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Stick with Me
An ice skater without a rink. An artist without a place to draw. Two misfit girls who become unlikely friends over the course of an unusual week.
Izzy’s best friend seems to be ditching her for the Queen of Mean, Daphne Toll. Izzy wants to fit in and have some real friends, but all she really has are her drawings. And then her family rents out their house during winter break for some extra cash—and that family’s daughter is sleeping in Izzy’s room and attending the same camp!
Wren is focused on perfecting her ice-skating routine after tanking at sectionals last year. But when her sister qualifies for a life-changing treatment for her epilepsy, Wren is carted off to stay in a rented home near Boston. It doesn’t help that she’s forced to attend the local theater camp, where it seems like the mean girls have it out for her.
Will Izzy and Wren’s shared status as targets of Phoebe and Daphne bring them closer? Or will middle school drama prevent them from ever becoming friends?
Izzy’s best friend seems to be ditching her for the Queen of Mean, Daphne Toll. Izzy wants to fit in and have some real friends, but all she really has are her drawings. And then her family rents out their house during winter break for some extra cash—and that family’s daughter is sleeping in Izzy’s room and attending the same camp!
Wren is focused on perfecting her ice-skating routine after tanking at sectionals last year. But when her sister qualifies for a life-changing treatment for her epilepsy, Wren is carted off to stay in a rented home near Boston. It doesn’t help that she’s forced to attend the local theater camp, where it seems like the mean girls have it out for her.
Will Izzy and Wren’s shared status as targets of Phoebe and Daphne bring them closer? Or will middle school drama prevent them from ever becoming friends?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2020
15 people are currently reading
2691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 29, 2020
Face it. Middle school is a war zone. It's a transition from childhood to adulthood where everyone is trying to figure out who they want to be and which group they will ultimately belong to. Throw in a bully, and life can be pure misery. For 12-year old Wren, the transition is especially hard when her best friend Phoebe abandons her the super-cool Daphne. And on top of that, money has become tight in the family when her father changes jobs to a startup. Now Wren and her family have to move into the garage while they rent out their house.
Jennifer Blecher perfectly captures the angst of middle-school in this delightful story. Definitely recommended for middle grade girls!
Jennifer Blecher perfectly captures the angst of middle-school in this delightful story. Definitely recommended for middle grade girls!
September 15, 2020
I am usually a fan of dual narrative books (this book has two narrators that alternate chapters) and especially when the two characters' lives are weaved together in a magical but realistic way. Jennifer Blecher does this beautifully! I also found it refreshing that one of the families discusses money troubles and how this affects/will affect them in the future. One of the characters has a sibling with a chronic illness and I found the child description of how adults react to this news/her sibling accurate. I could see this representation also being significant for some students/families. Last but not least, the book does a spot on job of describing friendship troubles and the agony that is shifting friendships in middle school. I hope I can use this book for a book group later this school year!
March 21, 2021
Jennifer Blecher's Stick with Me is a heartwarming middle-grade book about finding friendship in unexpected places. This sophomore novel explores female friendships, bullying in middle school, life with a sick sibling, and pursuing artistic passions and a love for ice skating. Readers who enjoy family-centered novels and books featuring strong female protagonists will enjoy this one.
Read my full review on my blog.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via Edelweiss.
Read my full review on my blog.
Thanks to the publisher for an eARC via Edelweiss.
December 21, 2020
Excellent middle grade book with two perspectives. Addresses money troubles, bullying, sick siblings (and the difficulty of making sacrifices), and more. Friendship drama is very well done!
September 19, 2025
On the date that I am posting this review, March 26th, It is Epilepsy Awareness Day. (Purple day). Happy Purple Day, everyone!💜
This novel is told from the perspective of two girls. Izzy, and Wren.
Izzy is a tween girl struggling with a friendship. Her relationship with her best friend seems to be slowly deteriorating and there's nothing Izzy can do about it. Phoebe seems to have forgotten everything that Daphne, the most popular girl in the school, did to hurt her in early elementary school. Now she's choosing to hang out with Daphne instead of Izzy.
Wren is an incredible figure skater. She's practicing for sectionals and is ready to compete against the top skaters in the country. But then her little sister Hannah spoils everything. Wren knows it's not Hannah's fault that she has epilepsy and that they have to travel for her to have surgery on her brain. But a little tiny bit of Wren is still upset.
