TBH, IDK What's Next

TBH #4

by Lisa Greenwald

BFFAEs Prianka, Cece, and Gabby are ready to have an unforgettable summer—but they don’t agree on what that means.

For Cece and Gabby, everything is CAMP, CAMP, CAMP! But Prianka wants to forget about sleeping in the woods and hang out at the pool before her big family trip to India. Gabby won’t stop obsessing over the likes on her camp photos while Cece won’t pick up her phone at all.

With “back-to-school” looming and relationships changing at lightning speed, can CPG4Eva sort out their differences before classes start and things really change?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile

256 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2020

About the author

A long bio can be kind of boring, so instead I'm going to pretend
that a famous journalist (maybe Barbara Walters) is interviewing me.
The only thing is, I'm making up the questions.
If you think of any other questions you'd like me to answer, send me an email and ask away!

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I lived in Fairfield, Connecticut until the end of fifth grade and then I moved to Roslyn Heights, New York. That's on Long Island. But I don't have a bad Lawn Guyland accent, I promise.

Q. Do you have any siblings?
A. Yes, I have two younger brothers. I always wanted a sister, but it's kind of nice being the only daughter in the family, and my brothers and I are really close.

Q. What about the rest of your family? Are you close with them too?
A. Yes, family is really important to me. I talk to my parents and grandparents every day.

Q. Are you married?
A. Yes, to a fabulous guy named Dave. We met at sleep away camp when I was sixteen.

Q. Do you have any kids?
A. Yes, my daughter Aleah Violet Rosenberg was born on May 28th, 2010 and I personally think she's the cutest baby in the world, but of course I am biased.

Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I had a miniature toy poodle named Yoffi, but he died in 2007. I miss him so much.

Q. That's sad. Do you think you will get another dog?
A. I would love to adopt one very soon!

Q. What is your favorite book?
A. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is my favorite book in the whole entire world. I read it in sixth grade in Ms. Mayer's class. I have read many books since then, but Tuck Everlasting is still my absolute favorite.

Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. I have two. Clueless and Avalon.


Q. What's one of the craziest things that's ever happened to you?
A. I won a radio contest at the end of eighth grade! Someone from Z100 called me up and asked me to say the "phrase that pays" and I answered correctly. I won a thousand dollars.

Q. Did you always want to be a writer?
A. No, not always. I wanted to be a hair stylist, then a concert pianist, then a rabbi. But I always loved making up stories, so I think writing is the perfect job for me.

Q. Where did you go to college?
A. I went to Binghamton University in upstate New York. I was an English major with a concentration in creative writing. It's reallllllllly cold in Binghamton. Then two years after I graduated college, I went to The New School to get my MFA in writing for children.

Q. You mentioned that you met Dave at sleep away camp. Did you really like sleep away camp?
A. YES! I loved it. I went to Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. I would go back to camp forever if only I could. Sleep away camp is the best place in the world.

Q. Tell me some other things you really like.
A. Okay. Here's a short list: sleeping late, fancy hotels, reading and writing (duh!,) peanut m&ms, flip flops, sweatpants, people watching, New York City, cheese omelets, weddings, pedicures, looking at old pictures and re-reading old cards and letters.



Q. Tell me some things you really dislike.
A. Peas, mean people, rats and mice, sweating, pants and skirts with a side zipper, spicy food, uncomfortable shoes, people clipping their nails on the subway, feeling lonely or thinking about other people who might feel lonely.

Q. MY LIFE IN PINK & GREEN is about a pharmacy. Do you really like pharmacies?
A. Yes, I love them! I love the way they smell and the way the aisles are arranged. I love when the pharmacists know the customers and I love looking at all the beauty products.

Q. Do you write every day?
A. I try to, but in addition to writing I also work in the library at The Birch Wathen Lenox School in Manhattan. I love being around kids and books and talking to kids about books!

Q. I don't have any more questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A. Just that I hope readers like my book, and I'd love to hear from all of them if they want to talk to me!

