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To Night Owl From Dogfish
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2019)From two extraordinary authors comes a moving, exuberant, laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters.
Avery Bloom, who's bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who's fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both 12 years old and are both being raised by single, gay dads.
When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope they will find common ground and become friends - and possibly, one day, even sisters.
But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads, too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can't imagine life without each other, will the two girls (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?
Read by Cassandra Morris and Imani Parks, with Michael Crouch, Sullivan Jones, Bahni Turpin, and Renata Friedman, featuring Cassandra Campbell, Robbie Daymond, Giordon Diaz, Alexandra Harris, Jonathan McClain, Emily Rankin, Abigail Revasch, Erin Spencer, and Emily Woo Zeller.
Avery Bloom, who's bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who's fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both 12 years old and are both being raised by single, gay dads.
When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope they will find common ground and become friends - and possibly, one day, even sisters.
But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads, too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can't imagine life without each other, will the two girls (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?
Read by Cassandra Morris and Imani Parks, with Michael Crouch, Sullivan Jones, Bahni Turpin, and Renata Friedman, featuring Cassandra Campbell, Robbie Daymond, Giordon Diaz, Alexandra Harris, Jonathan McClain, Emily Rankin, Abigail Revasch, Erin Spencer, and Emily Woo Zeller.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2019
243 people are currently reading
11484 people want to read
About the author
Holly Goldberg Sloan
14 books1,423 followersHolly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon (where she graduated from high school). She wrote the screenplay for Angels in the Outfield and directed The Big Green, as well as a number of other successful family feature films.
The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband (the writer/illustrator Gary Rosen) in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel. Her next book, Counting By 7s, was Amazon's best novel of the year for middle grade. Her book Just Call My Name is a follow up to I'll Be There and takes place several months after the ending of the first novel.
Appleblossom the Possum was written by Sloan and Illustrated by Rosen and comes out of Sloan's love for Charlotte's Web. Her next novel will be published in January of 2017 from Dial/Penguin Random House.
The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband (the writer/illustrator Gary Rosen) in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel. Her next book, Counting By 7s, was Amazon's best novel of the year for middle grade. Her book Just Call My Name is a follow up to I'll Be There and takes place several months after the ending of the first novel.
Appleblossom the Possum was written by Sloan and Illustrated by Rosen and comes out of Sloan's love for Charlotte's Web. Her next novel will be published in January of 2017 from Dial/Penguin Random House.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,877 reviews
April 18, 2019
This was the absolute perfect Parent Trap story. I demand a movie. My soul is healed and I’m so, so pleased this book exists.
April 24, 2020
This modern version of The Parent Trap is so sweet and fun; my entire family loved it and that NEVER happens. It's a feel-good story for readers of all ages.
This collaboration between two highly successful authors—one who primarily writes for kids, the other for grown-ups—is about two twelve-year old girls who live on opposite coasts who strike up a correspondence after they discover their dads fell in love at a building conference and are secretly dating. This is not good news to either of them, as they make clear in the ensuing emails that comprise the book. And then it gets worse, when the girls are forced to attend camp together because their fathers want them to become friends.
Things go horribly wrong in more ways than one, but there’s not a single page that doesn't feel fresh, funny, charming, and real.
This collaboration between two highly successful authors—one who primarily writes for kids, the other for grown-ups—is about two twelve-year old girls who live on opposite coasts who strike up a correspondence after they discover their dads fell in love at a building conference and are secretly dating. This is not good news to either of them, as they make clear in the ensuing emails that comprise the book. And then it gets worse, when the girls are forced to attend camp together because their fathers want them to become friends.
Things go horribly wrong in more ways than one, but there’s not a single page that doesn't feel fresh, funny, charming, and real.
December 23, 2019
I know I say this all the damn time now but queer middle grade is just EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER WANTED AND MORE. This was so, so good.
May 21, 2019
I was sitting in the parking lot with kids #3 & #4 waiting on #2 when my 9 year old daughter asked “What’s that book about?” After a brief description she said, “Mom- that book was MADE.FOR.ME. It’s sort of like Parent Trap with gay Dad’s but with emails and letters? Will you PLEASE read it aloud to me?”
How could I say no? Over the last couple of weeks we’ve spent sunrise mornings and sunset evenings reading it together. I have cherished this time together- slowing down, unplugging and getting lost in a really wonderful story.
This morning we finished it. As I read the last 30 pages my voice choked up more than once. The way the authors write about what makes a family moved me to (happy) tears. My daughter snuggled up a little closer and put her hand on my arm with a sigh. You know that “Oh this book makes my heart burst” kind of sigh.
Her thoughts: Man- that was a GOOD book!
I concur.