Since it's Epilepsy Awareness Day I wanted to take a little time to talk about this specific disorder. As sad as it is, it's not super uncommon and kids all over the world are struggling. Today, I just want to encourage you to take a moment (maybe dress in purple!) to think about this and share with other people. This is a topic that I feel is not talked about enough but together we can raise epilepsy awareness.💜
This novel is told from the perspective of two girls. Izzy, and Wren.
Izzy is a tween girl struggling with a friendship. Her relationship with her best friend seems to be slowly deteriorating and there's nothing Izzy can do about it. Phoebe seems to have forgotten everything that Daphne, the most popular girl in the school, did to hurt her in early elementary school. Now she's choosing to hang out with Daphne instead of Izzy.
Wren is an incredible figure skater. She's practicing for sectionals and is ready to compete against the top skaters in the country. But then her little sister Hannah spoils everything. Wren knows it's not Hannah's fault that she has epilepsy and that they have to travel for her to have surgery on her brain. But a little tiny bit of Wren is still upset.
Since it's Epilepsy Awareness Day I wanted to take a little time to talk about this specific disorder. As sad as it is, it's not super uncommon and kids all over the world are struggling. Today, I just want to encourage you to take a moment (maybe dress in purple!) to think about this and share with other people. This is a topic that I feel is not talked about enough but together we can raise epilepsy awareness.💜
May 1, 2024
I think the overall view of the book was pretty decent!But then at the end I was really sad when it was over cause I wanted to read about how Wren and Izzy did in school now as friends.
November 20, 2020
When fitting in means finding the right friend...
Jen Blecher’s done it again—written a lovely middle grade novel that’s both minutely observed and wonderfully encompassing in terms of its larger themes.
Izzy is a talented artist suffering growing pains within her social group and enduring the stiletto-sharp pierce of exclusion as her so-called friends reject her. At the same time, her parents are going through a financial crisis and will need to rent out their home to make ends meet, while the family moves into their garage apartment. This move will separate Izzy from where she makes her art. Wren is an ambitious ice skating star whose adorable little sister, Hannah, has profound health issues that will require the family to spend a few weeks near the hospital where she receives treatment. This move will keep Wren from the rink at a crucial time in her skating season. AirB&B and drama camp bring Wren and Izzy together, when Wren’s family rents Izzy’s house for the duration of Hanna’s operation and recovery and the girls are thrust into a vacation program at Izzy’s school. Both Wren and Izzy are out of sorts and lonely, but they find in each other both fun and comfort, and a friendship that celebrates who they are instead of who their peers think they should be. With a well-paced plot, a very satisfying ending, and relatable themes and issues (bullying, financial difficulties, friends who are “different,” the quasi-professionalizing of kids’ sports), STICK WITH ME delivers both comfort and entertainment. A cozy winter read for middle graders.
Jen Blecher’s done it again—written a lovely middle grade novel that’s both minutely observed and wonderfully encompassing in terms of its larger themes.
Izzy is a talented artist suffering growing pains within her social group and enduring the stiletto-sharp pierce of exclusion as her so-called friends reject her. At the same time, her parents are going through a financial crisis and will need to rent out their home to make ends meet, while the family moves into their garage apartment. This move will separate Izzy from where she makes her art. Wren is an ambitious ice skating star whose adorable little sister, Hannah, has profound health issues that will require the family to spend a few weeks near the hospital where she receives treatment. This move will keep Wren from the rink at a crucial time in her skating season. AirB&B and drama camp bring Wren and Izzy together, when Wren’s family rents Izzy’s house for the duration of Hanna’s operation and recovery and the girls are thrust into a vacation program at Izzy’s school. Both Wren and Izzy are out of sorts and lonely, but they find in each other both fun and comfort, and a friendship that celebrates who they are instead of who their peers think they should be. With a well-paced plot, a very satisfying ending, and relatable themes and issues (bullying, financial difficulties, friends who are “different,” the quasi-professionalizing of kids’ sports), STICK WITH ME delivers both comfort and entertainment. A cozy winter read for middle graders.
