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Rule of Threes
Mercy Suarez meets The Thing About Jellyfish in this novel about what happens when "perfect" is out of your control. A classic middle grade story told with honesty, nuance, and depth, in the tradition of Rebecca Stead, Holly Goldberg Sloan, and Jerry Spinelli.
How do you share a parent with a stranger?
Maggie's accustomed to leading her life perfectly according to her own well-designed plans. But when Maggie learns that she has a half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who's also Tony's dad—to take him in.
As Maggie struggles to reconcile her mom and dad's almost-divorce, accept the Alzheimer's afflicting her grandmother, and understand Tony's own issues—ignorance is no longer an option. While Maggie can strive for—and even succeed in—a perfect design, when it comes to family, nothing is perfect, and tackling its complexities is only possible with an open heart.
Heart-wrenching, authentic, and darkly funny, this is a spectacularly written portrayal of the ways we respond to intense change, and proof that no matter the circumstances, the unexpected things are often the best ones.
• WILL KEEP KIDS TURNING PAGES: Part family drama, part contemporary thriller, this book is compulsively readable, and accessible and relatable to all different kinds of readers. A juicy read about important topics featuring unforgettable characters that sucks you in and leaves you wishing for more pages!
• TIMELESS RELATABILITY: With themes of family, school, and friendship, at its core this is a coming-of-age story that's relatable despite the unique circumstances the characters face.
• HARD-HITTING TOPICS, APPROACHED WITH CARE: Divorce, substance abuse, opioid addiction, class disparities, and loss are all factors in the story. All are approached with care, honesty, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness.
• A REAL, IMPERFECT KID CHARACTER: Prickly and dry, closer to Harriet the Spy than Anne Shirley, the main character Maggie is self-aware, unapologetic, and creative, stubbornly herself and ambitiously brave, giving voice to the kind of kid many kids are but don't often see in books.
• THOUGHTFUL BUT NEVER PREACHY: This book takes its young readers seriously: it doesn't talk down to them, keeps them absorbed and engaged, and explores important themes without making them obvious or message-y.
Perfect for:
• Readers who love a bold and self-aware protagonist
• Fans of The Things About Jellyfish
• Fans of When You Reach Me
• Readers looking for books about divorce
• Readers looking for non-traditional families
• Readers looking for evolving friendships
• Kids who have experiences with Alzheimer's
• Booksellers
• Educators and librarians
How do you share a parent with a stranger?
Maggie's accustomed to leading her life perfectly according to her own well-designed plans. But when Maggie learns that she has a half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who's also Tony's dad—to take him in.
As Maggie struggles to reconcile her mom and dad's almost-divorce, accept the Alzheimer's afflicting her grandmother, and understand Tony's own issues—ignorance is no longer an option. While Maggie can strive for—and even succeed in—a perfect design, when it comes to family, nothing is perfect, and tackling its complexities is only possible with an open heart.
Heart-wrenching, authentic, and darkly funny, this is a spectacularly written portrayal of the ways we respond to intense change, and proof that no matter the circumstances, the unexpected things are often the best ones.
• WILL KEEP KIDS TURNING PAGES: Part family drama, part contemporary thriller, this book is compulsively readable, and accessible and relatable to all different kinds of readers. A juicy read about important topics featuring unforgettable characters that sucks you in and leaves you wishing for more pages!
• TIMELESS RELATABILITY: With themes of family, school, and friendship, at its core this is a coming-of-age story that's relatable despite the unique circumstances the characters face.
• HARD-HITTING TOPICS, APPROACHED WITH CARE: Divorce, substance abuse, opioid addiction, class disparities, and loss are all factors in the story. All are approached with care, honesty, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness.
• A REAL, IMPERFECT KID CHARACTER: Prickly and dry, closer to Harriet the Spy than Anne Shirley, the main character Maggie is self-aware, unapologetic, and creative, stubbornly herself and ambitiously brave, giving voice to the kind of kid many kids are but don't often see in books.
• THOUGHTFUL BUT NEVER PREACHY: This book takes its young readers seriously: it doesn't talk down to them, keeps them absorbed and engaged, and explores important themes without making them obvious or message-y.
Perfect for:
• Readers who love a bold and self-aware protagonist
• Fans of The Things About Jellyfish
• Fans of When You Reach Me
• Readers looking for books about divorce
• Readers looking for non-traditional families
• Readers looking for evolving friendships
• Kids who have experiences with Alzheimer's
• Booksellers
• Educators and librarians
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
2 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 28, 2021
✱ 4.5 Stars ✱ RULE OF THREES is an absorbing middle grade family drama that tackles some serious issues, including drug addiction, Alzheimer’s, and infidelity. While these heavy subjects are presented realistically, the ending will leave readers hopeful.
Maggie is a sixth grader, just starting middle school, and she's already feeling stress from an uneasy shift in her friend group from elementary. It's a time when relationships change, and new people come into your life, but Maggie never dreamed one of them would be a half-brother she knew nothing about!
Tony is a year older than Maggie, and with his mother struggling with drug addiction, he has no choice but to live with his father who may as well be a stranger. I adored Tony and Maggie, and my heart went out to them. Their reactions to this situation beyond their control were so genuine, and I loved seeing the growth in their characters over time.
This is a thoughtful coming of age story with compelling, imperfect characters dealing with relatable struggles, and it was a delight to read. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie is a sixth grader, just starting middle school, and she's already feeling stress from an uneasy shift in her friend group from elementary. It's a time when relationships change, and new people come into your life, but Maggie never dreamed one of them would be a half-brother she knew nothing about!
Tony is a year older than Maggie, and with his mother struggling with drug addiction, he has no choice but to live with his father who may as well be a stranger. I adored Tony and Maggie, and my heart went out to them. Their reactions to this situation beyond their control were so genuine, and I loved seeing the growth in their characters over time.
This is a thoughtful coming of age story with compelling, imperfect characters dealing with relatable struggles, and it was a delight to read. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This was a warm, touching, and ambitious middle grade story. I say ambitious, because how do you write about such heavy and complicated things such as parents' cheating on each other, a brother you never knew about along with the problems his mother is having with drugs, and a beloved grandmother who suddenly doesn't remember who you are because of rapidly developing Alzheimer's - and still retain the feel of innocence that comes with a well-written middle grade novel? Well, Rule of Threes does that, and it's no small feat.
I thought it was very brave of the author to tackle these difficult themes in the book. What's more, an author will usually choose ONE theme and write about that - but as you can see, Rule of Threes, just like the name states, rather chooses three larger problems to tackle (I wonder if that was intentional - cause that's not why the book is named that way!) At first, when I was starting the book, I wondered that maybe there topics were a little too heavy for a children's novel - but then I slapped my silly head and realized that some of those children HAVE cheating dads and a brother who suddenly came out of nowhere, and maybe those other problems too (although hopefully not all of them at the same time...) So OF COURSE it needs to be written - those kids need it. And so do their friends, to form an appropriate way of responding to such situations.