Reviews

[Erica Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I wish I would have read the first three books. It was fun and different. I love how there was an LGBTQ character in it. I love their friendship and how close they are. They always seem to say in touch no matter what they got going on in their life. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series soon.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really liking this little series. I think its great for relunctant readers and those who are more into non traditonal book formats. And I really like that these friends are having struggles and finding their way through middle school, but are able to work things out and communiate relatively effectively with each other to resolve problems.

[Hebah Dwidari · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun reas

[Grace Wooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a middle school student, going into 7th grade, we just got out of school for the summer and after I read this I said to my cousin "I want to try and limit my screen time for the summer"

[LydiaPW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruddy said the company was working with a local company in order for the project be successful and to be profitable in its business model by early in next century as a business model and in its business plan for a future of the business and the development and growth in its operations and services in its operations as well with a new generation and new businesses to come in and develop its. The project is also aimed towards eyeing the future development results and enhancing eururue ueyeueueu of a more efficient and efficient process for the construction of and for a sustainable business development and development of industrial

[Breck Ekenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to really like this series, but now I'm not too sure. Although the main characters are supposed to be in middle school, the way they act makes them seem a whole lot younger. This book also makes all teenagers look like stuck up snobs addicted to their phones, which isn't true at all. All the characters in this book seem to care about is texting. (And yes I know this is "A novel in text", but still.) It was still an okay book though.

[ThundertheKilljoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!
This fourth book in the TBH series delivers a great message:
You don't need likes or hearts on social media to know that you are amazing as you is. Who needs validation from strangers on the internet?
I feel like this series sort of bobs up and down-at least for me. Some books are amazing but sometimes others I just really like, but they're not quite 5-star material.
Anywho, yes, I would recommend this book to friends. :)

[Kim Everts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am writing this review because I want to explain my rating. If I solely based this on reading this as an adult, I would rate it a 2. BUT, if I rated it as a teenager, I would rate this as a 4. Here's why- I loved the format, written in txts! The content completely read as early teens talking with each other - hence the rating of a 2 as an adult. It did have a great message at the end about social media that I hope the pre-teens/teens that are reading this book listen to.

[Maci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been in a book slump and this helped me get out of it. I have been reading graphic novels and those are fun and perfect to get out of a book slump but I can't just live off graphic novels for the rest of my life lol 🤣🤣🤣 Now I want to read every second every minute of every single day lol 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😹😹😹 So I really enjoyed I skipped the 3rd book cause I didn't have it only the 4th so.... I did miss out on some things but I caught on really quick! Very enjoyable fun read 📖 would recommend!

[June Willette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally it wasn’t my favorite book I’ve read, though it wasn’t a terrible book. I just didn’t quite understand the plot until the middle of the book, but that may be on me because I bought this book like two years ago at my local dollar tree and they didn’t have the whole series. A huge thing I liked was I really loved the characters in this book, they were funny and relatable! 3.25, but a 3 on this app!

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It has a lot of detail but is an easy read. I like how Lisa, the author, always has happy endings. But, I love how she always makes you feel hooked from the start to finish. On the last page of this book, she left a great cliffhanger about 7th grade. Can’t wait to read the next book!

[Stephanie Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read. I like that the characters had to confront someone in their group about their behavior. I think this could be helpful for any teens going through something similar. Other than that, there wasn’t much else that went on. You do get the smallest hint at LGBTQ+ which is always a good thing.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Style: 5/5.
Plot: 3/5. Characters fighting about dumber things
Characters: 3/5
Idea: 5/5. Teaches good lessons about social media and screentime
Win: Great lessons, pretty cool
Lose: Characters getting more dramatic and fighting about dumber things

[Monika Kozlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with these books

[Savannah Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series!!!! I might start using emojis just because of it.🧐🤔 still ❤️❤️❤️ the series!

[Yari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story told in text. Heads up for parents- It does have one gay character.

[Bella Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

My gosh, how do you put that much information in text messages?! It must take so much time to think it out, and it is really enjoyable! Love it!

[Ree P · Rating 3 out of 5]

once again pretty shallow, just here for the drama

[Erin Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is awesome.

[Kim Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is torture to read but I get why kids like it. LOTS of middle school drama.

[Sese Wildlife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good but the notes where sometimes very long

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how it is and text messages.

[Hendrix Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accidently picked up at the thrift w/o realizing it was #4 in series. Made me feel appropriately old, but some nice pangs of nostalgia too

[Inara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's about girls that have crushes on boys, then text mostly and their parents can see the i-messaging they do.

[Noelle Brueck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was so fun to read!





Disclaimer: I believe this should qualify as a LGBTQ book because one of the girls kisses another girl. Just in case you are wanting to purchase or something. I am ok with reading LGBTQ books and this was only one part and very subtle.

[Andrea Trenary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I had read the books previous to this in a series, but I was confusing it with a different series. I found this at the dollar tree and read it but boy was it dumb.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

TBH, IDK WHAT'S NEXT follows four best friends over their summer before seventh grade. They are all determined to have the Best Summer Ever, but this is not as easy as they thought it would be. Prianka (Pri), Cecily (Cece), and Gabrielle (Gabby) are at a summer camp, where they are going screen-free. While all three thought they would love camp, Pri finds herself homesick and not enjoying it, while Cece and Gabby are loving it all.

Pri keeps sneaking her phone and is happy when summer camp ends, and she decides that they will have the Best Summer Ever 2.0 when they get back home- before she has to go on a family trip to India. When they return, they meet back up with their friend Victoria, but Cece enjoyed being screen-free and so is avoiding using their usual mode of communication (phones).

Gabby is obsessed with the summer camp photo album and how her pictures look, falling into the social media trap of comparisons, jealousy, and feelings of inadequacies. As the girls navigate their summer, evolving identities, and their upcoming school year, there is a lot for the middle grade audience to relate to and take away.

What I loved: This book series has such a unique setup that is really intriguing. Told mostly through texts (with plenty of text speech and emojis), but also through emails and handwritten notes, this book feels like you really get to peep into the BFFs lives. I also really enjoyed the messages about phone use and social media- how these can be fun but also harmful. The book moves quickly and so is a fun read for the middle grade crowd, who can empathize with these issues.

Final verdict: Overall, this is a delightful continuation of a cute series that will certainly appeal to the middle grade audience. With plenty of emojis and some great underlying messages about the power and problems of social media, this is a quick and fascinating read. Recommend for middle grade readers who are looking for something engaging and unique.

[Courtenay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I've tried this series a number of times and it absolutely infuriates me. Emojis and text with little point/plot and no character development. Meh. (At least in book 4). How did this ever become a series? I reached p. 119 so there must be SOMETHING appealing about it, but when pressed to choose whether to continue reading or not, Finding Langston (by Lesa Cline-Ransome) won out and, frankly, all the other books on my shelf did too. Guess I'm just going to skip this series by Greenwald, maybe try her other books without BIG LETTERS and UNNECESSARY EMOJIS all over the page. My beef is, what does it say about our society that our youth is gravitating toward communicating like this? No thanks. And reviewing three months later I decided this is not coming back home with me. Closing out.

[Sarah Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The girls return from camp after having had a lot of fun, except for Pri who hated it. As they head into summer Gabby can't let go of the camp fun and spends a lot of time on a shared site posting photos while Pri removes herself from tech for most of the summer. All of the issues were easily wrapped up and warm and fuzzy, so while it was nice to see the girls dealing with things like screen time and being jealous of the life someone else is putting on social media it wasn't realistic.
Good for ages 11 and up.

[Kenzie Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is another sweet, funny, relatable book! However, some parents may not find it suitable for their kids to read because (like I said in my last review on book #3) one of the characters (a girl) has a crush on another girl. This book takes that crush a step further and the two girls kiss in this book. I know that not all parents want their children reading that kind of thing, so I just wanted to give a heads up.