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September 3, 2020Izzy doesn't understand why her best friend, Phoebe, is slowly abandoning her for a new friend, Daphne, and has no one else to share her frustration with. So she expresses it through her drawings and her obsession with stickers that she used to share with Phoebe. When her dad's startup is discovered to be losing money, Izzy's parents decide to rent out their house (think Airbnb) and move into their apartment over their garage for a week.
All Wren wants is a second chance at figure skating after she fell last year during a routine and couldn't move on to nationals. Now she takes private lessons every morning, as well as extra sessions with her father when the hockey team he coaches leaves the rink empty. But when her four-year-old sister, Hannah, is approved for a new surgery to treat her epilepsy, her family must leave the rink for a week and stay in a rented house in Boston. Wren is disappointed to find out that the only ice rink nearby is extremely crowded and mostly unavailable to the public, and the local pond isn't cleared. Her parents sign her up for a theater camp at Izzy's school, where she is forced to spend most of the day with not only Izzy but the "queen of mean" Daphne.
My only complaint is that I wish this book was longer, but that's not really a complaint, because the ending was satisfying. Even if Izzy and Wren didn't get much time together, they managed to see each other later on.
All Wren wants is a second chance at figure skating after she fell last year during a routine and couldn't move on to nationals. Now she takes private lessons every morning, as well as extra sessions with her father when the hockey team he coaches leaves the rink empty. But when her four-year-old sister, Hannah, is approved for a new surgery to treat her epilepsy, her family must leave the rink for a week and stay in a rented house in Boston. Wren is disappointed to find out that the only ice rink nearby is extremely crowded and mostly unavailable to the public, and the local pond isn't cleared. Her parents sign her up for a theater camp at Izzy's school, where she is forced to spend most of the day with not only Izzy but the "queen of mean" Daphne.
My only complaint is that I wish this book was longer, but that's not really a complaint, because the ending was satisfying. Even if Izzy and Wren didn't get much time together, they managed to see each other later on.
February 12, 2021
An original premise for dealing with middle school ‘friends’ and those who are not really friends!
Wren is missing practice time during school vacation for an upcoming ice skating competition as her little sister needs an operation in another city. Her family rents a house from Izzy’s family for the week. Neither want to attend Theater Camp, where jealousy and cliques rear their ugly heads for both girls.
Izzy and Wren’s stories are interwoven through alternating chapters as they deal with each other, the operation, the rental, the Camp, the clique, and their own needs. The title refers to the multitude of stickers Izzy has on the back of her bedroom door - which is the room Wren stays in. The only detail that didn’t ring true for this reviewer was that Izzy’s family was uprooted for a week and stayed in the convenient garage apartment to make a little extra money.
Middle elementary girls could find lots to relate to here and perhaps glean a few strategies to deal with their own situations
Wren is missing practice time during school vacation for an upcoming ice skating competition as her little sister needs an operation in another city. Her family rents a house from Izzy’s family for the week. Neither want to attend Theater Camp, where jealousy and cliques rear their ugly heads for both girls.
Izzy and Wren’s stories are interwoven through alternating chapters as they deal with each other, the operation, the rental, the Camp, the clique, and their own needs. The title refers to the multitude of stickers Izzy has on the back of her bedroom door - which is the room Wren stays in. The only detail that didn’t ring true for this reviewer was that Izzy’s family was uprooted for a week and stayed in the convenient garage apartment to make a little extra money.
Middle elementary girls could find lots to relate to here and perhaps glean a few strategies to deal with their own situations
July 23, 2020
Izzy’s best friend, Phoebe, has been hanging out more and more with Daphne, a girl who bullies Izzy and others. Wren loves figure skating and hopes to place at sectionals; however, she has to miss training during winter break because her family needs to travel to Boston for her sister Hannah’s surgery. Izzy and Wren meet when Wren’s family rents Izzy’s family’s house. The two girls are sent to theater camp, which they are reluctant to attend. Unfortunately, Phoebe and Daphne are also at the camp.