For me, the biggest challenge was that the dad cheated in the past and has another child which eventually has to come live with them, but all of the problems are written equally well. (I must also mention that the dad was not demonized for this, but he also wasn't acquitted as if it was nothing - the fact of his cheating many years ago is dealt with as 'it happened and now we have to deal with everything, but we are here now'.) It was also very sad to read about the bit where the girl's grandmother gets Alzheimer's, and she doesn't know how to deal with it. The problem with the brother's real mother and drugs was definitely there, but it was presented softer than in most books - there is a great distance retained, there is barely any detail - so all we see is the child's perspective, but not the addict's perspective, which is great in my opinion for a kids' book, because with so many heavy topics, going into it with more detail would probably be too upsetting and dark.
What I loved best about this story, was that contrary to your first hunch - the brother and sister don't fight. We are used to half brothers and sisters hating each other's guts in these stories - not so here. It's very wholesome. Through the whole book, the main character learns to respect others more and develops greater compassion, but she does it in a very soft and gentle way - there are no grand revelations, rather than gradual changes. It's all done very well.
So when I say the characters are dealing with three heavy problems - they are, but the book isn't heavy at all. It's warm and slow, and not even too stressful, just sad in places. It even talks about ambition and shows the kids as greatly able in their area of interest (in this case, interior design - and I could say I learned a lot of facts I didn't know about it as well!) It was a great middle grade and it's definitely worth the read.
Triggers:
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
This was a warm, touching, and ambitious middle grade story. I say ambitious, because how do you write about such heavy and complicated things such as parents' cheating on each other, a brother you never knew about along with the problems his mother is having with drugs, and a beloved grandmother who suddenly doesn't remember who you are because of rapidly developing Alzheimer's - and still retain the feel of innocence that comes with a well-written middle grade novel? Well, Rule of Threes does that, and it's no small feat.
I thought it was very brave of the author to tackle these difficult themes in the book. What's more, an author will usually choose ONE theme and write about that - but as you can see, Rule of Threes, just like the name states, rather chooses three larger problems to tackle (I wonder if that was intentional - cause that's not why the book is named that way!) At first, when I was starting the book, I wondered that maybe there topics were a little too heavy for a children's novel - but then I slapped my silly head and realized that some of those children HAVE cheating dads and a brother who suddenly came out of nowhere, and maybe those other problems too (although hopefully not all of them at the same time...) So OF COURSE it needs to be written - those kids need it. And so do their friends, to form an appropriate way of responding to such situations.
For me, the biggest challenge was that the dad cheated in the past and has another child which eventually has to come live with them, but all of the problems are written equally well. (I must also mention that the dad was not demonized for this, but he also wasn't acquitted as if it was nothing - the fact of his cheating many years ago is dealt with as 'it happened and now we have to deal with everything, but we are here now'.) It was also very sad to read about the bit where the girl's grandmother gets Alzheimer's, and she doesn't know how to deal with it. The problem with the brother's real mother and drugs was definitely there, but it was presented softer than in most books - there is a great distance retained, there is barely any detail - so all we see is the child's perspective, but not the addict's perspective, which is great in my opinion for a kids' book, because with so many heavy topics, going into it with more detail would probably be too upsetting and dark.
What I loved best about this story, was that contrary to your first hunch - the brother and sister don't fight. We are used to half brothers and sisters hating each other's guts in these stories - not so here. It's very wholesome. Through the whole book, the main character learns to respect others more and develops greater compassion, but she does it in a very soft and gentle way - there are no grand revelations, rather than gradual changes. It's all done very well.
So when I say the characters are dealing with three heavy problems - they are, but the book isn't heavy at all. It's warm and slow, and not even too stressful, just sad in places. It even talks about ambition and shows the kids as greatly able in their area of interest (in this case, interior design - and I could say I learned a lot of facts I didn't know about it as well!) It was a great middle grade and it's definitely worth the read.
Triggers:
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
August 25, 2022
Maggie has a perfect life. Parents that love her and a wonderful Grandmother, until one day a woman drops off a boy to their house. Her father comes to her and tells her its his son from an affair and he needs to live with them until his Mother gets out of drug therapy. Maggie Grandmother is suffering from an illness that she has to be put in a nursing home. Also her best friends are being distant, what else can go wrong in Maggie's life? Wonderful book. The relationship between her brother and Maggie is something that many who are in a situation can strive for. You can feel the tension in Maggie home but her parents want to love Maggie and now her brother equally. Can they and can Maggie forgive her Father? She feels like her life if full of lies since no one told her any of this until it was dropped right in front of her, can she finally find a balance in all that is happening? Can Maggie let room for more people in her life? I do recommend this book especially for all those children who is faced with parents who are suffering from drug problems. So sad it is becoming the norm now. Glad I had the chance to read it!!
May 18, 2021
Rule of Threes is a realistic, absorbing middle grade book about the complexities of family life and how they impact children’s lives. This book highlights that kids can handle more than parents give them credit for. With a design-loving protagonist, a likable step-sibling, and a grandparent with health challenges, this one is perfect for fans of arts and crafts books, sibling stories, and grandparent books.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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February 20, 2021
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I enjoyed reading “Rule of Threes” as it covered many topics for a middle-grade novel.
Although targeted for middle grade, the plot is heavy with some topics like substance abuse, separation, Alzheimer’s, and divorce. Moreover, the characters are realistic and dynamic. The author nicely portrays how emotional and dysfunctional a family can get when uncertainty enters their lives.
Maggie is excellent in the lead as she tries to adjust to the new situation. She goes through a LOT in the story, and it was interesting to see how she copes with each of them. On one side, I loved the conflicting emotions Maggie has for her father. On the other hand, she also deals with her grandmother’s issues of Alzheimer’s. Also, there is her conflicting friendship with Rakell/Rachel and adjusting to Tony. I thought she was a strong character for handling all the challenges. On a side note, I also loved Maggie’s passion for interior design and how she aspires for things to be a certain way.
Similarly, I also enjoyed Tony in the role. One of my favorite scenes in the story is when Tony takes Maggie to meet his mother at McDonald’s and the awkward moments that transpire. Tony and Maggie share a lovely bond that felt gradual and realistic.
However, there were a few minor parts where I wished I had more details. For instance, I would have liked more information about Rachel and Tony as they also go through quite a lot. It would have also been interesting to see the mother’s emotions as she also goes through changes. But, in retrospect, that might have stretched the story.
Apart from that, I enjoyed the book. Overall, “Rule of Threes” is a riveting, realistic, middle-grade novel worth checking out.
April 26, 2021
4.5🌟
This is such a good middle-grade story! I really love when middle-grade authors choose to tackle hard hitting topics in their books, and Marcy Campbell was able to include not just one of these topics, but three! Now, taking on three different topics in one story could have been a downfall for this book, since it can get tricky to give each topic the attention that it deserves, but I honestly think all three topics were handled well here.
This novel covers 1. parental affairs, divorce, and secret half-siblings, 2. drug abuse, addiction, and rehab, and 3. mental illness (Alzheimer's), which might seem like a lot for a middle-grade story, but the reality is that many children face these obstacles in their real lives... My own parents divorced when I was young, and my grandfather also faced memory loss in his final years. I think it is important for kids to understand that not every family is picture perfect, and that you never truly know what someone else is experiencing at home.
I really enjoyed the interior design element of the story as well. Although I do feel that Maggie could sometimes get a bit carried away with her hobby, I like that she was given an outlet that helped her relieve stress in a fun way, and also the potential for a lasting career path.
The one thing that I wish the story had dived deeper into is the relationship between Maggie and her friends, Rachel and Olive. I feel that Maggie often takes her friendship with Olive for granted, and there was never a super clear discussion of how she could improve as a friend. Additionally, in my opinion, her friendship with Rachel seemed somewhat half-developed or glossed over for a lot of the story. I think a clearer direction might have been including a conversation of friends naturally growing apart from each other, but the author did provide a bit of clarity for their friendship toward the end of the novel, so I did appreciate that.
Other than that, my only other criticism is that I think the actions that Maggie and Tony take towards the ending were slightly far-fetched, but I liked how the book itself was wrapped up. Overall, if you like hard-hitting middle-grade, definitely pick this one up when it's released!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book.
This is such a good middle-grade story! I really love when middle-grade authors choose to tackle hard hitting topics in their books, and Marcy Campbell was able to include not just one of these topics, but three! Now, taking on three different topics in one story could have been a downfall for this book, since it can get tricky to give each topic the attention that it deserves, but I honestly think all three topics were handled well here.
This novel covers 1. parental affairs, divorce, and secret half-siblings, 2. drug abuse, addiction, and rehab, and 3. mental illness (Alzheimer's), which might seem like a lot for a middle-grade story, but the reality is that many children face these obstacles in their real lives... My own parents divorced when I was young, and my grandfather also faced memory loss in his final years. I think it is important for kids to understand that not every family is picture perfect, and that you never truly know what someone else is experiencing at home.
I really enjoyed the interior design element of the story as well. Although I do feel that Maggie could sometimes get a bit carried away with her hobby, I like that she was given an outlet that helped her relieve stress in a fun way, and also the potential for a lasting career path.
The one thing that I wish the story had dived deeper into is the relationship between Maggie and her friends, Rachel and Olive. I feel that Maggie often takes her friendship with Olive for granted, and there was never a super clear discussion of how she could improve as a friend. Additionally, in my opinion, her friendship with Rachel seemed somewhat half-developed or glossed over for a lot of the story. I think a clearer direction might have been including a conversation of friends naturally growing apart from each other, but the author did provide a bit of clarity for their friendship toward the end of the novel, so I did appreciate that.
Other than that, my only other criticism is that I think the actions that Maggie and Tony take towards the ending were slightly far-fetched, but I liked how the book itself was wrapped up. Overall, if you like hard-hitting middle-grade, definitely pick this one up when it's released!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book.
February 12, 2021
This is such a cute book. And I mean that in the best possible way. It's everything I love about MG fiction. When I say it's cute, I don't mean it's full of fluffy themes, because it isn't. It's actually really complex, and I love it all the more for that.
Maggie has just started middle school. One of her best friends is slowly pulling away from her, and sometimes she calls her grandma and finds that her grandma doesn't remember her. But it's ok, because she has the perfect family. It's just her, her mum and dad. That is until a half-brother she didn't know existed shows up on her doorstep, and her life turns upside-down.
Yes, there's a lot going on in this book. But it never felt like too much. The truth is, life is complicated. And it's complicated whether you're twelve or twenty or forty. It's unreasonable to expect middle grade fiction not to reflect the complexity of life. Kids need to see themselves in books, and I'm sure a lot of them will identify at least in some way with Maggie's story.
I love Maggie as a narrator. She's kind of dorky. She goes to Harry Potter summer camp and she loves interior design. She's not the most popular person in the world, but she has friends who she spends time with at school. She can also be a little selfish and concerned with her own problems, though ultimately, she has a good heart. Even though she's dealing with a lot, and is unhappy about it, she still manages to be a fun narrator and I found myself laughing out loud when reading.
At first, she struggles to come to terms with the fact that she has a brother and she isn't always kind to Tony. But it was really nice getting to see her figure out how to build a relationship with him and welcome him as part of her family.
I really love the amount of character growth Maggie experiences. Yes, she's still the same slightly dorky, design loving girl she always was. But she is forced to see that her ideas aren't always right, and that she can compromise and accept that perfection isn't always the goal.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie has just started middle school. One of her best friends is slowly pulling away from her, and sometimes she calls her grandma and finds that her grandma doesn't remember her. But it's ok, because she has the perfect family. It's just her, her mum and dad. That is until a half-brother she didn't know existed shows up on her doorstep, and her life turns upside-down.
Yes, there's a lot going on in this book. But it never felt like too much. The truth is, life is complicated. And it's complicated whether you're twelve or twenty or forty. It's unreasonable to expect middle grade fiction not to reflect the complexity of life. Kids need to see themselves in books, and I'm sure a lot of them will identify at least in some way with Maggie's story.
I love Maggie as a narrator. She's kind of dorky. She goes to Harry Potter summer camp and she loves interior design. She's not the most popular person in the world, but she has friends who she spends time with at school. She can also be a little selfish and concerned with her own problems, though ultimately, she has a good heart. Even though she's dealing with a lot, and is unhappy about it, she still manages to be a fun narrator and I found myself laughing out loud when reading.
At first, she struggles to come to terms with the fact that she has a brother and she isn't always kind to Tony. But it was really nice getting to see her figure out how to build a relationship with him and welcome him as part of her family.
I really love the amount of character growth Maggie experiences. Yes, she's still the same slightly dorky, design loving girl she always was. But she is forced to see that her ideas aren't always right, and that she can compromise and accept that perfection isn't always the goal.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2021
Good solid middle-school book, with all the problems of parents and friendships, and throw in a half-brother that Maggie didn't even know about until she showed up on the front door, and you have a story that can both pull at the heart strings and make your frustrated as well.
Very quick read, mostly because I wanted to see how it all turned out in the end.
We cover aging grandmother, awkward friendships, and of course, the half brother that appeared seemingly out of the blue.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
Very quick read, mostly because I wanted to see how it all turned out in the end.
We cover aging grandmother, awkward friendships, and of course, the half brother that appeared seemingly out of the blue.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
May 18, 2021
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher Chronicle Books for a digital ARC of this title to read.
There are plenty of ways that one could speculate the rationale for the title of the book. Maggie, the main character, is passionate about interior design and follows the rule of threes faithfully when redoing various projects for friends and family. Or perhaps it is the fact that Maggie has two best friends Olive and Rachel, who also share an interest in interior decorating but perhaps not to the same degree as Maggie. Or maybe it is the three dominant themes addressed.
The themes that Marcy Campbell tackles are emotional, and she does it both realistically and with sensitivity. The first theme is that of adultery and introduces an unknown sibling into the family. From there, Campbell shares that the new son and sibling who will join the family temporarily is there because of his mother's substance abuse. Finally, Maggie's grandmother, who Maggie is close to and is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The Rule of Threes is unique and appealing because of the many ways it handled the themes. First off, I have yet to come across a middle-grade book where the main character's passion is interior design. The fact that the three friends do this together almost like a business is something that I think will be appealing to middle-grade readers who like to have their own space and express their personalities. The three friends and the trouble or the friend drama is also very realistically done, and again I think that seeing how friendships change will also be appealing and helpful for readers to see. Maggie grows from being self-centred and wanting control over things and her two friends to become more empathetic and aware of other's interests and problems. Again something that many readers will connect and see how Maggie makes mistakes but can learn from them.
Sadly, many readers will also know someone personally or have a friend or a family member who has Alzheimer's or dementia. Not being sure what is happening with her grandmother, Maggie is scared and hurt when she does not know who she is. Maggie wants to keep things to remain the same but eventually has to accept the inevitable changes. Readers get to see how Maggie was wrestling and trying to cope with something out of her control which in turn may apply to their own lives.
Openly discussing an extra-marital affair resulting in a child coming to live with the family is rare in middle-grade books. Maggie's perfect family of three is no longer perfect. The family dynamics have changed drastically and unexpectantly. The relationship between Maggie and Tony, although off to a rocky start, slowly develops. We can see both are trying to do their best given the circumstances. The fact that Tony is there because of his mom's substance abuse could be depressing and over the top. This storyline slowly emerges as we learn more about Tony and as Maggie becomes closer to him. This is an important storyline as our readers will sadly be all too familiar with this scenario. The turmoil of having another instant sibling or being uprooted and forced to live with a parent who never knew again is all too common today, and again, the more we tackle all the scenarios, the more kids see themselves in books.
I think this book is unique in many ways, and all of the threes (friendship drama, interior decorating, themes) will keep readers turning the pages to see how things turn out.
Recommended: Gr. 5+
There are plenty of ways that one could speculate the rationale for the title of the book. Maggie, the main character, is passionate about interior design and follows the rule of threes faithfully when redoing various projects for friends and family. Or perhaps it is the fact that Maggie has two best friends Olive and Rachel, who also share an interest in interior decorating but perhaps not to the same degree as Maggie. Or maybe it is the three dominant themes addressed.
The themes that Marcy Campbell tackles are emotional, and she does it both realistically and with sensitivity. The first theme is that of adultery and introduces an unknown sibling into the family. From there, Campbell shares that the new son and sibling who will join the family temporarily is there because of his mother's substance abuse. Finally, Maggie's grandmother, who Maggie is close to and is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The Rule of Threes is unique and appealing because of the many ways it handled the themes. First off, I have yet to come across a middle-grade book where the main character's passion is interior design. The fact that the three friends do this together almost like a business is something that I think will be appealing to middle-grade readers who like to have their own space and express their personalities. The three friends and the trouble or the friend drama is also very realistically done, and again I think that seeing how friendships change will also be appealing and helpful for readers to see. Maggie grows from being self-centred and wanting control over things and her two friends to become more empathetic and aware of other's interests and problems. Again something that many readers will connect and see how Maggie makes mistakes but can learn from them.
Sadly, many readers will also know someone personally or have a friend or a family member who has Alzheimer's or dementia. Not being sure what is happening with her grandmother, Maggie is scared and hurt when she does not know who she is. Maggie wants to keep things to remain the same but eventually has to accept the inevitable changes. Readers get to see how Maggie was wrestling and trying to cope with something out of her control which in turn may apply to their own lives.
Openly discussing an extra-marital affair resulting in a child coming to live with the family is rare in middle-grade books. Maggie's perfect family of three is no longer perfect. The family dynamics have changed drastically and unexpectantly. The relationship between Maggie and Tony, although off to a rocky start, slowly develops. We can see both are trying to do their best given the circumstances. The fact that Tony is there because of his mom's substance abuse could be depressing and over the top. This storyline slowly emerges as we learn more about Tony and as Maggie becomes closer to him. This is an important storyline as our readers will sadly be all too familiar with this scenario. The turmoil of having another instant sibling or being uprooted and forced to live with a parent who never knew again is all too common today, and again, the more we tackle all the scenarios, the more kids see themselves in books.
I think this book is unique in many ways, and all of the threes (friendship drama, interior decorating, themes) will keep readers turning the pages to see how things turn out.
Recommended: Gr. 5+
July 8, 2021
Rule of Threes is a heartwarming and fun middle grade novel about a family whose life seems to change all at once. Maggie's best friend has stopped talking to her, her grandma has Alzheimer's, and on top of that, she finds out that she has a half-brother. For her entire life, Maggie has thrived on rules and structure, so when it seems like everything is falling apart, she has no idea what to do or how to feel.
Middle grade is such a fun and underrated genre among adults, in my opinion. I not only love the genre because the books seem to be quick and often lighthearted, but they also touch my heart. Rule of Threes is not your average MG novel; there are so many great themes throughout the book that touch on family. I really enjoyed watching Maggie navigate through this season of her life because we got to see her grow and mature so much. Rule of Threes was a wonderful and captivating read that I would recommend checking out!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC of Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell!
Middle grade is such a fun and underrated genre among adults, in my opinion. I not only love the genre because the books seem to be quick and often lighthearted, but they also touch my heart. Rule of Threes is not your average MG novel; there are so many great themes throughout the book that touch on family. I really enjoyed watching Maggie navigate through this season of her life because we got to see her grow and mature so much. Rule of Threes was a wonderful and captivating read that I would recommend checking out!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC of Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell!
August 4, 2021
One Big Thing is a family game that Maggie’s family plays around the dinner table every night. But what happens when the one big thing is many things- too many to handle? The mysterious stranger who happens to be a brother she never knew existed, her grandmother’s failing memory and her friendship with her two closest buddies is falling apart. A school decorating contest might just be the perfect distraction for Maggie. A chance for her to have some control over her perfectly planned life. But even with her organizational skills, Maggie cannot hold it together. She has to decide whether her tried and true Rule of Threes is enough, or is it time to make new rules for her life and her family.
I read this terrific MG book in one sitting. I know many students who will enjoy reading Maggie’s heartfelt story.
I read this terrific MG book in one sitting. I know many students who will enjoy reading Maggie’s heartfelt story.
May 7, 2021
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
This was great. I loved Maggie's relationship with her half brother as it evolved over the course of the book. It's unusual to see a middle grade novel deal with an extramarital affair, but it's handled well here. Maggie gets what happened and is angry and grossed out over it, but there's not a lot of space devoted to that piece of the story. I enjoyed the role design elements and interior design played in the story, too. This one's great, especially for readers ready for the meatier stories in this 10-14 age range - don't miss it! (Extramarital affair, drug use/abuse/overdose/rehab)
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
This was great. I loved Maggie's relationship with her half brother as it evolved over the course of the book. It's unusual to see a middle grade novel deal with an extramarital affair, but it's handled well here. Maggie gets what happened and is angry and grossed out over it, but there's not a lot of space devoted to that piece of the story. I enjoyed the role design elements and interior design played in the story, too. This one's great, especially for readers ready for the meatier stories in this 10-14 age range - don't miss it! (Extramarital affair, drug use/abuse/overdose/rehab)
September 19, 2021
Maggie’s perfect, rule-following family of three is flipped upside down in one afternoon. Everything she knows about everything just flies out the window with one bad decision made by someone she doesn’t even know!
May 20, 2021
This was such a unique Middle-Grade book. It covers topics that are so hard to talk about, especially towards a young audience, like drug addiction or Alzheimer's, and it does so in a way that allows the reader to understand such challenging situations without it being a traumatic experience.
At first, I was scared of the point of view, but the main character grows throughout the novel and learns to see her own privileges, she evolves and starts empathizing with the struggles of others.
All the characters were flawed like all humans are, but there was a lot of development and I really appreciated that too.
Overall, it was a great book. I highly recommend it.
At first, I was scared of the point of view, but the main character grows throughout the novel and learns to see her own privileges, she evolves and starts empathizing with the struggles of others.
All the characters were flawed like all humans are, but there was a lot of development and I really appreciated that too.
Overall, it was a great book. I highly recommend it.
Read
June 27, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Grandparent with Alzheimer's Disease
Parent with opioid addiction
Grandparent with Alzheimer's Disease
Parent with opioid addiction
March 21, 2021
CW: Drug addiction, overdose
Rule of Threes is a middle grade book about major family changes, with considerable focus on drug addiction.
Rule of Threes focuses on the life of Maggie, a girl who has just started 6th grade with her two 'BFFs'. One day, she gets a big surprise when her half brother shows up in their lives, when his mother is dealing with addiction recovery. A lot of secrets begin to get unraveled, both regarding her brother and the declining well being of her grandmother. Meanwhile, Maggie is dealing with confusing behavior of one of her long time friends as well.
I felt like this book was really respectful, but serious, about drug addiction. The character struggling with addiction is referred to as being 'sick', which is the proper way to handle the topic, IMO. I really think the way the author addressed addiction was one of the best parts of this book, even though it's also a heavy subject. The book also tackles infidelity and alzheimer's as well.
The big problem I had with this book, and the reason I gave it three stars, is because I thought Maggie was a pretty awful main character, particularly at the beginning of the book. She comes across as very petty and judgemental. There's a whole scene about her mentally judging one of her 'best friends' homes, and talking about their lack of money. She has a lot of rather snide thoughts about decor in general. I understand her character has a love of decorating, but I feel like her thoughts about redecorating could have been written in a way that felt less judgey and more 'inspired'. It really just rubbed me the wrong way, and disliking the character takes away from the emotional payoff at the end of the book.
I received this e-book free from NetGalley to read and review with my honest thoughts.
Rule of Threes is a middle grade book about major family changes, with considerable focus on drug addiction.
Rule of Threes focuses on the life of Maggie, a girl who has just started 6th grade with her two 'BFFs'. One day, she gets a big surprise when her half brother shows up in their lives, when his mother is dealing with addiction recovery. A lot of secrets begin to get unraveled, both regarding her brother and the declining well being of her grandmother. Meanwhile, Maggie is dealing with confusing behavior of one of her long time friends as well.
I felt like this book was really respectful, but serious, about drug addiction. The character struggling with addiction is referred to as being 'sick', which is the proper way to handle the topic, IMO. I really think the way the author addressed addiction was one of the best parts of this book, even though it's also a heavy subject. The book also tackles infidelity and alzheimer's as well.
The big problem I had with this book, and the reason I gave it three stars, is because I thought Maggie was a pretty awful main character, particularly at the beginning of the book. She comes across as very petty and judgemental. There's a whole scene about her mentally judging one of her 'best friends' homes, and talking about their lack of money. She has a lot of rather snide thoughts about decor in general. I understand her character has a love of decorating, but I feel like her thoughts about redecorating could have been written in a way that felt less judgey and more 'inspired'. It really just rubbed me the wrong way, and disliking the character takes away from the emotional payoff at the end of the book.
I received this e-book free from NetGalley to read and review with my honest thoughts.
July 27, 2022
this book was a strange mixture of really dumb and fluffy and also really sad and deep. I don't really know what to think.
***WARNING SPOILERS DO NOT READ REVIEW IF YOU ARE GOING TO READ THIS BOOK***
Basically this girl has like this "perfect" family (because she's literally an only child cringe) and she keeps going on about how she can't imagine having siblings, and then all of a sudden this kid appears at her house and he's apparently her half brother. annnnd his mom is doing drugs so um the girl's family is helping him because he's her dad's son. ANYWAY there's also a really dumb part about how the girl is like obsessed with interior design and perfection and winning things and it was kinda painful to read but basically there's like a decorating contest and she goes full out in interior design and it was a little cringe. Then the girl and her half brother go save his mom which was honestly pretty awesome. Overall I gave it three stars because it was kinda mid. Go read it if you want.
what I liked!
-the interviewing Mrs Abbott part was actually really interesting, about how color subconsciously affects moods
-i liked how the girl and her half brother became best friends at the end
-the grandma who has alzheimers is honestly a really sad part but I thought it was well written
what I didn't like :(
-the whole interior design club is kinda cringe
-also the friend drama like bruh get over it ur fine
-It was kind of strange how the first half of the book was really lighthearted and fluffy and the second was about drugs basically, but I think they did kind of work out
3/5 stars ***
***WARNING SPOILERS DO NOT READ REVIEW IF YOU ARE GOING TO READ THIS BOOK***
Basically this girl has like this "perfect" family (because she's literally an only child cringe) and she keeps going on about how she can't imagine having siblings, and then all of a sudden this kid appears at her house and he's apparently her half brother. annnnd his mom is doing drugs so um the girl's family is helping him because he's her dad's son. ANYWAY there's also a really dumb part about how the girl is like obsessed with interior design and perfection and winning things and it was kinda painful to read but basically there's like a decorating contest and she goes full out in interior design and it was a little cringe. Then the girl and her half brother go save his mom which was honestly pretty awesome. Overall I gave it three stars because it was kinda mid. Go read it if you want.
what I liked!
-the interviewing Mrs Abbott part was actually really interesting, about how color subconsciously affects moods
-i liked how the girl and her half brother became best friends at the end
-the grandma who has alzheimers is honestly a really sad part but I thought it was well written
what I didn't like :(
-the whole interior design club is kinda cringe
-also the friend drama like bruh get over it ur fine
-It was kind of strange how the first half of the book was really lighthearted and fluffy and the second was about drugs basically, but I think they did kind of work out
3/5 stars ***
April 7, 2021
Characters
This book had wonderful and complex characters, which is why I gave it the first star. If you know me, you know that I prefer to read character-driven novels as opposed to plot-based ones. I loved the characters in this book because like the world they were living in, they were raw and real. I would call this book middle grade because the characters had personalities that kids of that age group tend to have. The principal character Maggie was sweet, and she had a passion for design, which I loved to see. Her half-brother Tony was a guy who wanted what was best for his mother, and he wanted to help her as much as he could. Olive was one of Maggie’s best friends who was sweet and helped around the house with her little brother, which I thought was very sweet. Rachel is Maggie’s other friend, and these two really go on a journey in the book, I don’t want to spoil the book for you, because the ending for these two was beautiful, but Rachel was closed off at times, due to what was happening at home.
Plot
This novel has layers and layers of plot. The plot kept me wanting to read further to find out what was going to happen, and see how the story was going to pan out, so I gave a star. On the surface, this is a story about finding yourself and finding that everyone has a past, you might not know about. As the story moves on we see that this is also a story about not knowing what is going on in someone’s life and learning to give people space. Themes of Alzheimer’s, old age, and addiction were also discussed. Maggie finds out she has a brother she never knew about, and that only a few years earlier, her mother had found out about Tony. Maggie not only expands on her passion for design, but she finds a relationship with Tony, and with herself that I thought was very sweet. Rachel, Maggie’s friend, and Tony’s girlfriend’s parents are having a tough time, and this is why she was distant with Maggie and Olive over the course of the novel. Maggie’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s and at different parts in the novel, Maggie’s grandmother didn’t know who people were and didn’t remember things.
Writing
The writing and tone of this book matched the genre and story the book was made for. The writing style was simple to read and easy for any middle-grade reader or adult to follow. During the lighter, or scenes that were more fun, the tone was light to match what was going on in the scene. Contrary to that, during the serious scenes, or scenes dealing with heavier topics, the tone was darker to match the mood of the scene. I thought the writing helped the flow of the story and helped you get to know what the characters were thinking and feeling.
Setting
Setting always plays a big part in a story for me, so I wanted to add a star to my review for the setting. I want to taken to where the story takes place and Rules of Three took me to where Maggie lived. From the time spent at school and seeing all the different rooms, and all the workers there to the home where Maggie lived I felt transported to her world.
Personal Enjoyment
I loved reading this book, and so I wanted to give it a star in my review. The story had me laughing during the funny parts and feeling emotional during the more serious parts. Rule of Threes is a delight, and I hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.
This book had wonderful and complex characters, which is why I gave it the first star. If you know me, you know that I prefer to read character-driven novels as opposed to plot-based ones. I loved the characters in this book because like the world they were living in, they were raw and real. I would call this book middle grade because the characters had personalities that kids of that age group tend to have. The principal character Maggie was sweet, and she had a passion for design, which I loved to see. Her half-brother Tony was a guy who wanted what was best for his mother, and he wanted to help her as much as he could. Olive was one of Maggie’s best friends who was sweet and helped around the house with her little brother, which I thought was very sweet. Rachel is Maggie’s other friend, and these two really go on a journey in the book, I don’t want to spoil the book for you, because the ending for these two was beautiful, but Rachel was closed off at times, due to what was happening at home.
Plot
This novel has layers and layers of plot. The plot kept me wanting to read further to find out what was going to happen, and see how the story was going to pan out, so I gave a star. On the surface, this is a story about finding yourself and finding that everyone has a past, you might not know about. As the story moves on we see that this is also a story about not knowing what is going on in someone’s life and learning to give people space. Themes of Alzheimer’s, old age, and addiction were also discussed. Maggie finds out she has a brother she never knew about, and that only a few years earlier, her mother had found out about Tony. Maggie not only expands on her passion for design, but she finds a relationship with Tony, and with herself that I thought was very sweet. Rachel, Maggie’s friend, and Tony’s girlfriend’s parents are having a tough time, and this is why she was distant with Maggie and Olive over the course of the novel. Maggie’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s and at different parts in the novel, Maggie’s grandmother didn’t know who people were and didn’t remember things.
Writing
The writing and tone of this book matched the genre and story the book was made for. The writing style was simple to read and easy for any middle-grade reader or adult to follow. During the lighter, or scenes that were more fun, the tone was light to match what was going on in the scene. Contrary to that, during the serious scenes, or scenes dealing with heavier topics, the tone was darker to match the mood of the scene. I thought the writing helped the flow of the story and helped you get to know what the characters were thinking and feeling.
Setting
Setting always plays a big part in a story for me, so I wanted to add a star to my review for the setting. I want to taken to where the story takes place and Rules of Three took me to where Maggie lived. From the time spent at school and seeing all the different rooms, and all the workers there to the home where Maggie lived I felt transported to her world.
Personal Enjoyment
I loved reading this book, and so I wanted to give it a star in my review. The story had me laughing during the funny parts and feeling emotional during the more serious parts. Rule of Threes is a delight, and I hope others enjoy this book as much as I did.
January 21, 2021
trigger warning
Maggie loves her life and want everything to stay as it is. That's the thought she clings to as she discovers she has a half-brother she never knew about before.
I liked the realistic feel of the plot, especially that things tend to come in groups. If you've got one problem, you can be sure more will plop up over night like mushrooms. Also, I liked that the characters treat each other with respect. These are good people - arguments happen, especially if you're young, have to figure out stuff, and pressure gets put on.
I like that heavier topics get broken down for the audience, because more people than you'd think actually go through issues like these. And while the content matter is sad, it never got depressing.
This book didn't speak to me, personally, but I like to think about how much it will mean to readers in the target audience who might happen to find their own situation depicted here.
What I found really fun is that our protagonist is into interior design, possible from a very low need to control her surroundings. It's not on the OCD-level, more subtle, but still recognizeable.
I've never had that in a middle grade protagonist before and liked it a lot.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Maggie loves her life and want everything to stay as it is. That's the thought she clings to as she discovers she has a half-brother she never knew about before.
I liked the realistic feel of the plot, especially that things tend to come in groups. If you've got one problem, you can be sure more will plop up over night like mushrooms. Also, I liked that the characters treat each other with respect. These are good people - arguments happen, especially if you're young, have to figure out stuff, and pressure gets put on.
I like that heavier topics get broken down for the audience, because more people than you'd think actually go through issues like these. And while the content matter is sad, it never got depressing.
This book didn't speak to me, personally, but I like to think about how much it will mean to readers in the target audience who might happen to find their own situation depicted here.
What I found really fun is that our protagonist is into interior design, possible from a very low need to control her surroundings. It's not on the OCD-level, more subtle, but still recognizeable.
I've never had that in a middle grade protagonist before and liked it a lot.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
May 11, 2021
4.5 stars
Rule of Threes refers to the phenomenon where “bad things always happen in threes.” In Maggie’s situation, that’s her half-brother, school troubles, and her grandmother’s failing memory. As is so often the case, these three elements are tightly intertwined.
Author Marcy Campbell has done an excellent job blending hard topics — divorce, substance abuse, neglect, etc. — with authentic interactions that run the gambit from humorous to heart-wrenching and everything in between.
That authenticity particularly comes into play with Campbell’s characters. Maggie has the sort of one-track mind that is both endearing and a little annoying. As the book progresses, so too does her world view. Tony is a multilayered mystery that becomes more compelling with each chapter.
The one character who is kind of flat, is Maggie’s dad, who, at first, comes across as a complete jerk. Though his reason for not initially wanting Tony is believable, it makes him look completely two-faced in comparison to his relationship with Maggie.
Rule of Threes isn’t the easiest of reads. Because of the topics, it’s not a book I would hand to younger middle readers. But older, more mature readers (ages 10-14) shouldn’t have a problem.
Rule of Threes refers to the phenomenon where “bad things always happen in threes.” In Maggie’s situation, that’s her half-brother, school troubles, and her grandmother’s failing memory. As is so often the case, these three elements are tightly intertwined.
Author Marcy Campbell has done an excellent job blending hard topics — divorce, substance abuse, neglect, etc. — with authentic interactions that run the gambit from humorous to heart-wrenching and everything in between.
That authenticity particularly comes into play with Campbell’s characters. Maggie has the sort of one-track mind that is both endearing and a little annoying. As the book progresses, so too does her world view. Tony is a multilayered mystery that becomes more compelling with each chapter.
The one character who is kind of flat, is Maggie’s dad, who, at first, comes across as a complete jerk. Though his reason for not initially wanting Tony is believable, it makes him look completely two-faced in comparison to his relationship with Maggie.
Rule of Threes isn’t the easiest of reads. Because of the topics, it’s not a book I would hand to younger middle readers. But older, more mature readers (ages 10-14) shouldn’t have a problem.
April 22, 2022
"How do you share a parent with a stranger?
Maggie's accustomed to leading her life perfectly according to her own well-designed plans. But when Maggie learns that she has a half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who's also Tony's dad—to take him in."
I am usually not one to read MG books, because I feel like it's out of the age range for me, but the cover of this one got me hooked and the synopsis was interesting enough, so I thought why not try?!
And I am glad I did.
This is a beautiful, heartfelt and very delicate story about Maggie and how she deals when she finds out she has to share her dad with her half-sibling, and how family lives are sometimes complicated, especially for kids. I felt like this touched me deeply, as I read things that I related to, even as an adult, and I am not sure how a middle grader would feel reading it, as I find the subjects a bit heavy, too. Nonetheless, it was a great read, and I'm glad I picked it up. Really enjoyed Marcy Campbell's writing.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Maggie's accustomed to leading her life perfectly according to her own well-designed plans. But when Maggie learns that she has a half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who's also Tony's dad—to take him in."
I am usually not one to read MG books, because I feel like it's out of the age range for me, but the cover of this one got me hooked and the synopsis was interesting enough, so I thought why not try?!
And I am glad I did.
This is a beautiful, heartfelt and very delicate story about Maggie and how she deals when she finds out she has to share her dad with her half-sibling, and how family lives are sometimes complicated, especially for kids. I felt like this touched me deeply, as I read things that I related to, even as an adult, and I am not sure how a middle grader would feel reading it, as I find the subjects a bit heavy, too. Nonetheless, it was a great read, and I'm glad I picked it up. Really enjoyed Marcy Campbell's writing.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review!
May 11, 2022
Complete review available: The Rule of Threes
The book tackled some increasingly relevant themes in an accessible manner for the middle grade audience, but at times a rounded perspective was required so as to not bias or influence the reader. Personally, I really struggled to find the momentum in the book, too, as there were lots of side plots but no real central focus or drive. Young minds are so easily influenced, however, and that’s a large part of why I can’t recommend this one on (despite some of the themes being well-researched). Some elements are only shown very negatively, and there are words and actions from the main character that go unaddressed, although I’ll admit there is development and redemption towards the end. Still, it’s too little, too late, and fails to provide the explicit challenging of such problematic behaviour that I’d expect from a middle grade read.
N.B. With thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher, who provided an e-ARC in return for a reflective and honest review.
The book tackled some increasingly relevant themes in an accessible manner for the middle grade audience, but at times a rounded perspective was required so as to not bias or influence the reader. Personally, I really struggled to find the momentum in the book, too, as there were lots of side plots but no real central focus or drive. Young minds are so easily influenced, however, and that’s a large part of why I can’t recommend this one on (despite some of the themes being well-researched). Some elements are only shown very negatively, and there are words and actions from the main character that go unaddressed, although I’ll admit there is development and redemption towards the end. Still, it’s too little, too late, and fails to provide the explicit challenging of such problematic behaviour that I’d expect from a middle grade read.
N.B. With thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publisher, who provided an e-ARC in return for a reflective and honest review.
February 19, 2021
There are a lot of heavy topics covered in this novel, but it is done in a simple and well explained way. These are, unfortunately, real topics that some kids are having to deal with in their personal lives.
The relationships between siblings and friends were written very realistically. They talked back to each other, argued, etc, but they always worked it out. The kids acted like real kids do. The siblings acted the way real siblings act with each other. I found Maggie to be a self-centered brat, but she had plenty of good qualities also, and in the end, she was becoming aware of her faults and working on them.
I enjoyed that Maggie was into interior design. This is a unique hobby, especially for this genre. It added some fun to the story and I actually leaned a little something.
Rule of Threes showed the difficulties life can bring, the difficulty of facing change, and how all things are possible to get though with the love of family and friends.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #RuleofThrees
The relationships between siblings and friends were written very realistically. They talked back to each other, argued, etc, but they always worked it out. The kids acted like real kids do. The siblings acted the way real siblings act with each other. I found Maggie to be a self-centered brat, but she had plenty of good qualities also, and in the end, she was becoming aware of her faults and working on them.
I enjoyed that Maggie was into interior design. This is a unique hobby, especially for this genre. It added some fun to the story and I actually leaned a little something.
Rule of Threes showed the difficulties life can bring, the difficulty of facing change, and how all things are possible to get though with the love of family and friends.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #RuleofThrees
May 30, 2021
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing a copy with #bookexpedition.
Maggie has a lot going on. She’s starting middle school, and her friendships with her design group, the BFF’s (Best Foot Forward) are changing. Things at home are tricky, too, as her beloved grandmother is becoming more forgetful, and an infidelity from her father’s past is revealed.
But Maggie’s a big believer in the Rule of Threes, and hopes that a design contest at school will bring organization back to her life and get her relationships back on track. But when her rules push others away, Maggie has to decide if some rules are made to be broken.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this so much was that I didn’t always love Maggie, but she always felt real, and it was a joy to watch her grow as a character.
This novel tackles three big issues (drug addiction, Alzheimer’s, and a parent’s infidelity) in a way that’s accessible and relatable to opening discussion among middle grade readers.
Highly recommend - out now!
Maggie has a lot going on. She’s starting middle school, and her friendships with her design group, the BFF’s (Best Foot Forward) are changing. Things at home are tricky, too, as her beloved grandmother is becoming more forgetful, and an infidelity from her father’s past is revealed.
But Maggie’s a big believer in the Rule of Threes, and hopes that a design contest at school will bring organization back to her life and get her relationships back on track. But when her rules push others away, Maggie has to decide if some rules are made to be broken.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this so much was that I didn’t always love Maggie, but she always felt real, and it was a joy to watch her grow as a character.
This novel tackles three big issues (drug addiction, Alzheimer’s, and a parent’s infidelity) in a way that’s accessible and relatable to opening discussion among middle grade readers.
Highly recommend - out now!
March 13, 2021
{Digital copy provided by NetGalley}
Maggie has just started middle school and things are already a little weird when she not only finds out she has a half brother but that he’ll live with her family for a while. This kicks off a period of great change in her life, but over time she leans to embrace the changes as well as truly forming a bond with her new brother.
This was a really accessible read and I loved the characters relationships, especially Maggie and her new brother Tony. The issues and feelings discussed in this book were very relatable for me and perfect for the age the characters are supposed to be. The heavy focus on design was really cool and unique, offering a fun element to the book. While this is a rather simplistic story, it does feel appropriate for a middle grade book. A thoughtful and engaging read especially for kids 10-13!
Maggie has just started middle school and things are already a little weird when she not only finds out she has a half brother but that he’ll live with her family for a while. This kicks off a period of great change in her life, but over time she leans to embrace the changes as well as truly forming a bond with her new brother.
This was a really accessible read and I loved the characters relationships, especially Maggie and her new brother Tony. The issues and feelings discussed in this book were very relatable for me and perfect for the age the characters are supposed to be. The heavy focus on design was really cool and unique, offering a fun element to the book. While this is a rather simplistic story, it does feel appropriate for a middle grade book. A thoughtful and engaging read especially for kids 10-13!
March 23, 2021
I loved this book! Rule of Threes is about a young girl that is just starting middle school and suddenly things are changing. At first, it's just normal things like friends drifting apart in a new school, but soon enough drastic changes start happening. I felt so bad for the kids in the story. It was so realistic and a lot of it was stuff that, even as an adult, I could relate to. The characters were well written and really came a live to me and the storyline was great. At some points, I had to struggle not to cry and at others I was so proud of the children. This is a story about family and friends, struggles, and growth. It was an amazing read and I think that it is a great story for kids to understand that even though life may not be perfect we can still make a good life. Such a touching story! I would highly recommend it to others!
November 24, 2021
This was a very character driven novel; however, I never really became attached with the main character so as a result the book just didn't do it for me. I felt like the main character was generic and more of a person to push around the plot than a real person in her own right. This could also be because there were so many conflicts happening in the book. It didn't feel like any individual conflict had enough space and time for the main character to focus on them, and since her focus was constantly shifting it just didn't feel like any of the conflicts were that impactful. (Despite the fact that all of the conflicts should have been traumatic by themselves)
That being said nothing was handled poorly in the novel. Parents talked with their kids, there were consequences, characters made decisions. I think there may have just been too many pots on the stove.
That being said nothing was handled poorly in the novel. Parents talked with their kids, there were consequences, characters made decisions. I think there may have just been too many pots on the stove.
November 22, 2023
Story of change
Maggie's life is turned upside down when she learns a secret her parents had been holding back for years. To top it off, her best friend had been distancing herself, and her grandmother's condition was getting worse.
Maggie put all her energy into her decoration project at school to find some kind of organization among the chaos and sense of control, but....this just spiraled, poor girl.
Tony was having a hard time too. His mothers addiction made him have to get used to a new situation, which was hard for him. It was so sad.
Both kids had typical behavioral issues when it came to dealing with their stress but I'm glad their parents did show some support and all the love. Parents do they best they can, but they can do better. This was a story of change, love, understanding, hardships, and friendship.
Maggie's life is turned upside down when she learns a secret her parents had been holding back for years. To top it off, her best friend had been distancing herself, and her grandmother's condition was getting worse.
Maggie put all her energy into her decoration project at school to find some kind of organization among the chaos and sense of control, but....this just spiraled, poor girl.
Tony was having a hard time too. His mothers addiction made him have to get used to a new situation, which was hard for him. It was so sad.
Both kids had typical behavioral issues when it came to dealing with their stress but I'm glad their parents did show some support and all the love. Parents do they best they can, but they can do better. This was a story of change, love, understanding, hardships, and friendship.
September 12, 2022
Maggie is having a rough time. She unexpectedly finds out she has a half brother - and he is moving in with them; her beloved grandmother has Alzheimers and doesn't always remember Maggie and their special memories together, and her friendship with her two best friends seems to be falling apart.
This middle grade novel captures the angst and self-doubt of middle school so accurately. The issues with the grandmother losing her precious memories are heartbreaking and also so true to life. It feels like a lot for Maggie to be dealing with all these issues at once but I'm sure there are students who do and some with more. Plus the author does it skillfully, so it doesn't feel like too much.
CW: drug/addiction issues, infidelity, Alzheimers, bullying
This middle grade novel captures the angst and self-doubt of middle school so accurately. The issues with the grandmother losing her precious memories are heartbreaking and also so true to life. It feels like a lot for Maggie to be dealing with all these issues at once but I'm sure there are students who do and some with more. Plus the author does it skillfully, so it doesn't feel like too much.
CW: drug/addiction issues, infidelity, Alzheimers, bullying
February 23, 2021
This is a really sweet realistic middle grade novel! The main character, Maggie, is very happy with the life she's always had as an only child with two best friends and a loving grandmother, but as she is transitioning to sixth grade, one by one each of these things begins changing.
I would especially recommend this for girls in fifth and sixth grade, as they will most be able to relate to Maggie's struggles and triumphs in this stage of life.
Note warning for content - drug addition, if this is at all sensitive for your family. Nothing is explicit, but it is a major part of the plot.
I would especially recommend this for girls in fifth and sixth grade, as they will most be able to relate to Maggie's struggles and triumphs in this stage of life.
Note warning for content - drug addition, if this is at all sensitive for your family. Nothing is explicit, but it is a major part of the plot.
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