How could I say no? Over the last couple of weeks we’ve spent sunrise mornings and sunset evenings reading it together. I have cherished this time together- slowing down, unplugging and getting lost in a really wonderful story.
This morning we finished it. As I read the last 30 pages my voice choked up more than once. The way the authors write about what makes a family moved me to (happy) tears. My daughter snuggled up a little closer and put her hand on my arm with a sigh. You know that “Oh this book makes my heart burst” kind of sigh.
Her thoughts: Man- that was a GOOD book!
I concur.
January 23, 2019
An epistolary retelling of The Parent Trap with modern flair. Adventurous Bett Devlin and overcautious Avery Bloom have no interest in being friends, but their dads have fallen in love and are sending them to the same summer camp to get to know one another. Bett and Avery reluctantly unite to keep their dads apart and, before long, their exchanges glimmer with the first inklings of friendship.
A humorous and heartwarming tale of sisterhood, adventure, and finding family in unexpected places.
-
*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Reading Copy.
A humorous and heartwarming tale of sisterhood, adventure, and finding family in unexpected places.
A very traditional summer camp could be right for us. After all, everyone tells us we don't live in "traditional" households even though my papa is about as conventional as they come. A lot of people don't realize a dad is a dad is a dad.*
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*Note: Quote taken from an Advanced Reading Copy.
March 6, 2020
Middle Grade # 3 down in the books! This book was a delight! Avery Bloom and Bett Devlin don't know each other, but they are about too! They are being raised by single dads, and their dads happen to fall in love. They want the girls to go to a summer camp together and get to know each other. The girls are adamant about not becoming friends. I really enjoyed how this book is told in emails, along with a few voicemails and some old school letters. It was great on Audio with a full cast of amazing narrators.
Avery is scared of everything, cautious, and a little intense. Bett is her complete opposite. She's easy going, fun-loving, and outgoing. Of course the girls develop a friendship that turns closer to sisterhood. There are fun adventures and twists along the way. I'm quickly learning that I much prefer Middle Grade stories to Young Adult. YA often annoys the heck out of me. I saw many reviews comparing this one to a modern day Parent Trap. I can see some similarities, but mostly because of the Summer Camp aspect (which I loved).
Avery is scared of everything, cautious, and a little intense. Bett is her complete opposite. She's easy going, fun-loving, and outgoing. Of course the girls develop a friendship that turns closer to sisterhood. There are fun adventures and twists along the way. I'm quickly learning that I much prefer Middle Grade stories to Young Adult. YA often annoys the heck out of me. I saw many reviews comparing this one to a modern day Parent Trap. I can see some similarities, but mostly because of the Summer Camp aspect (which I loved).
September 14, 2020
I got this book last year but didn't manage to read it in summer then. Summer camps, the way they are known and quite popular in the US, have always been something I wished I had had in my life as a kid/teen. Alas, at least I can read about them now and imagine being there.
We meet Avery and Bett(y), two girls from opposite sides of the US (NYC and LA) who are very different characters, too. Avery is bookish and has a lot of anxieties whereas Bett is outgoing and almost too lively. Both are raised by single dads. Gay single dads. Gay single dads who meet at a conference in Chicago and fall in love. So then they are supposed to become friends/sisters. Urgh! ;)
They are both sent to CIGI camp for the summer as a bonding experience while their dads explore China (of all places!) on motorcycles. While the girls grow closer and closer, things fall apart for their dads so the girls need to hatch a plan to bring them back together ... but that only works in the movies. Not to mention that Avery's biological mother comes back into the picture at one point. And then there is a theatre play off-Broadway, grandma Gaga as well as another summer camp that ends even more badly than CIGI did.
So yes, lots of drama. Not too much of a surprise considering that it's the story of two girls, the friends they meet, their families clashing, them growing up and talking about everything (including their first periods)! But it's not overblown or unrealistic drama and the two kids are actually both great. As are most of the people in their lives.
What we get, in the end, is an adventure story full of summer camp activities, the theatre, lots of adorable animals and heart. That is what the story has most of all: heart. I'm not ashamed to admit that I had tears in my eyes by the end.
I think the epistolary form was brilliant and gave both girls as well as various other people their own distinctive voices. It also made the plot more fast-paced, more personal and funnier. It might even make the story a bit more approachable for younger readers.
Anyway, cool book that even tackled big life topics such as marriage equality and prejudice in a very offhand way that prevented it from getting unrealistically preachy.
We meet Avery and Bett(y), two girls from opposite sides of the US (NYC and LA) who are very different characters, too. Avery is bookish and has a lot of anxieties whereas Bett is outgoing and almost too lively. Both are raised by single dads. Gay single dads. Gay single dads who meet at a conference in Chicago and fall in love. So then they are supposed to become friends/sisters. Urgh! ;)
They are both sent to CIGI camp for the summer as a bonding experience while their dads explore China (of all places!) on motorcycles. While the girls grow closer and closer, things fall apart for their dads so the girls need to hatch a plan to bring them back together ... but that only works in the movies. Not to mention that Avery's biological mother comes back into the picture at one point. And then there is a theatre play off-Broadway, grandma Gaga as well as another summer camp that ends even more badly than CIGI did.
So yes, lots of drama. Not too much of a surprise considering that it's the story of two girls, the friends they meet, their families clashing, them growing up and talking about everything (including their first periods)! But it's not overblown or unrealistic drama and the two kids are actually both great. As are most of the people in their lives.
What we get, in the end, is an adventure story full of summer camp activities, the theatre, lots of adorable animals and heart. That is what the story has most of all: heart. I'm not ashamed to admit that I had tears in my eyes by the end.
I think the epistolary form was brilliant and gave both girls as well as various other people their own distinctive voices. It also made the plot more fast-paced, more personal and funnier. It might even make the story a bit more approachable for younger readers.
Anyway, cool book that even tackled big life topics such as marriage equality and prejudice in a very offhand way that prevented it from getting unrealistically preachy.
April 12, 2019
The audiobook is awful. I couldn’t stick with it because every email between the main characters adds a “re” to the subject line - and the book is basically just emails back and forth between the two so you can imagine listening to the narrator say “re” over and over and over again. Not worth it.
April 28, 2019
This book was so fun. It is written in emails sent between the two characters, which was really fun. This book was so enjoyable and different.
The two girls Better and Avery are as different as can be but they form a beautiful friendship throughout this book.
I absolutely loved it and I think everyone should read it. This is a middle grade novel that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun book.
The two girls Better and Avery are as different as can be but they form a beautiful friendship throughout this book.
I absolutely loved it and I think everyone should read it. This is a middle grade novel that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun book.
July 15, 2019
LOVED IT!
November 5, 2018
This epistolary novel from two authors I've never read before tells the story of two young girls, Avery and Bett, who reluctantly become friends and are then put into a situation where they have to fight for that friendship.
From reading the blurb, I expected the whole book to take place at summer camp, but the plot moves much more quickly than I thought it would and takes many surprising turns. Even though the story is primarily told through the girls' point-of-view, we get many richly detailed supporting adult characters, like Bett's grandmother (called Gaga), Avery's birth mother, and the two gay dads.
I like reading books for this age group because there's not a romance, but with this book I appreciated the girls being romance-adjacent as their dads . Because the romance plot was between adults, it felt painfully real. The adult characters are as well-drawn as the girls -- difficult, complex, occasionally making sense, and other times making bad decisions. The dads really frustrated me!
The two girls have unique voices and often make blunt observations that are funny or profound or both. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud and other parts brought tears to my eyes. The book's third act felt a little rushed and contrived, plus it gets into preachy "it's okay to have a gay dad" territory that the rest of the book avoided by simply having everyone within the book's world accept it as normal. I wasn't sure why that subject got brought up at the end of the book, as it doesn't affect a thing with the plot, and any readers who needed convincing would have given up by that point anyway.
Those minor flaws don't stop this from being a great read for kids and adults. One to look forward to in 2019!
From reading the blurb, I expected the whole book to take place at summer camp, but the plot moves much more quickly than I thought it would and takes many surprising turns. Even though the story is primarily told through the girls' point-of-view, we get many richly detailed supporting adult characters, like Bett's grandmother (called Gaga), Avery's birth mother, and the two gay dads.
I like reading books for this age group because there's not a romance, but with this book I appreciated the girls being romance-adjacent as their dads . Because the romance plot was between adults, it felt painfully real. The adult characters are as well-drawn as the girls -- difficult, complex, occasionally making sense, and other times making bad decisions. The dads really frustrated me!
The two girls have unique voices and often make blunt observations that are funny or profound or both. Parts of the book made me laugh out loud and other parts brought tears to my eyes. The book's third act felt a little rushed and contrived, plus it gets into preachy "it's okay to have a gay dad" territory that the rest of the book avoided by simply having everyone within the book's world accept it as normal. I wasn't sure why that subject got brought up at the end of the book, as it doesn't affect a thing with the plot, and any readers who needed convincing would have given up by that point anyway.
Those minor flaws don't stop this from being a great read for kids and adults. One to look forward to in 2019!
February 20, 2019
Audibook Review
4.5 stars rounded up
Total Parent Trap vibes, but obviously not the exact storyline. If you are a fan of the original movie you will start singing “Let’s Get Together” yeah, yeah, yeah 🎶 to yourself quite often, or at least I did. 😉
Bett and Avery’s Dads are dating - to their shock and dismay. To get them to bond, the dads are sending them off to summer camp. Boy are they unhappy; they are the complete opposites with nothing in common and do not want to be forced to be friends, worst of all sisters. Their communications over email are hilarious and they will eventually get used to each other when all goes to heck. What type of shenanigans will they find themselves in? What life lessons will they learn? Give it a go and find out!
The story is told over a series of emails and letters (similar to When You Read This by Mary Adkins which I loved). I have to remember that the audience for this book is middle grade and with that I made sure my rating reflected that (to the best I could). It was really fun and brings you back to your youth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
My only criticism: I listed to the audio and the first half of the book is an ongoing email chain. When the narrators are reading the subject you hear “re re re re re re, re, re, re, re….” for like 10 seconds - wish it were stated as “re times 20.”
To read my reviews visit: www.saturdaynitereader.com
4.5 stars rounded up
Total Parent Trap vibes, but obviously not the exact storyline. If you are a fan of the original movie you will start singing “Let’s Get Together” yeah, yeah, yeah 🎶 to yourself quite often, or at least I did. 😉
Bett and Avery’s Dads are dating - to their shock and dismay. To get them to bond, the dads are sending them off to summer camp. Boy are they unhappy; they are the complete opposites with nothing in common and do not want to be forced to be friends, worst of all sisters. Their communications over email are hilarious and they will eventually get used to each other when all goes to heck. What type of shenanigans will they find themselves in? What life lessons will they learn? Give it a go and find out!
The story is told over a series of emails and letters (similar to When You Read This by Mary Adkins which I loved). I have to remember that the audience for this book is middle grade and with that I made sure my rating reflected that (to the best I could). It was really fun and brings you back to your youth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
My only criticism: I listed to the audio and the first half of the book is an ongoing email chain. When the narrators are reading the subject you hear “re re re re re re, re, re, re, re….” for like 10 seconds - wish it were stated as “re times 20.”
To read my reviews visit: www.saturdaynitereader.com
August 14, 2019
3.5 stars
This is a very sweet middle grade book about friendship, family, and relationships in general. I had fun listening to it and for once, I actually did enjoy a full cast (too many voices usually make me a bit crazy, I prefer one single narrator for the whole book).
***
This is sort of a reverse retelling of The Parent Trap [I love that movie and have seen it about a million times], only this time Bett's and Avery's two dads have fallen in love.
I really hope this is good because it sounds like it could be a lot of fun and very sweet.
This is a very sweet middle grade book about friendship, family, and relationships in general. I had fun listening to it and for once, I actually did enjoy a full cast (too many voices usually make me a bit crazy, I prefer one single narrator for the whole book).
***
This is sort of a reverse retelling of The Parent Trap [I love that movie and have seen it about a million times], only this time Bett's and Avery's two dads have fallen in love.
I really hope this is good because it sounds like it could be a lot of fun and very sweet.
May 17, 2020
This was cute, but the writing style didn't really work for me.
July 21, 2018
To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer is a delight! Entirely through emails and letters (those proto-email communications), the reader is introduced two tween girls, Bett Devlin from California, a sporty animal loving free spirit, and Avery Bloom, a nerdy and neurotic New Yorker, when their impetuous gay dads decide, after a whirlwind romance, to send the girls to summer camp together to foster a sisterly bond between them. Bett and Avery want no part of this insta-family, and join forces to oppose it (and by opposing, end it), but, of course, along the way, the girls find tolerance, friendship, and virtual sisterhood, only to be dismayed when their dads split up.
Funny and sweet and engaging, Bett and Avery are characters who complement (and often compliment) each other after being thrown together and pulled apart by well-intended parenting (is there any better or worse kind?).
To Night Owl from Dogfish is love story about friendship and family and, I think, a classic middle grade novel in the vein of some of the best books of my childhood - From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Harriet the Spy, and The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel). Here’s hoping that these two authors will write together again for the benefit of readers everywhere.
Thank you to Edelwiess+ and Penguin Publishing Group for the Advance Review Copy.
Funny and sweet and engaging, Bett and Avery are characters who complement (and often compliment) each other after being thrown together and pulled apart by well-intended parenting (is there any better or worse kind?).
To Night Owl from Dogfish is love story about friendship and family and, I think, a classic middle grade novel in the vein of some of the best books of my childhood - From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Harriet the Spy, and The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel). Here’s hoping that these two authors will write together again for the benefit of readers everywhere.
Thank you to Edelwiess+ and Penguin Publishing Group for the Advance Review Copy.
April 29, 2019
This book has my whole heart.
March 10, 2019
People always talk about YA books, but Middle School books are having their own Renaissance. This epistolary novel is a prime example. The premise is simple: a young girl reaches out to a stranger to let her know that their dads are dating. Through their correspondence (along with additional letters each girl receives from various other characters) we get to see how the girls' relationship evolves.
Besides the girls themselves, who are a precocious delight, the cast of supporting characters is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this book which kept me reading well past my bedtime.
Besides the girls themselves, who are a precocious delight, the cast of supporting characters is wonderful. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this book which kept me reading well past my bedtime.
July 16, 2019
I’m only minimally interested in most middle grade, particularly if it’s not potentially romantic and not fantasy, but I am interested in full-cast audiobooks, which is why I chose to read To Night Owl from Dogfish. This was a #gooddecision, because the audiobook is excellent, minus one nitpick. To Night Owl from Dogfish is a quirky, voice-driven story about family and friendship, and it brings some serious The Parent Trap vibes.
Because they’re not that common these days, I’d kind of forgotten how much I love epistolary novels or those told in diary entries, but rereading Jessica Darling and this book reminded me of that. Most of
To Night Owl from Dogfish consists of emails between Avery Bloom and Bett Devlin, who get into contact when Bett tracks down Avery’s school email address to inform her that their dads are dating each other. Other emails and letters pepper the text here and there (both their dad’s, Bett’s grandmother, Avery’s mom, camp directors and counselors, etc.), but the main focus is always on the relationship between these two girls.
Bett emails Avery initially to enlist her help in breaking up their dads and also getting the dads’ plan to send them away to camp together for the summer (so the dads can travel together in China). Even though both are determined not to be friends, they can’t resist chatting about everything under the sun, as well as plotting the demise of their dads’ relationship. It’s super cute and Parent Trap, and it’s also super Parent Trap when they decide to get their fathers back together after they break up. The plot’s just adorable tbh. Tropes to the max in the best way.
Like The Parent Trap, which no doubt had to be an inspiration for the authors, much of the book takes place at summer camps. There’s even a dance where drama happens! And tiny middle grade ship potential, although it doesn’t really end up being a thing. Maybe they could write a sequel where it is? 😉
Another thing I sometimes forget how much I love is found family stories, and To Night Owl from Dogfish totally fulfills that role 100%. Bett and Avery initially intend to have an antagonistic relationship, but they soon become dear friends in spite of themselves, and within time, they’re basically sisters, whether or not their dads choose to marry. It’s such a sweet, simple story, and it made me feel happy family feels.
The book’s ending was utterly charming, and I thought the messages were so great. It’s all about family being what you make it and life taking unexpected turns. There’s a pretty large character arc for Bett’s grandmother, actually, and, for an adult reading this book, it’s a reminder that you don’t need to be done growing, changing, and having fun just because you’ve hit a certain age. That’s something we can all stand to remember from time to time.
The audio performances are all fantastic and the characters are very well cast. I’d highly recommend it if you’re thinking about reading this book. However, I do have one quibble. The first couple hours of the audiobook are all Bett and Avery replying to one another in a single email thread, and the producers of the audio had the narrators read out every single Re: in the email’s subject every single time. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot of Re:s. Ultimately, I found it funny enough it didn’t bother me too much, but wow that wasn’t a great decision. I’d be curious how many minutes shorter this audiobook would be if you took out every single Re:. I’m guessing minimally half an hour.
To Night Owl from Dogfish isn’t my usual sort of read at all, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. All the characters are charming, and the story’s fun and light-hearted.
Because they’re not that common these days, I’d kind of forgotten how much I love epistolary novels or those told in diary entries, but rereading Jessica Darling and this book reminded me of that. Most of
To Night Owl from Dogfish consists of emails between Avery Bloom and Bett Devlin, who get into contact when Bett tracks down Avery’s school email address to inform her that their dads are dating each other. Other emails and letters pepper the text here and there (both their dad’s, Bett’s grandmother, Avery’s mom, camp directors and counselors, etc.), but the main focus is always on the relationship between these two girls.
Bett emails Avery initially to enlist her help in breaking up their dads and also getting the dads’ plan to send them away to camp together for the summer (so the dads can travel together in China). Even though both are determined not to be friends, they can’t resist chatting about everything under the sun, as well as plotting the demise of their dads’ relationship. It’s super cute and Parent Trap, and it’s also super Parent Trap when they decide to get their fathers back together after they break up. The plot’s just adorable tbh. Tropes to the max in the best way.
Like The Parent Trap, which no doubt had to be an inspiration for the authors, much of the book takes place at summer camps. There’s even a dance where drama happens! And tiny middle grade ship potential, although it doesn’t really end up being a thing. Maybe they could write a sequel where it is? 😉
Another thing I sometimes forget how much I love is found family stories, and To Night Owl from Dogfish totally fulfills that role 100%. Bett and Avery initially intend to have an antagonistic relationship, but they soon become dear friends in spite of themselves, and within time, they’re basically sisters, whether or not their dads choose to marry. It’s such a sweet, simple story, and it made me feel happy family feels.
The book’s ending was utterly charming, and I thought the messages were so great. It’s all about family being what you make it and life taking unexpected turns. There’s a pretty large character arc for Bett’s grandmother, actually, and, for an adult reading this book, it’s a reminder that you don’t need to be done growing, changing, and having fun just because you’ve hit a certain age. That’s something we can all stand to remember from time to time.
The audio performances are all fantastic and the characters are very well cast. I’d highly recommend it if you’re thinking about reading this book. However, I do have one quibble. The first couple hours of the audiobook are all Bett and Avery replying to one another in a single email thread, and the producers of the audio had the narrators read out every single Re: in the email’s subject every single time. Spoiler alert: it’s a lot of Re:s. Ultimately, I found it funny enough it didn’t bother me too much, but wow that wasn’t a great decision. I’d be curious how many minutes shorter this audiobook would be if you took out every single Re:. I’m guessing minimally half an hour.
To Night Owl from Dogfish isn’t my usual sort of read at all, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. All the characters are charming, and the story’s fun and light-hearted.
July 7, 2021
5.0⭐️ So much love for this wonderful middle grade charmer.
I feel like it gets so many things right:
• believable, gradual development of Bett and Avery’s enemies to friends relationship
• Avery’s anxiety
• main characters who are quirky and complex with strong personalities without ever feeling over the top
• well drawn secondary characters
• oh so satisfying parent trap vibes and summer camp feels
• celebration of found family and the many beauties diversity brings to our relationships
Feel-good with depth. A new favourite. Also, SO good on audio, with a full cast of dynamite narrators.
CW: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
I feel like it gets so many things right:
• believable, gradual development of Bett and Avery’s enemies to friends relationship
• Avery’s anxiety
• main characters who are quirky and complex with strong personalities without ever feeling over the top
• well drawn secondary characters
• oh so satisfying parent trap vibes and summer camp feels
• celebration of found family and the many beauties diversity brings to our relationships
Feel-good with depth. A new favourite. Also, SO good on audio, with a full cast of dynamite narrators.
CW: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Panic attacks/disorders
December 26, 2019
Ein wirklich tolles Jugendbuch. Durch die Form von Emails und Briefen hat man manchmal das Gefühl, nicht ganz mit 'dabei' zu sein. Aber durch die verschiedenen Schreibweisen der Mädchen kann man sich ihre Persönlichkeiten wunderbar vorstellen.
April 27, 2022
loved this cute parent trappy book! the girls were hilarious and eloquent and i was surprised and touched!
February 11, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I desperately wanted to read this book for several reasons:
1. I am a HUGE fan of Wolitzer's work. I have read, and adored, many of her adult and YA books.
2. There is just something about camp books that delights me.
3. I love epistolary novels.
4. There is a Parent Trap like storyline in there, and that's a film I will always love.
Well, I am happy to report, that the above mentioned things contributed to a wonderful reading experience, but there was so much more to this novel than what I listed.
I am going to admit, it was insta-love for me. I was smitten with Avery and Bett from their very first exchange. Bett's larger than life personality and tell-it-like-it-is philosophy made me smile, and Avery being so straight-laced and grounded was the perfect foil for her.
The early letters between the two were filled with fun facts and some plotting, but you could also see Bett and Avery discovering some commonalities and a friendship slowly emerging. In addition to seeing their friendship grow and flourish, I also saw the girls grow and flourish. This book took place over two years time, and I saw Bett and Avery mature physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I also loved the idea of family presented in this novel. Both Bett and Avery were being raised by single fathers, and though Avery knew her biological mother, Bett only knew of the surrogate who carried her. It's always lovely to see such diverse families in books. The authors also incorporated the idea of found-family, and I have to say, this "family" was filled with so much love and joy, it was really heartwarming to be around them.
There were so many other things in this book that impressed me too:
• The authentic dialog between the girls
• The hijinks, oh my, they were fun
• Gaga, aka, Betty 1, aka, Bett's grandma ❤️
• A small redemption arc for one of the auxiliary characters
• Animal interactions and the great outdoors
• A pretty dramatic climax
• A twist I didn't expect
I wore a smile on my face from the beginning of this book to the very last page. This story was fun and sweet and touching and emphasized three really wonderful things: friends, family, and love.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I desperately wanted to read this book for several reasons:
1. I am a HUGE fan of Wolitzer's work. I have read, and adored, many of her adult and YA books.
2. There is just something about camp books that delights me.
3. I love epistolary novels.
4. There is a Parent Trap like storyline in there, and that's a film I will always love.
Well, I am happy to report, that the above mentioned things contributed to a wonderful reading experience, but there was so much more to this novel than what I listed.
I am going to admit, it was insta-love for me. I was smitten with Avery and Bett from their very first exchange. Bett's larger than life personality and tell-it-like-it-is philosophy made me smile, and Avery being so straight-laced and grounded was the perfect foil for her.
The early letters between the two were filled with fun facts and some plotting, but you could also see Bett and Avery discovering some commonalities and a friendship slowly emerging. In addition to seeing their friendship grow and flourish, I also saw the girls grow and flourish. This book took place over two years time, and I saw Bett and Avery mature physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I also loved the idea of family presented in this novel. Both Bett and Avery were being raised by single fathers, and though Avery knew her biological mother, Bett only knew of the surrogate who carried her. It's always lovely to see such diverse families in books. The authors also incorporated the idea of found-family, and I have to say, this "family" was filled with so much love and joy, it was really heartwarming to be around them.
There were so many other things in this book that impressed me too:
• The authentic dialog between the girls
• The hijinks, oh my, they were fun
• Gaga, aka, Betty 1, aka, Bett's grandma ❤️
• A small redemption arc for one of the auxiliary characters
• Animal interactions and the great outdoors
• A pretty dramatic climax
• A twist I didn't expect
I wore a smile on my face from the beginning of this book to the very last page. This story was fun and sweet and touching and emphasized three really wonderful things: friends, family, and love.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
June 14, 2019
Happy summer! This is book 1 for #30booksummer!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH; this was the perfect summery friendship novel! I'm recommending it for our choice Summer Reading 2020 list. I loooove epistolary novels and I love these two authors so of course I had to read this book immediately. I started it at 7 pm and finished it at 6 am and I swear I slept plenty in between, as well.
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Avery and Bett have never met ("you don't know me"), but their fathers have and they're in love. Avery and Bett are sent to a STEM camp in Michigan for the summer while their fathers jet off to China for the summer to travel and explore their feelings for one another. The two girls start emailing before camp even starts and vow to sabotage their fathers' relationship and to never become friends. Despite being super different (Avery is nerdy and nervous and Bett is sporty and fearless), the two slowly share their true selves with each other and become the very best of friends. So when their parents return from their summer trip broken up and NOT about to marry, Avery and Bett are devastated. .
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With a fabulous supporting cast (I love Gaga!!!), a hard to predict plot, and two fabulous main characters, this book is a MUST-READ. It's delightful, fun, funny and heartwarming. I hugged it. Ha! This is exactly the kind of book I want to read in the summer. You should read it, too!
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#librariansfollowlibrarians #bookstagram #mglit #mgbooks #ilovemg #readaroundmg @llygoldbergd30b @megwolitzer #epistolarymg #epistolarynovels #tonightowlfromdogfish #hollygoldbergsloan #megwolitzer
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☀️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH; this was the perfect summery friendship novel! I'm recommending it for our choice Summer Reading 2020 list. I loooove epistolary novels and I love these two authors so of course I had to read this book immediately. I started it at 7 pm and finished it at 6 am and I swear I slept plenty in between, as well.
.
☀️
☀️
Avery and Bett have never met ("you don't know me"), but their fathers have and they're in love. Avery and Bett are sent to a STEM camp in Michigan for the summer while their fathers jet off to China for the summer to travel and explore their feelings for one another. The two girls start emailing before camp even starts and vow to sabotage their fathers' relationship and to never become friends. Despite being super different (Avery is nerdy and nervous and Bett is sporty and fearless), the two slowly share their true selves with each other and become the very best of friends. So when their parents return from their summer trip broken up and NOT about to marry, Avery and Bett are devastated. .
☀️
☀️
With a fabulous supporting cast (I love Gaga!!!), a hard to predict plot, and two fabulous main characters, this book is a MUST-READ. It's delightful, fun, funny and heartwarming. I hugged it. Ha! This is exactly the kind of book I want to read in the summer. You should read it, too!
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☀️
☀️
#librariansfollowlibrarians #bookstagram #mglit #mgbooks #ilovemg #readaroundmg @llygoldbergd30b @megwolitzer #epistolarymg #epistolarynovels #tonightowlfromdogfish #hollygoldbergsloan #megwolitzer
Read
November 30, 2021This is an extremely sweet epistolary YA novel about Avery and Bett, who are both twelve, and sent to the same summer camp in the US by their single fathers, who are apparently having a whirlwind romance. They've gone to China for a motorcycle tour despite having been dating for about five minutes and they think that in their absence their daughters should get to know each other at camp. This goes about as well as you might expect. It is, in fact, a gay variation on the Parent Trap, though possibly with even worse parenting. And it is just exceptionally sweet and delightful, with a lovely cast of supporting characters - my favourites are Avery's biological mother (an extremely! dramatic! playwright!) and Bett's grandmother, the only sensible person at the circus. I was legit not at all sure where the story was going to go and read the whole thing in one go in order to find out.
The one idiocy in this book is that someone clearly told the white authors that they needed it not to be an all-white cast. Accordingly, one of the characters announces, in first-person dialogue, "I am a proud Person of Color (POC).", because... that's how real people talk??? And following this extremely normal and naturally expressed sentiment, it never comes back up for 300 pages & I can't now remember which of the characters it was even though I read this book literally today.
So there we are. But, gay Parent Trap! And v delightful!
The one idiocy in this book is that someone clearly told the white authors that they needed it not to be an all-white cast. Accordingly, one of the characters announces, in first-person dialogue, "I am a proud Person of Color (POC).", because... that's how real people talk??? And following this extremely normal and naturally expressed sentiment, it never comes back up for 300 pages & I can't now remember which of the characters it was even though I read this book literally today.
So there we are. But, gay Parent Trap! And v delightful!
June 21, 2018
I went into this book without high expectations, and I was definitely blown away. This is such a light hearted happy book about friendship and family- and what those words can mean. I laughed a bunch. I enjoyed reading about how the main characters Avery and Bett grow and change over the course of the book. I definitely recommend reading this book when it is released, and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read this book before it comes out.
December 24, 2018
I just adored To Night Owl from Dogfish! This story, told in emails & letters, has a beautiful message about friendship & what it means to be a family. Bett & Avery’s mission to get their dads together will make you LOL & warm your heart.
February 5, 2019
I heard this book once described as, a modern parent trap and that’s really what it is! A fun, YA read that will be sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
June 27, 2021
CAWPILE Book Rating:
Character: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Writing Style: 4
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 2
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 3
= 4,0/10,0
Kurzmeinung:
Ich möchte direkt vorweg stellen, dass ich einfach zu alt für dieses Buch war. Was nicht heißen soll, dass man mit Mitte 20 nicht auch Freude an Kinder-/Jugendbüchern haben kann, ich zähle einfach nur nicht dazu. Deswegen auch nur eine ganz knappe Meinung von mir. Ich fand Bett & Avery als Charaktere ganz interessant. Sie sind beide sehr eigen und unterschiedlich. Für mich hat es auch gewirkt, als hat die Autorin gut eingefangen, wie Kinder denken. Die Atmosphäre und der Schreibstil waren nicht so mein Fall. Anfangs fand ich noch ganz süß, dass nur über E-Mail/Brief/SMS kommuniziert wurde, aber irgendwann fand ich es leider etwas nervig.
Die Handlung konnte mich jetzt auch nicht so richtig packen, aber wie gesagt, ich bin auch nicht wirklich die Zielgruppe. Dementsprechend hat es mich leider auch im Ganzen nicht wirklich mitreißen können. Ich könnte mir aber vorstellen, dass wenn man das Genre mag oder das passende Alter hat, es eine wirklich süße, unterhaltsame Geschichte ist.
Character: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Writing Style: 4
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 2
Logic: 5
Enjoyment: 3
= 4,0/10,0
Kurzmeinung:
Ich möchte direkt vorweg stellen, dass ich einfach zu alt für dieses Buch war. Was nicht heißen soll, dass man mit Mitte 20 nicht auch Freude an Kinder-/Jugendbüchern haben kann, ich zähle einfach nur nicht dazu. Deswegen auch nur eine ganz knappe Meinung von mir. Ich fand Bett & Avery als Charaktere ganz interessant. Sie sind beide sehr eigen und unterschiedlich. Für mich hat es auch gewirkt, als hat die Autorin gut eingefangen, wie Kinder denken. Die Atmosphäre und der Schreibstil waren nicht so mein Fall. Anfangs fand ich noch ganz süß, dass nur über E-Mail/Brief/SMS kommuniziert wurde, aber irgendwann fand ich es leider etwas nervig.
Die Handlung konnte mich jetzt auch nicht so richtig packen, aber wie gesagt, ich bin auch nicht wirklich die Zielgruppe. Dementsprechend hat es mich leider auch im Ganzen nicht wirklich mitreißen können. Ich könnte mir aber vorstellen, dass wenn man das Genre mag oder das passende Alter hat, es eine wirklich süße, unterhaltsame Geschichte ist.
February 20, 2019
A charming, endearing tale of the meaning of family and friendship.
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