The ups and downs of friendships, including the loss of a friendship—common in middle school and in other times of life—are well-portrayed in this novel. I liked the inclusion of figure skating and art. I also appreciated the realistic ways in which the girls react to and negotiate the challenges they face. This is one to have on your library shelves.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The ups and downs of friendships, including the loss of a friendship—common in middle school and in other times of life—are well-portrayed in this novel. I liked the inclusion of figure skating and art. I also appreciated the realistic ways in which the girls react to and negotiate the challenges they face. This is one to have on your library shelves.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It talks about bullying, going through changes, and health through two different characters who come together and become friends. Izzy's bff has decided to leave her for the popular girl in school, Daphne. Izzy tries to rekindle her friendship but Phoebe just wants to hang out with Daphne and acts like her. When her mom rents out their house to a family with a daughter the same age as Izzy, there is a lot of jealousy and curiosity. The girl who moves in with her family is Wren. Wren and her family moves into Izzy's house because Wren's younger sister is receiving a life changing surgery to get rid of her Epilepsy. Wren is upset because she wanted to train for her figure skating competition but she knows that her sister's health is more important. Izzy and Wren end up going to a drama club together and that is where they get closer. Izzy ends up saving Wren's life with just shows her loyalty to Wren.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2021
Izzy's best friend has moved on to be friends with mean girl, Daphne. Meanwhile, due to financial struggles, Izzy's mom decides to rent out their home to a family in town who has a sick younger daughter, Hannah, who needs to under go tests and surgery and her big sister, Wren, who is an avid ice skater preparing for semi-finals. The Izzy and Wren are wary of each other as Izzy's mom recommends Wren to attend theater camp with Izzy during the weeklong break from school. From wariness to companionship, Izzy learns to find her inner superhero through Wren's eyes.
Very cute low-stakes friendship story. There wasn't much character depth outside of the girls' creative pursuits. Though this is a story with alternating perspectives, it was difficult to differentiate which girl was which, at first. Blecher does a good job with outlining the nuances of middle school drama and friendships. Overall, quick read with a happy ending.
Very cute low-stakes friendship story. There wasn't much character depth outside of the girls' creative pursuits. Though this is a story with alternating perspectives, it was difficult to differentiate which girl was which, at first. Blecher does a good job with outlining the nuances of middle school drama and friendships. Overall, quick read with a happy ending.
November 18, 2020
What a beautifully written gem of a book. Blecher is a fantastic writer and does such a good job of depicting the sensitive, complicated terrain of shifting friendships in middle school. The portrayal of the bullying tactics of the popular girls was so realistic and pitch perfect I found myself cringing in empathy with their targets Izzy and Wren, especially Izzy—but the ending was quietly triumphant, and I loved seeing a plausible way to deal with these conflicts so deftly rendered on the page. I wish this book had been around when I was 10-12 years old. I would have felt such kinship with Izzy and her longing to belong while also figuring out her own interests and sense of self. A great read.
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July 22, 2020Twelve-year-old Izzy is feeling out of place and out of sorts (what 12 year old isn't?). Her best friend is hanging with the mean girls and her family is a bit low on cash so they're going to rent out their house on VRBO and live in the apartment above the garage for a week. Twelve-year-old Wren is also feeling out of sorts. All she wants to do is skate, land her double lutz and make it to the state competition. But her little sister needs some special surgery out of town so they have to rent a VRBO in Boston for the week before the competition. Talk about resentment. Blecher nicely captures the confusing emotions, anxieties and joys of life as a middle school girl.
June 25, 2020
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.
This is a great middle grade novel focusing on the pains of adolescent girl friendship and growing up. Izzy’s best friend since forever, Phoebe, has abandoned her for a cooler friend, and her family is renting out their house for a week to Wren’s family. Wren is an ice skater who is obsessed with getting better but her dreams of practicing are hampered by her sister’s surgery, which takes her family to living in Izzy’s house. The story was a quick read with a lot of emotion, would be good for a small book club.
This is a great middle grade novel focusing on the pains of adolescent girl friendship and growing up. Izzy’s best friend since forever, Phoebe, has abandoned her for a cooler friend, and her family is renting out their house for a week to Wren’s family. Wren is an ice skater who is obsessed with getting better but her dreams of practicing are hampered by her sister’s surgery, which takes her family to living in Izzy’s house. The story was a quick read with a lot of emotion, would be good for a small book club.
August 4, 2020
Link to my book talk: https://youtu.be/sCasNeMSvs0
I love this amazing book about friendship and belonging. It is a well-crafted book because little adventures that Wren and Izzy have! I enjoyed reading how Izzy and Wren connect in a special circumstance and how their friendship grows. This author made a really good plot and storyline that all MG readers should be able to enjoy! And how lovely is the cover!
I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love this amazing book about friendship and belonging. It is a well-crafted book because little adventures that Wren and Izzy have! I enjoyed reading how Izzy and Wren connect in a special circumstance and how their friendship grows. This author made a really good plot and storyline that all MG readers should be able to enjoy! And how lovely is the cover!
I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2021
I thought I should generous with this review, since I'm not exactly the target demographic, so I rounded up my rating of 2.75 stars. ;) I checked this out from the library as a potential option for Jane for one her summer reading choices and -- if she ever actually reads it -- I think she'll like it. it deals some friend drama amongst girls and I think that's probably a pretty relevant topic for middle school/junior (and beyond). hahaha. as a side note, this book was SORELY in need of a copy editor. like really badly.
October 3, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley and Greenwillow Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy books with dual narrators so I appreciated getting to hear this story from both Izzy and Wren's point of view. Blecher does a wonderful job describing the ever changing landscape of friendships in a middle school. It can be a difficult time and your friends can change often so I looked the honest look at the impact that has on kids.
I enjoy books with dual narrators so I appreciated getting to hear this story from both Izzy and Wren's point of view. Blecher does a wonderful job describing the ever changing landscape of friendships in a middle school. It can be a difficult time and your friends can change often so I looked the honest look at the impact that has on kids.
July 31, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. 4-5 stars, but being a mom it seemed weird to give it 5 stars. I hope it helps other girls in a similar situation to feel better. Around Izzy & Wren’s age is definitely when things got better with friends - maybe more knowing who was a true friend & who wasn’t. It still took till HS to really figure it out. This is a great read. The step between those little kid friendships & high school ones…
March 7, 2022
This book was amazing! I love the story line and how Izzy was a girl who had just lost her only friend and Wren didn't really have any friends either but they had a connection. Even though Wren was renting Izzy's house for a bad cause, they made it one of the best weeks ever. This book was really interesting, the moral of the story is that there is always someone out there that is just right for you (best friend, soulmate,pet, family).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2020
I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick story that will play well to the middle grade audience. Izzy and Wren are relatable characters with believable storylines. I enjoyed reading it, and expect its target audience will enjoy it just as much.
This was a quick story that will play well to the middle grade audience. Izzy and Wren are relatable characters with believable storylines. I enjoyed reading it, and expect its target audience will enjoy it just as much.
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November 13, 2020I loved this compassionate, insightful, beautifully written story about friendship, family, and figuring out where you fit. It’s a perfect warm and cozy winter read, and I love how Jennifer Blecher creates sympathetic, relatable characters who have messy feelings and make big mistakes and then figure out how to heal and move forward. Gorgeous, pitch-perfect third person voice, too. Lovely!
January 15, 2021
So, as an adult reading this I’d probability give it 3.5 stars. But if I was a middle grader reading this, I feel strongly it would be a 5 star read, so I’m giving it 5 stars. The cast and characters are all so wonderful. The way Blecher writes the “bully” and how others react to her are to realistic, and these families feel authentic, not some crazy weird scenarios or perfect families.
November 10, 2020
Loved this MG book that accurately covers the trials & tribulations of middle school! Rocky friendships, mean girls, family issues....I loved Stick With Me. I also loved the figure skating recognition!
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December 28, 2020
Really enjoyable read. Blecher knows her tweens and the different interests of the two protagonists was well-drawn and believable. Added bonus: local interest; I could truly envision where everything took place.
January 20, 2021
A low-stakes friendship drama that will resonate with elementary students. The main characters were underdeveloped just enough that I had some trouble telling them apart. The VRBO plot conceit is a new one for me!
November 3, 2020
I read this wonderful book in a few short, blissful hours! It's a beautiful tale of the importance of friendship and family!
November 18, 2020
Book talk 6/7
November 27, 2020
Didn't engage with the characters much. Does do a good job of illustrating how to be unselfish and make a few sacrifices. Deals with bullies so not all that original. Just ok.
December 2, 2020
A very fast read. Would be a great read-aloud for upper elementary and middle school classes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews