grow into the people they can become.
One of the interesting pieces of this is what overlays the story: the school is getting a Talented and Gifted program, which will give access to more lessons and education within the fine arts. Both Tai and Mila have been dancers and plan on trying out for TAG. Tai doesn't take it as seriously as Mila does, in part because she's less invested in ballet than she is in other styles of dance. But she also feels compelled to do so so she doesn't lose her best friend. Near the end, we find out the fate of both girls, and we see Tai confront the truths behind her motivations, and these big moments are well-earned and serve to flesh out the girls even more. Neither is better or worse than the other, and Chase is careful in exploring what drives each of them and what it is that might drive them apart.
This one will appeal to middle grade readers, especially those who care about friendship stories. The modern slang and language will make it even more accessible and relatable.
February 26, 2019
A book about friendship and everything that comes with growing up. How people change, but can still grow together.
October 7, 2018
So Done... two girls are in the same ballet and jazz class, and are auditioning for an elite program in their neighborhood. Typical middle school friends, boys, new girl drama is in this book. I found many of the conversations difficult to follow and had trouble understanding what the slang words meant. The premise of the book with the girls growing up and apart was intriguing, just don't believe the author succeeded in delivering the message.
August 26, 2018
Wow. One of my favorite middle grade books of the year. Deep and powerful, with a voice that’s rarely heard in middle grade, SO DONE delves into topics and themes this age group needs to find in books. I learned SO much from it. An upper MG must-read.
June 26, 2020
Wanted to like this more than I did. I kind of wish the subplot about Tai’s dad had not been in this book because outgrowing your friends in middle school is a great topic that there should be more books about.
January 18, 2026
3.5 stars. It’s fine enough that I’m gonna read the other two books in this universe. I think Chase transitioned well to middle grade, though sometimes the dialogue and slang felt a little dated
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March 17, 2019Is their friendship over?
TW for sexual assault in mentions of drug use.
Mila aka Bean and Tai we're best friends, at least they were before Mila visited her aunt in the woods. Now Mila has returned but she's different. She's quiet, she hates her nickname, Bean, and she wants to shed the stigma of her neighborhood and all of its drama. Tai feels stressed because she can't believe that even she is not exempt from Mila's differentness. The tension between them increases as Middle School drama, secrets, and a dance and music T.A.G. program audition loom. Will be much for their friendship?
What a great story. This is the first book by Paula Chase I have read. She told a story that has so many layers of friendship, culture, family, drama, and so many complex issues. She knew how to blend it all together perfectly.
I love all the messages that the story told. Yes we've been told them time and time again but they stand true. In a fresh way, Paula Chase reminds us that it's okay to dream, it's okay to be yourself, and it's okay to stand up for what you believe in.
Mila and Tai were great characters. Each of the girls were their own separate multi-dimensional people. Their families, community, and environment definitely shaped them. I love the way culture was used in this book. Their community/ culture played such a huge role in the book.
Mila was caring, vulnerable, but very strong. You could definitely tell that those were some of her core traits and that she had definitely has been shook by a horrific incident. I wanted to know what happened to her and I was determined to find out what secret she had been keeping all throughout the book. She was such a loving daughter and sister. She really took care of her brothers.
Tai was definitely the more honest and up front of the two. You could definitely tell that in the dynamic of their friendship, Tai usually got her way. Normally, this level of brashness would put me off, but I loved how it was part of her personality and it was just perfectly used in So Done.
Mila and Tai have different personalities and it made their friendship so complex. They let their fears and thoughts get in the way of their friendship, but you knew that they loved each other as friends deep down. That was always very apparent. I loved getting to see how far back their friendship went.
The family dynamics were wonderful as well. One of them had a loving family that tried to make the world the best place, and the other had such a horrible parent that I wouldn't wish on anybody. Her grandmother was a true MVP though.
Holy heck the ending. The way that the secret was revealed it was subtle but it certainly packed a punch. The ramifications of what happened after it was revealed were almost immediate and completely appropriate. I absolutely adored Mila's father. He did the right thing. If I was him though I would have been completely livid and no one could have held me back. I'm glad we got to see some of the ramifications and the ending was solid but left open too. I would be so ready to read another book following these two strong young women.
So Done packs so much into a middle grade novel.
TW for sexual assault in mentions of drug use.
Mila aka Bean and Tai we're best friends, at least they were before Mila visited her aunt in the woods. Now Mila has returned but she's different. She's quiet, she hates her nickname, Bean, and she wants to shed the stigma of her neighborhood and all of its drama. Tai feels stressed because she can't believe that even she is not exempt from Mila's differentness. The tension between them increases as Middle School drama, secrets, and a dance and music T.A.G. program audition loom. Will be much for their friendship?
What a great story. This is the first book by Paula Chase I have read. She told a story that has so many layers of friendship, culture, family, drama, and so many complex issues. She knew how to blend it all together perfectly.
I love all the messages that the story told. Yes we've been told them time and time again but they stand true. In a fresh way, Paula Chase reminds us that it's okay to dream, it's okay to be yourself, and it's okay to stand up for what you believe in.
Mila and Tai were great characters. Each of the girls were their own separate multi-dimensional people. Their families, community, and environment definitely shaped them. I love the way culture was used in this book. Their community/ culture played such a huge role in the book.
Mila was caring, vulnerable, but very strong. You could definitely tell that those were some of her core traits and that she had definitely has been shook by a horrific incident. I wanted to know what happened to her and I was determined to find out what secret she had been keeping all throughout the book. She was such a loving daughter and sister. She really took care of her brothers.
Tai was definitely the more honest and up front of the two. You could definitely tell that in the dynamic of their friendship, Tai usually got her way. Normally, this level of brashness would put me off, but I loved how it was part of her personality and it was just perfectly used in So Done.
Mila and Tai have different personalities and it made their friendship so complex. They let their fears and thoughts get in the way of their friendship, but you knew that they loved each other as friends deep down. That was always very apparent. I loved getting to see how far back their friendship went.
The family dynamics were wonderful as well. One of them had a loving family that tried to make the world the best place, and the other had such a horrible parent that I wouldn't wish on anybody. Her grandmother was a true MVP though.
Holy heck the ending. The way that the secret was revealed it was subtle but it certainly packed a punch. The ramifications of what happened after it was revealed were almost immediate and completely appropriate. I absolutely adored Mila's father. He did the right thing. If I was him though I would have been completely livid and no one could have held me back. I'm glad we got to see some of the ramifications and the ending was solid but left open too. I would be so ready to read another book following these two strong young women.
So Done packs so much into a middle grade novel.
October 11, 2018
this audiobook review was prepared for and appears in AudioFile Magazine.
Tai and Mila have always been best friends, but differing interests threaten to break them apart in the weeks leading up to the start of eighth grade. Though the audiobook alternates viewpoints between the two girls, Bahni Turpin uses the same narrative voice throughout. Tai's and Mila's perspectives are so different that listeners won't be confused by the consistency in narrative voice; they'll instead be delighted by Turpin's skill in crafting individual speaking voices for each character. Superficially, this seems like a story about cliques and crushes. But Chase takes character development to a deeper level, particularly in demonstrating the girls' approaches to coping with a shared trauma. Turpin flawlessly balances gravity in narrating difficult scenes with playfulness when the girls are with their friends.
Tai and Mila have always been best friends, but differing interests threaten to break them apart in the weeks leading up to the start of eighth grade. Though the audiobook alternates viewpoints between the two girls, Bahni Turpin uses the same narrative voice throughout. Tai's and Mila's perspectives are so different that listeners won't be confused by the consistency in narrative voice; they'll instead be delighted by Turpin's skill in crafting individual speaking voices for each character. Superficially, this seems like a story about cliques and crushes. But Chase takes character development to a deeper level, particularly in demonstrating the girls' approaches to coping with a shared trauma. Turpin flawlessly balances gravity in narrating difficult scenes with playfulness when the girls are with their friends.
August 13, 2020
After Tai’s father molests her best friend and neighbor Mila, the girls grow apart.
SO DONE is a difficult book for me to review as a white, suburban middle aged woman, so I shared it with a biracial tween to get her opinions before writing my review. We both liked the story of a friendship in crisis and the secret of molestation as the wedge. We enjoyed the characters. Neither of us related to the dialogue or writing. She was unfamiliar with many of the phrases and slang, though she knew more than I did.
SO DONE deals with important topics, but not with universally relatable dialogue and voice.
SO DONE is a difficult book for me to review as a white, suburban middle aged woman, so I shared it with a biracial tween to get her opinions before writing my review. We both liked the story of a friendship in crisis and the secret of molestation as the wedge. We enjoyed the characters. Neither of us related to the dialogue or writing. She was unfamiliar with many of the phrases and slang, though she knew more than I did.
SO DONE deals with important topics, but not with universally relatable dialogue and voice.
March 26, 2019
"A beautifully written and achingly realistic portrayal of the growing pains even the best friendships often must endure. Tai and Mila’s journey felt as real and messy and ultimately hopeful as all true friendships are." [author Jo Knowles]
July 3, 2020
I can finally talk about this book now! Lol.
Oh my days, Paula Chase has been one of my favourite new-to-me writers for the year. She has such incredible craftsmanship and knows how to seamlessly do multiple points of view without ever missing a beat. Everything about this book, from the subject matter, to the language, to the moments of tension and release were perfect.
Tai was extremely frustrating at times, but once you begin to understand why she's so disappointed with everyone treating her like a charity program for 2 years then cutting... well... points were made. Her difficulty expressing friendship and her feelings without being a bully to protect herself was so well done, I don't think I've read a book that dealt with the small aggressions of bullying and what it can look like when you (or a close friend) does it.
Mila was a bit more likeable, and watching her grow into a character that stands up for herself with her friends and family was admirable, but what a gyal can keep secrets. These secrets borderline lying and at many points in the book she tries to delude herself and I'm like 'baby girl please, just go talk to someone'.
Anyway, this book tackles issues of poverty and take a systematic look at how it affects communities and individuals, child molestation (not graphic, nor in the moment, just mentioned as something that happened in the past and how the character responds to it), using kids for drug trafficking and the systematic reasons this happens, and bullying.
I'm almost done with Dough Boys now and I thnk Paula Chase is easily climbing up the list of one of my favourite middle-grade writers.
Oh my days, Paula Chase has been one of my favourite new-to-me writers for the year. She has such incredible craftsmanship and knows how to seamlessly do multiple points of view without ever missing a beat. Everything about this book, from the subject matter, to the language, to the moments of tension and release were perfect.
Tai was extremely frustrating at times, but once you begin to understand why she's so disappointed with everyone treating her like a charity program for 2 years then cutting... well... points were made. Her difficulty expressing friendship and her feelings without being a bully to protect herself was so well done, I don't think I've read a book that dealt with the small aggressions of bullying and what it can look like when you (or a close friend) does it.
Mila was a bit more likeable, and watching her grow into a character that stands up for herself with her friends and family was admirable, but what a gyal can keep secrets. These secrets borderline lying and at many points in the book she tries to delude herself and I'm like 'baby girl please, just go talk to someone'.
Anyway, this book tackles issues of poverty and take a systematic look at how it affects communities and individuals, child molestation (not graphic, nor in the moment, just mentioned as something that happened in the past and how the character responds to it), using kids for drug trafficking and the systematic reasons this happens, and bullying.
I'm almost done with Dough Boys now and I thnk Paula Chase is easily climbing up the list of one of my favourite middle-grade writers.
September 4, 2018
Best friends Jamila Phillips and Metai Johnson live in the Pirates Cove housing project. Metai lives with her grandmother. Her African American father and Korean American mother were teenagers when she was born. Her father, now 28, comes around occasionally, is usually high and has never figured out how to be an adult. Her mother is gone from her life entirely. Jamila lives with her father and 2 brothers; her drug addicted mother has been banned from the home. Her dad is loving, attentive, and does everything he can to make sure they have the best opportunities. It’s the summer before 8th grade, and Jamila has just come back from spending the last few weeks with her aunts and older sister in The Woods, a nice neighborhood where she gets to live a different kind of life. Where Metai loves the Cove and even enjoys the daily drama, Jamila gets tired of the pettiness and always having to watch her back; she feels like a different person in The Woods. Jamila and Tai are reunited and reconnect with the other girls in their squad, but it's clear things are changing between them. Jamila doesn’t want to be called by her old nickname, Bean, is excited about continuing her ballet classes, and is looking forward to auditions for a new performing arts program being offered in their community. Tai thinks she should have the right to call Jamila whatever she wants, hates ballet (but loves jazz dance) and is annoyed at Jamila and other Cove friends for getting excited about the program – she sees it as another “let’s help out these ghetto kids” plan that will be gone in a year. Jamila and Tai also clash over welcoming a new girl into their group. Jamila wants to get to know her, but Tai just wants to be sure the girl knows her place. Jamila and Tai both want to hold on to their friendship but it gets too hard. Eventually they face the real thing causing Jamila to keep her distance from Tai and wanting to leave the Cove – something they both know to be true but have never spoken about.
Jamila and Tai’s story deals with issues many young people confront at this age – friends growing in different directions, seeing the world differently and envisioning different futures for themselves. I really appreciate this not being a simplistic good/bad story, as both girls’ worldviews are respected. Tai successfully navigates her environment, overcoming challenges to make the most of it. Jamila yearns for something different, understanding she may need to leave the Cove to become the person she wants to be. Additionally, this story reminds us that young people have complex lives, some made even more complicated by the adults around them. In the end, we see a realistic journey of these young teens trying to grow up without growing apart.
I can't end this review without talking about the cover. It is often not the case, but here we have a beautiful depiction of Metai and Jamila, looking just as they're described in the book. And, even though they're close, you can see the tension between them. Kudos to the artist and designer.
Jamila and Tai’s story deals with issues many young people confront at this age – friends growing in different directions, seeing the world differently and envisioning different futures for themselves. I really appreciate this not being a simplistic good/bad story, as both girls’ worldviews are respected. Tai successfully navigates her environment, overcoming challenges to make the most of it. Jamila yearns for something different, understanding she may need to leave the Cove to become the person she wants to be. Additionally, this story reminds us that young people have complex lives, some made even more complicated by the adults around them. In the end, we see a realistic journey of these young teens trying to grow up without growing apart.
I can't end this review without talking about the cover. It is often not the case, but here we have a beautiful depiction of Metai and Jamila, looking just as they're described in the book. And, even though they're close, you can see the tension between them. Kudos to the artist and designer.
January 8, 2019
MG. It initially took me a several chapters to get into it; all the slang threw me at first. Glad I stuck with it. The gentle ending was a nice touch.
Two friends are on the outs after one of them -- Bean (Jamila) -- returns to her housing project from the Woods where she spent the summer with her aunt. But truthfully, they were on the outs before, but neither of them wanted to talk about it. Layers peel back and then you realize there are more layers and the girls are these deep, fully realized people with each their own pain and circumstances. Set in a neighborhood that is alive and hopping, the tryouts for a gifted and talented dance program looms on the horizon, offering hope of a different kind. But soon, the pressure of keeping the secret to their falling out breaks.
It was there, on page 269, that I found myself breaking as well:
"For 106 days, 12 hours, and 10 minutes, Jamila Phillips had kept a secret...
Two friends are on the outs after one of them -- Bean (Jamila) -- returns to her housing project from the Woods where she spent the summer with her aunt. But truthfully, they were on the outs before, but neither of them wanted to talk about it. Layers peel back and then you realize there are more layers and the girls are these deep, fully realized people with each their own pain and circumstances. Set in a neighborhood that is alive and hopping, the tryouts for a gifted and talented dance program looms on the horizon, offering hope of a different kind. But soon, the pressure of keeping the secret to their falling out breaks.
It was there, on page 269, that I found myself breaking as well:
"For 106 days, 12 hours, and 10 minutes, Jamila Phillips had kept a secret...
April 2, 2019
I loved So Done. I am particular about what "mature" topics make it into my library, and I felt this book handles serious topics in an important way. Drugs, addiction, and molestation/ assault are all touched in. It was just enough and such a great window into the world for me. In the beginning, I struggled with the slang Tai and Mila used, but as the story went on I felt more and more immersed in their world. I enjoyed seeing both imperfect narrative perspectives, and the tension between the two girls as their friendship shifts. I found the relationships to be authentic and universal, while the glimpse into life in the Cove was like entering another world, one I am grateful for getting a glimpse of.
December 11, 2018
3.5 stars. Listened to audiobook. I ended up getting into and enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would after the first chapters. I like that the author gives equal time to Tai, who would probably have been relegated to a conventional antagonist role, the mean former best friend, in a less good book. This book eventually does a fine job getting into the heads of both the protagonists and suggesting how family and environment molded them.
Also this is I think an example of a book that truly is for the 13-14 top of the Newbery age range.
Also this is I think an example of a book that truly is for the 13-14 top of the Newbery age range.
November 2, 2018
A unique and wonderful exploration of friendship, growing apart, and figuring out what you want out of life. There are a lot of issues in this I haven't really seen explored in a middle grade book before—drug dealing, some hints about teen parenting, and a storyline about sexual assault. This is definitely a book that will click with a lot of middle schoolers and early high schoolers.
July 28, 2020
This one sucked me in right away - wanting to know why Metai (Tai) and Jamila (Bean)'s friendship was strained this summer before eighth grade. I loved getting to know (and love) the characters - their toughness and how they related to each other in the crew. I found myself rooting for most of the characters.
September 19, 2018
The lessons and message in this story are phenomenal. This is a book that needs to be in hands of so many as a mirror and window. My only disclaimer would be to make sure that the students whose hand you are putting it in is mature enough to handle the substance and/or are not currently suffering from PTSD due to events that are portrayed in this story. I immediately thought of a young girl I have taught who I know desperately needs to read this story to know everything is and will be okay, BUT I would have to make sure and give her the backstory first in case it triggers emotions from her experience that I know she's worked hard to work through.
Overall though, I highly recommend it to be put in your upper grade libraries. If you are unsure, I would read first. (Bonus: Bahni Turpin is the audio reader!)
Overall though, I highly recommend it to be put in your upper grade libraries. If you are unsure, I would read first. (Bonus: Bahni Turpin is the audio reader!)
October 17, 2018
This book is really really good so go read or listen to it immediately. Also if you are not a youth have Google at the ready because you're about to feel really old and will need Google's help with some of the text speak and slang.
April 18, 2019
So (well) Done!
January 7, 2020
This is very cute! Sometimes a little too much "in the head" of the characters (I liked it more when there was more dialogue) and moved a little slowly for me, but kids might not care.
Read
September 25, 2018Bold and smart with dialogue that ticks and wonderfully complex characters.
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