What do you think?
Rate this book
Libby in the Middle
Libby and her big sister Bella used to be close, but lately it's felt like Bella is a closed she's sarcastic and mean and obsessed with her boyfriend. Then there's six-year-old Grace, the baby of the family. Whenever Mum and Dad aren't at work, it's all about Grace. So where does Libby fit in?Things change suddenly when the girls move to the tiny village where their dad grew up – as their bossy Aunt Thecla has offered to pay for them to go to a posh new school. Libby doesn't mind, but Bella can't bear to leave her boyfriend behind.Soon there are secrets everywhere …Perfect for readers of Cathy Cassidy, Jacqueline Wilson and Judy Blume, Libby in the Middle is a story about family, friendship and discovering where you fit into the world.
- GenresContemporaryMiddle Grade
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2017
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 10, 2020
Positives:
- The car journey and conversations that happened during the ride is something that so many people will be able to relate to.
- The writing is simple and easy to follow which makes the book easy to get through.
- I liked the memory sections scattered throughout the book at the beginning as it showed how things had ended up the way they were in the present.
- Libby comes across as older than she actually is, to the point that it was hard to believe that she was only 12 years old. She was so good at seeing different points of view and being aware that people aren't always thinking clearly when they make selfish or bad decisions.
Negatives:
- Despite being 15, Bella still doesn't think about the consequences of her actions/ideas whereas Libby does.
- It was strange that all three sisters were able to have a dental checkup straight away. In the scenes leading up to this it was not stated or implied that they were already registered patients at the dental practice. When they were in the waiting room they didn't seem to fill in any registration forms either. The author is born and raised in Britain so probably should have known the process patients have to go through and that a newcomer can't just turn up and be seen a few minutes later for a non-emergency appointment.
- I wasn't too sure about Libby and Tansy's friendship. The friendship didn't come across as toxic but I got the feeling that it was convenient for both girls. Libby seemed to want her around so she wouldn't be alone at school and Tansy probably liked having someone around to chat to while she was mad at her mother.
- Sadly, the story isn't too memorable for me and I don't think I will remember or think about it for a long time after reading this book.
- The car journey and conversations that happened during the ride is something that so many people will be able to relate to.
- The writing is simple and easy to follow which makes the book easy to get through.
- I liked the memory sections scattered throughout the book at the beginning as it showed how things had ended up the way they were in the present.
- Libby comes across as older than she actually is, to the point that it was hard to believe that she was only 12 years old. She was so good at seeing different points of view and being aware that people aren't always thinking clearly when they make selfish or bad decisions.
Negatives:
- Despite being 15, Bella still doesn't think about the consequences of her actions/ideas whereas Libby does.
- It was strange that all three sisters were able to have a dental checkup straight away. In the scenes leading up to this it was not stated or implied that they were already registered patients at the dental practice. When they were in the waiting room they didn't seem to fill in any registration forms either. The author is born and raised in Britain so probably should have known the process patients have to go through and that a newcomer can't just turn up and be seen a few minutes later for a non-emergency appointment.
- I wasn't too sure about Libby and Tansy's friendship. The friendship didn't come across as toxic but I got the feeling that it was convenient for both girls. Libby seemed to want her around so she wouldn't be alone at school and Tansy probably liked having someone around to chat to while she was mad at her mother.
- Sadly, the story isn't too memorable for me and I don't think I will remember or think about it for a long time after reading this book.
January 4, 2018
I received this book from Bloomsbury Australia before the Christmas break, and since I really enjoyed Cherry Blossom Dreams a few years ago, I was looking forward to starting this one.
Libby is the middle child. Her older sister Bella thinks she's too young and dorky to hang out with. Plus is way too obsessed with her boyfriend anyway. And her younger sister Grace is the baby of the family and too little to hang out with.
Libby feels like she's stuck in the middle, and always out of the spotlight.
Now that her family is moving back to the village her father grew up in, all of their lives are about to change. They'll have to share a room, they'll all be going to a new school, and will now see their snobby Aunt Thecla every single day.
As summer winds down, Libby finds herself caught in the middle of a bunch of situations she didn't expect. And everything she learns will teach her a lot about herself...
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started, but it didn't take long to get into the swing of things. Besides, the mention of family secrets is a sure way to grab my attention. :)
Libby's family appears quite normal: Mum is a dentist, Dad is a web designer, older sister Bella is almost 16, Libby is almost 13, and the youngest Grace is 6. But that's only on the surface.
Mum is busy and constantly caught between disliking her outspoken sister-in-law and respecting her. Dad works from home and is super protective, plus refuses to talk about his past and is always angry with his sister. Bella is selfish, self-absorbed and only cares about her boyfriend. Grace is a cute and adventurous kid willing to learn. And Libby... well, she just wants to fit in. She wants to make friends, and hates feeling like she's invisible because of her two shiny sisters.
There was a lot to like about this book--how well it was written, how the spirit of childhood is captured, and how well the characters are portrayed. I really liked Libby, but constantly got frustrated with Bella. That girl was infuriating! I didn't like how easily she manipulated Libby with fake interest. Bella was truly awful, so when her truth comes out it helped make sense of some of her behaviour.
Everyone masks their fears and insecurities in different ways. This story also did an awesome job at exploring family dynamics.
I also really liked Aunt Thecla. I loved how the family saw her as a stuffy spinster without a filter, but she turned out to be such an interesting woman with an intriguing past.
Libby in the Middle is a charming story about family, friendship, growing up, and what happens when all these threads collide. It was a fast read that caught me by surprise. I was entranced by Libby's voice and as soon as the story started to unravel, I was so hooked I pretty much read the book in a day! I couldn't put it down.
Great book!
Libby is the middle child. Her older sister Bella thinks she's too young and dorky to hang out with. Plus is way too obsessed with her boyfriend anyway. And her younger sister Grace is the baby of the family and too little to hang out with.
Libby feels like she's stuck in the middle, and always out of the spotlight.
Now that her family is moving back to the village her father grew up in, all of their lives are about to change. They'll have to share a room, they'll all be going to a new school, and will now see their snobby Aunt Thecla every single day.
As summer winds down, Libby finds herself caught in the middle of a bunch of situations she didn't expect. And everything she learns will teach her a lot about herself...
I really enjoyed this. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started, but it didn't take long to get into the swing of things. Besides, the mention of family secrets is a sure way to grab my attention. :)
Libby's family appears quite normal: Mum is a dentist, Dad is a web designer, older sister Bella is almost 16, Libby is almost 13, and the youngest Grace is 6. But that's only on the surface.
Mum is busy and constantly caught between disliking her outspoken sister-in-law and respecting her. Dad works from home and is super protective, plus refuses to talk about his past and is always angry with his sister. Bella is selfish, self-absorbed and only cares about her boyfriend. Grace is a cute and adventurous kid willing to learn. And Libby... well, she just wants to fit in. She wants to make friends, and hates feeling like she's invisible because of her two shiny sisters.
There was a lot to like about this book--how well it was written, how the spirit of childhood is captured, and how well the characters are portrayed. I really liked Libby, but constantly got frustrated with Bella. That girl was infuriating! I didn't like how easily she manipulated Libby with fake interest. Bella was truly awful, so when her truth comes out it helped make sense of some of her behaviour.
Everyone masks their fears and insecurities in different ways. This story also did an awesome job at exploring family dynamics.
I also really liked Aunt Thecla. I loved how the family saw her as a stuffy spinster without a filter, but she turned out to be such an interesting woman with an intriguing past.
Libby in the Middle is a charming story about family, friendship, growing up, and what happens when all these threads collide. It was a fast read that caught me by surprise. I was entranced by Libby's voice and as soon as the story started to unravel, I was so hooked I pretty much read the book in a day! I couldn't put it down.
Great book!
April 1, 2018
Libby in the Middle is a realistic family story, centred around twelve-year-old Libby, her fractured relationship with her older sister Bella and her interactions with much younger Grace. Gwyneth Rees explores the impact of bullying on sixteen year old Bella and the consequent relocation of the family to dad’s childhood home. This layered story explores sibling rivalry, there’s secrets new and old that come to light and relationships are tested. Told from twelve year old middle sister Libby’s point of view, her experiences, mixed emotions about moving and her fractured relationship with Bella is realistically portrayed. Libby also has a cute younger sister, Grace the baby of the family, she seems to have more of their parents’ love and attention. Libby is definitely stuck in the middle.
Although dad doesn’t want to return to the country, his sister Thecla overturns his decision by offering to pay for the girls’ attendance at a private school near the village. Bella is furious about this decision and sneakily plans that Sam her boyfriend follows them and tries to find work as a mechanic. Hiding Sam, finding a place for him to stay, taking food and money from Aunt Thecla lead to arguments between Bella and Libby.
When Libby makes a new friend Tansy in the village whose father is linked to Aunt Thecla and her own dad’s past, Libby begins to uncover hidden truths. Libby is a relatable protagonist, thoughtful, lacking in confidence, seeking the truth at all costs and beginning to find her way into her teenage years. Libby in the Middle explores family dynamics and how the past can influence the present.
Although dad doesn’t want to return to the country, his sister Thecla overturns his decision by offering to pay for the girls’ attendance at a private school near the village. Bella is furious about this decision and sneakily plans that Sam her boyfriend follows them and tries to find work as a mechanic. Hiding Sam, finding a place for him to stay, taking food and money from Aunt Thecla lead to arguments between Bella and Libby.
When Libby makes a new friend Tansy in the village whose father is linked to Aunt Thecla and her own dad’s past, Libby begins to uncover hidden truths. Libby is a relatable protagonist, thoughtful, lacking in confidence, seeking the truth at all costs and beginning to find her way into her teenage years. Libby in the Middle explores family dynamics and how the past can influence the present.
July 12, 2018
In this book, Libby is the middle child between older Bella and younger Grace.
After Bella has been bullied at school and fallen in love with boyfriend Sam whose only a year older than her, their mum and dad especially decide to move so the girls can go to a private girls school and live near to their aunt Thecla whom believes she's an artist when the reality is she hasn't ever sold a painting.
But the move can't split Bella and Sam as they take the risk of Sam squatting in an empty house in the village after their family move to another house upon seeing the state of their former New home. However after stealing money to keep him in food, Bella keeps getting Libby to lie and be her alibi for sneaking off to meet Sam. Soon enough their parents and aunt pressure them to confess to whom stole the money and the sisters realise they envy each other's position and value in their family.
It was a very realist story with the trio of sisters relationship and the young couple wanting to stay together. The move reactions are to be expected and I really liked the story for all the contributing dramas that collided.
After Bella has been bullied at school and fallen in love with boyfriend Sam whose only a year older than her, their mum and dad especially decide to move so the girls can go to a private girls school and live near to their aunt Thecla whom believes she's an artist when the reality is she hasn't ever sold a painting.
But the move can't split Bella and Sam as they take the risk of Sam squatting in an empty house in the village after their family move to another house upon seeing the state of their former New home. However after stealing money to keep him in food, Bella keeps getting Libby to lie and be her alibi for sneaking off to meet Sam. Soon enough their parents and aunt pressure them to confess to whom stole the money and the sisters realise they envy each other's position and value in their family.
It was a very realist story with the trio of sisters relationship and the young couple wanting to stay together. The move reactions are to be expected and I really liked the story for all the contributing dramas that collided.
April 2, 2018
While packing up my house I found all my childhood/teenage books. The memories of all my book friends came flooding back. I went onto the library website and started looking for modern books which I would have read 30 years ago. Ones with normal, if quirky, girls who are facing something challenging. Libby in the Middle leapt out at me from all the fantasy and magical realism books available.
Libby, is a gentle character whose confidence about her place in the world grows as she faces moving house and school. This story, weaves a complex family story with ease and with its warm characters, chuckle moments, and thoroughly likeable protagonist, it was exactly what I needed to read.
Libby, is a gentle character whose confidence about her place in the world grows as she faces moving house and school. This story, weaves a complex family story with ease and with its warm characters, chuckle moments, and thoroughly likeable protagonist, it was exactly what I needed to read.
July 22, 2018
A young contemporary novel about family, fitting in, and the (sometimes long-term) impact of keeping secrets. Overall, I found this novel a little odd - the family relationships sometimes seemed unrealistic (especially when her father starts telling her information I couldn't see him realistically sharing with his young daughter). Some aspects were interesting, but this wasn't a stand out novel for me.
July 11, 2024
This story is enjoyable enough, though it feels a bit lightweight to me. Maybe I was looking for something with a bit more tension, but things kind of breeze along and all crises are quickly dealt with. I might be the wrong audience, but I only picked it up from the library because my middle daughter is Libby and I thought she might enjoy it.
October 23, 2018
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Libby is the middle. She’s the average sister out of three, doomed to always sit in the middle of the car back seat. When she moves to a new town, Libby just wants to fit in – but will that be possible around her family’s secrets?
From the intermittent parts of this novel that I have read, Libby is a nice enough 8th grader who is just really pliable when it comes to helping her big sister out. After I read the first chapter out loud, I then missed a bunch of chapters up to chapter 8. However, it seemed like nothing had even happened in the novel! This is not a fast-paced enough novel for me.
The 8 year old reader in my household decided that this was a good novel for her to read independently. It does contain some content that I would consider inappropriate for her age group (eg. stealing, lying, getting together with a boyfriend your parents don’t approve of). However, I believe it is the first novel she has ever read that contains NO PICTURES so I’m not going to be picking on her choice too much.
This novel was deemed “My review so far – AWESOME!” by my younger reader, so I’ll be giving it 4 stars. She did say it wouldn’t be a reread, so that takes it out 5 stars. I guess I might have to come up with baby Dragon eggs or something!
Libby is the middle. She’s the average sister out of three, doomed to always sit in the middle of the car back seat. When she moves to a new town, Libby just wants to fit in – but will that be possible around her family’s secrets?
From the intermittent parts of this novel that I have read, Libby is a nice enough 8th grader who is just really pliable when it comes to helping her big sister out. After I read the first chapter out loud, I then missed a bunch of chapters up to chapter 8. However, it seemed like nothing had even happened in the novel! This is not a fast-paced enough novel for me.
The 8 year old reader in my household decided that this was a good novel for her to read independently. It does contain some content that I would consider inappropriate for her age group (eg. stealing, lying, getting together with a boyfriend your parents don’t approve of). However, I believe it is the first novel she has ever read that contains NO PICTURES so I’m not going to be picking on her choice too much.
This novel was deemed “My review so far – AWESOME!” by my younger reader, so I’ll be giving it 4 stars. She did say it wouldn’t be a reread, so that takes it out 5 stars. I guess I might have to come up with baby Dragon eggs or something!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews