You Only Live Once, David Bravo Lib/E

by Mark Oshiro

From Mark Oshiro, award-winning author of The Insiders, this time-bending adventure is perfect for fans of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe and When You Reach Me.

Middle school is the worst, especially for David Bravo. He doesn't have a single class with his best (okay, only) friend, Antoine. He has to give a class presentation about his heritage, but he's not sure how--or even if--he wants to explain to his new classmates that he's adopted. After he injures Antoine in an accident at cross-country practice, he just wishes he could do it all over.

He doesn't expect his wish to summon a talking, shapeshifting, annoying dog, Fea, who claims that a choice in David's past actually did put him on the wrong timeline... and she can take him back to fix it.

But when their first try (and the second, and the third) is a total disaster, David and Fea are left scrambling through timeline after timeline--on a quest that may lead them to answers in the most unexpected places.

Coco meets Sliding Doors in this laugh-out-loud, heartwarming middle grade novel that explores how our choices make us who we are.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, LGBT, Time Travel, Fiction, Queer, Audiobook

Audio CD

First published September 20, 2022

About the author

MARK OSHIRO is the queer Latinx, Hugo-nominated writer of the online Mark Does Stuff universe (Mark Reads and Mark Watches), where he analyzes book and TV series. He was the nonfiction editor of Queers Destroy Science Fiction! and the co-editor of Speculative Fiction 2015, and is the President of the Con or Bust Board of Directors. When not writing/recording reviews or editing, Oshiro engages in social activism online and offline. Anger is a Gift is his debut YA contemporary fiction novel.

Reviews

[Deke Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNFing at page 29.

I really wanted to like this book. I loved and related to the main character and his anxiety and over thinking and it was so very real. I enjoyed (from what I could read) the conversations about identity- as well as the “well meaning” conversations that no one should be forced to have.

I’m DNFing after two random mentions of cabals, and I am NOT insinuating the author is antisemitic, but it’s quite a charged word that I did not expect to find in a middle grade book. The mentions are :

“Antoine had this theory that my birth parents were secret agents hiding from a shadowy cabal of monsters.”

And

“” I think these are poisoned.” “Poisoned?” He raises an eyebrow. “By who?” His eyes go wide. “It’s the cabal.”

Just as an FYI - a cabal is generally used to describe the conspiracy theory that a secret group of Jewish people control the world nefariously, and has been used quite recently by QANON and other far right groups to describe Jews secretly manipulating and controlling everything from Hollywood to politics to “the great replacement.” These conspiracy theories have been at the core of every violent attack on synagogues in the US. Seeing this casually thrown into a kids book was extremely triggering and unexpected. Again- not accusing the author of being antisemitic, the book DOES say a “cabal of monsters” insinuating a more fantastical evil society at work. I’m hoping it was a strange error of choice of words- but I just cannot trust the book any further.

It’s just hard for me to understand why “cabal” of all words had to be used here. It does not make me feel very safe going forward so I DNFed. Other readers may not take issue with this so I’m giving it higher stars for the content I did enjoy.

(Hopefully since I read an ARC perhaps this may be taken out in the final version!)

[Diana N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think we all wish we had a big undo button at some point in our lives. This entire book focuses on David and weird talking dog Fea trying to undo David's best friends accident.

I get that this is a change the timeline type of book, but it just got a bit too bizarre for me (especially Fea). It is creative, I will give it that. It has that relatable part of trying to fix things that I think kids would understand along with the crazy timeline bit. Is it appropriate level and word choice/concepts for the intended age group, I'm not sure, but it may be pushing it a bit.

I think many kids will like this book for its strangeness and creativity.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

[Kim Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Thank you, Harper-Collins for providing an ARC of this book.

I don't read a lot of Middle-grade novels, but I have loved Mark Oshiro's writing so much, I knew I'd want to pounce on this one, and it exceeded even my highest expectations.

The story is funny, weird in all the best ways, poignant, smart, and multilayered. I loved these characters. About a third of the way in, I knew it was a five star book already, yet the author kept unveiling more plot twists and turns.

I'm sure there are a lot of eleven year olds who can appreciate this book. It felt like a gift, a bit of healing and understanding for my eleven year old self.

[eve.lyn._.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story feels all over the place at points, but it eventually finds its flow near the end of the second half. The exploration of sexuality was such an important part of the story. Mark Oshiro really displays how confusing it is for David when he never even considered that he could like a person more than a friend. His relationship with Antoine was so sweet and moving. I was really rooting for them. The plot twist was well done. While I would have liked the magic system to be more explained and explored, there was still enough for me to feel satisfied. Fea's story ended up being the most profound. I was shocked by how moved I was by her backstory and the ending she got in the conclusion. This was an overall good book!
🆗PLOT
☑️CHARACTERS
☑️PLOT TWIST

[JR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t mind me, I just have some dust in my eyes 🥲🥲

[gabymck · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ The time jumping got a bit confusing at the end. Just a week or so ago I was watching Groundhog Day with the kids and this book has some similarities with it. It was still very enjoyable.

[Jenna-booklooksbyjenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cant believe this book sat on my shelf for so many months and now its one of my favorite reads of the year. thank you mark oshiro!!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of the story is stellar and my only hang-up with the execution is that it's a little long, I got bogged down in the middle even as things moved along so quickly at the beginning as Fea swoops in to bring David on a time travel journey to discover the roots of who he is and help him with decision-making because he's a little rudderless now that he's in middle school and as an adopted kid with rich cultural ties, he still can't really answer *who* he is.

I would have preferred friendship over romance as I generally do because it's already chaotic enough moving through life during middle school that friendship is an important foundation- learning to be a friend and befriend others so romance always spoils it because it shouldn't always be the end result.

But the largeness of David's family experience (and newfound family) was full of heart with a little adventure to boot. The time travel chapters with the fun titles were entertaining and enjoyable.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a time travel story, so I was really excited about this one, and I did like all of the time travel elements. It felt a bit overlong, with maybe just one or two many threads throughout? I also wasn't a fan of what Fea was pushing David to do (this seemed like something he needed to be ready to do on his own/decide on his own).

There's lots of good stuff in here about identity and family, and so for kids who are interested in those themes with a slight sci-fi twist, this would be a good choice.

[Mia Guzzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven year old David Bravo is starting at a new middle school this year and sadly, his first few days don’t go exactly as planned. David and his best friend Antoine aren’t in any classes together, he has to deal with bullies, and he finds a talking dog that comes to take him on a time travelling journey because David’s somehow already ruined his life in eleven short years. Normal middle school kid things, really.

This book was a delight truly. As someone who is very much Not eleven years old I thought I would be saying “this book is great for its age group” in this review, but I was so enthralled I finished in a day. Truly got me out of my reading slump! Not many books are able to deal with the idea of time travel or flashbacks well but I found writing for younger audiences might be the trick. I didn’t find the world building confusing at all; the reader gets to fully enjoy the wonderful characters and heartfelt storyline without trying to decode a confusing plot line. David and his family are lovely— it was so nice to get a story about an adopted child that involved him loving his adopted parents while still wanting to know more about his culture and heritage.

Antoine and David were so adorable this entire book! I really cannot express how lovable each character was. I think they were all so enjoyable because of how emotional they were all able to be. No characters were one-dimensional and they all got to really be their own person. You go into a book for this age group and don’t expect emotional depth but so many scenes had me almost crying on the Disney resort bus (true story). You only live once, David Bravo had me crying in the most magical place on Earth.

I especially loved Fea which is why she’s getting her own paragraph (I make the rules in this review). She was such a powerful central character that wasn’t just there to teach but to learn, as well. Her storyline and back story were wonderful to read about— it was so compelling and unexpected with a wonderful bittersweet conclusion. Her and David played wonderfully off each other. They both make mistakes, they both have reasons, and they help one another. Okay, Fea rant over. Let’s continue.

Not to take away from David Bravo and this novel in ANY way but I learned about Mark Oshiro from the fact that they are writing the upcoming Nico DiAngelo and Will Solace novel. As a long time Percy Jackson fan, I wanted to see their writing style before that book released because Nico DiAngelo raised me. If you are wondering if Oshiro as an author is going to be a good fit for the Percy Jackson universe, look no further: they absolutely are.

To sum it all up, sometimes a friend group isn’t normal— sometimes a friend group is two middle school boys and a dead lesbian spirit guide just trying her best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mark themself for this book.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly rich read, considering it's middle grade fiction. Fea was at times annoying (not in a charming way), and I had mixed feelings in her push for David to confront his feelings - he just seemed a bit too young to be stressing about making his feelings known about friends - male or female. I also had mixed feelings about pursuing details about the closed adoption - I understand both sides, but privacy of the birth parents is disregarded and it makes me uncomfortable. I really loved all the characters and the theme of food.

I recommend this book to all readers, particularly young readers. This is a great time-traveler book.

[archivist13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

pre-read: i have a feeling i read this when i was. seven or something. it looks familiar
post-read: dnf @ 41 pages, cute book but reads like its for five yr olds

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to give this 4.5 because I don't feel it had to be as long as it is but I got so emotional by the end it feels like an injustice to

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: "What if we just don't go to school?"

What I expected: I did not do my due diligence before checking this one out of the library. That is on me. What I expected was either a) a fun, whimsical wish-gone-wrong light-hearted romp where life goes from messy to messier to messiest before the main character learns a lesson of contentment and shows gratitude b) a subtle creepy, spooky Twilight-Zone trapped-in-the-wrong-time-line vibe c) an offbeat, quirky ultimately absurd (think Tom Angleberger) romp that plays with the nerdy glory of alternate time lines, parallel universes, etc. I didn't get either of those three. Again, I probably should have done a little more research on my end to find out exactly what the book is all about before I checked it out of the library. If I had, I would not have been left with the feeling of being given a shaken-up can of soda. I can't fault the author for not giving me the book *I* wanted.

Premise/plot: David Bravo is starting his first day of middle school. He's upset (and understandably so) that his best friend (his only friend) Antoine is not in any of his classes. They don't even have the same lunch periods. (They just overlap by fifteen minutes). Everything seems to be going wrong. He's awkward because he's nervous/anxious but also awkward because he's frozen in indecision. And not just on the first day. It seems to be an ongoing issue with him that he's so scared of making any/every/all choices that he takes really long pauses.

After a particularly bad day, he wishes for a do-over. And his wish is granted by a shape-shifting, once-alive-and-human spirit named Fea (though that was not her human name). Fea is a shape-shifter. Once Fea enters the picture, it seems David's troubles magnify. Instead of helping, she seems to be making things worse. Her good intentions of making things better or making things right is almost irrelevant. She definitely is the interfering sort. She's convinced that David Bravo's life is in horrible-no-good-very-bad shape because he's not being honest about *who* he is. If he would only admit that he likes-likes Antoine as more than just a friend, then his life would get back on track. And essentially "she would get her wings." (Not really, but her infinity emblem would go from red to green. So essentially thematically same-same.) But David is reluctant and needs pushing. He tries any/every solution but her suggestion. But Fea and David's misadventures continue. She even flashes to her own past life as a human to show him her mistakes in not coming out and being honest with her best friend.

Also complicating this story line--and perhaps the one straw too much????--is the theme that David Bravo is adopted. Not that adoption stories are too much for stories. (Far from it.) But in this instance, once the main story *is* resolved (yes, he tells Antoine that he likes likes him) we still have this other story that is resolved in an over-the-top bizarre way. The ending is just all kinds of wrong. (Again, my opinion).

My thoughts: This isn't the story I wanted it to be exactly. Not the author's fault for not meeting my expectations.

I will say that it had some It's a Wonderful Life vibes. Perhaps some readers will really appreciate that. Again, David struggles with depression, self-worth; sometimes thinks it would be better if he'd never been adopted out. He questions where he belongs--if he belongs.

I do think that too many things were being juggled in the air--plot wise. There was David needing to come out to his best friend; there was David being confused about being adopted; there was Fea being haunted by her past life; there was also a weird sub-plot about how neither boys really wanted to run track??? The ending is where this book totally and completely lost me.

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

The search for his birth mother led him to a twin brother (also adopted out) and the realization that his birth parents--both of them--died in a car accident on their way to the hospital. The twins survived but were separated. The fact that his twin-brother was adopted into the family of Fea's girlhood CRUSH and that Fea (the spirit) dances with the grandmother (her former crush)...it just seems like this ending doesn't know when to stop pushing. I wasn't feeling great about the tacked on twin brother and the tragic reveal about the parents. But everything all together at the end of this one--was just way too much.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mark Oshiro for getting me an ARC of this book!!

David Bravo knew that the starting middle school would be different. He just didn’t expect it to change everything. Making new friends is hard, and even harder when his best friend isn’t really talking to him. Also there’s a talking dog and time travel is real, making everything more confusing.

As a fan of Mark Oshiro’s other works, I went into this book with high expectations, and it went way beyond that. You Only Live Once, David Bravo had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I read the book almost all in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. I might not be in middle school, but I still found myself relating to David’s feelings of dealing with being at a new school and the changes of life.

Fea and David’s relationship was the perfect balance of sweet and funny. Although David didn’t want it, Fea’s tough love was exactly what he needed. I absolutely loved learning about Fea’s past as she opened up to David, and the way Fea’s story wraps up was unexpected but the perfect ending. It made me cry.

The characters had lots of depth, and twists and turns in the story had my jaw on the floor. This book was perfect in every way, and a joy to read. I learned to live your life to the fullest because you truly do only live once. (unless you know a time traveling spirt guide who works for The Power of the Bees)

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm teetering between a 3 and a 4 on this one. You Only Live Once, David Bruno follows (you guessed it) David Bruno, as he tries to undo the events of a particularly bad day. He is paired with a spirit whom he calls Fea who can take him back to moments in time to make a different choice leading to a different, better outcome . . . but it's not so simple.

The story had good twists and turns, and I didn't know where it was going. The time travel element is pretty tame but works for the story. Fea is likeably obnoxious, and I did grow to enjoy her as the story progressed.

A large part of the story has to do with David being adopted and I love, love, love how this was handled. The parents are open about the adoption and supportive of David wanting to have a sense of identity, but at the same time it was a 'closed adoption' so they don't have any answers for David about it. The story sees him grabbling with other people's ignorance, his anxieties about being abandoned both by his birth and current parents, and a lack of belonging. This is all done really well that never feels like the author is using the adoption as a crutch to garner sympathy for the character.

The second plotline was a romance between David and his best friend Antoine, which also ties into some backstory of a past romance with Fea. The relationships are same-sex which I don't like seeing in middle school so that's on me for not researching it. Putting that aside, I felt that this plotline detracted from the story. The book was very long and if the characters were just friends worrying about if they would grow apart, less time could have been devoted to this plotline.

This was especially a challenge in the middle because after a long stretch of focus on the romance, it jumped back to dialing the adoption anxiety up to 11, and it felt a little rushed and out of nowhere because we hadn't talked about him being adopted in a while. There was also a point in the story which was EXTREMELY focused on the adoption, I was really invested, and then sudden Fea started talking about her romantic life (which then hijacked the book for a chapter and a half in the middle of a scene I really wanted to keep reading), and I literally was yelling at her to shut up.

The story on the whole read super fast. I really liked David as a character and while it's pretty clear he is overreacting to his bad day, I at least believed that he felt his life was falling apart, and I liked the exploration of him trying to figure out how to fix it, what he even needed to fix, and I loved what the answer to that question ended up being.

Honestly, if the story was more focused on the time travel & adoption aspect and left the romance out, this would have been an easy 5 stars. The romance part just ended up making the book too long and it distracted from the parts that I really wanted to read.

[Celestino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of Mark Oshiro's novels, but there was something very special about You Only Live Once, David Bravo. Compared to their middle-grade debut, this one was way more engaging in my opinion. I couldn't stop reading to see where the story was heading. I mean, I knew that David's travels wouldn't work the way he was expecting, but this book went to places I didn't expect. It wasn't just fun time traveling where things would end up wrong and would need fixing, it was about missed opportunities and how indecisiveness can really affect you. I related a lot to that, even now as an adult. Where it hit me the most was taking plunges regarding your feelings, and to see an eleven-year-old such as David eventually take these plunges was inspiring. I can only imagine how impactful this would've been to me when I was a child, and I hope kids out there find this book. Then there's the queer representation which is treated with such normalcy. David questions whether there might be feelings for his friend Antoine, but when he notices them, they're there, and I was so happy that his feelings were reciprocated, especially because there were so many timelines where David stopped being friends with Antoine. It was so anxiety-inducing as one of my biggest fears to this day remains losing people who are very important to me. As it turned out, every time I saw them holding hands by the end was just one of the sweetest things. However, there was one thing that I really didn't like about the end as it came out of left field. It was a nice sentiment that David still had a family, but I just never saw any indication or foreshadowing that he would have a twin brother he was separated from at birth. It was weird, no matter how I try to frame it. Compare this to how those who had been part of the orphanage David and Beto were from were related to Fea's past. To me, that was what made sense and was surprising. The fact that Fea, formally known as Juanita, got to say goodbye to Maricela was so sweet. Maybe it was a bit hurried, but I did tear up a bit. In the end, this book left me feeling happy, a feeling I hope I feel more of in the future.

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You Only Live Once, David Bravo" is an imaginative and heartfelt middle-grade novel that combines elements of fantasy and coming-of-age drama. The story follows David Bravo, a middle schooler grappling with the typical challenges of adolescence—feeling out of place, handling school presentations, and navigating friendships—along with the unique difficulties of being adopted and uncertain about discussing his heritage.

David's life takes an unexpected turn when he wishes he could redo a disastrous moment that resulted in his best friend, Antoine, getting injured during a cross-country race. This wish summons Fea, a quirky and talkative dog who claims to be a timeline guide capable of taking David back in time to correct his past mistakes. What follows is a series of misadventures across different timelines as David attempts to fix the accident, only to realize that Fea might be guiding him towards resolving deeper issues in his life.

I love this book for its creativity and engaging narrative. The concept of exploring different timelines with a talking dog (and other animals along the way!) adds a whimsical layer to the story, allowing readers to explore the idea that changing one's past could have unexpected consequences. The novel excels in developing its characters, particularly David, who is portrayed with depth and authenticity as he grows from his experiences and learns to accept himself.

The book's strength lies in its ability to weave humor and light-heartedness, thanks to Fea's presence, with serious themes such as identity, friendship, and self-acceptance. The writing is crisp and engaging, making it easy for readers to empathize with David's trials and cheer for his victories.

Overall, "You Only Live Once, David Bravo" is a surprisingly delightful read that offers more than just a fun adventure. It provides meaningful reflections on how our choices define us and how we can learn from even our most challenging moments. It's a recommended read for middle graders looking for a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

[Tanu J · Rating 5 out of 5]

David is in a dilemma. He's adopted and there comes a stupid presentation in his class where he has to describe his family lineage. How can he explain that? He's got a complicated history, both his parents belonging to different cultures, and like, completely diverse places. He's in for a challenge.

Still, like the courageous eleven-year-old he is, he gives it a try. But after the school presentation goes wrong in a humiliating way, and he gets sick for eating bad spinach in the school cafeteria, and he's directly or indirectly the one responsibly for his best friend spraining his ankle in a race, David is sure the day was awful and can't get any worse.

That is, until he sees a dog that talks.

Talk about weird.

The dog offers David a chance to redo one mistake in his life, one thing he regrets.

And so it begins. Every time he tries to change one mistake, he ends up committing another. And the outcome never changes. Worsens, if anything. What David doesn't know is that the more he tries to find the perfect reality, the farther he's going to get from it.

So obviously, when they try to redo one timeline, they couldn't have guessed how bad it would actually get. Now, everything is screwed.

"David, no one knows the future! Everything is a guess! And if you keep living your life so frightened of what's to come, you're never going to choose anything!"

Now they don't have to just change the course of future, they have to bring it back to the right path.

But as the end drew closer, the anticipation grew, keeping me at the edge of my seat, guessing and then second-guessing myself about what might be the truth after all. And when it at last came out in the end, it was unexpected definitely, but it all fit so perfectly together that I couldn't help but laugh in surprise, scaring my family, and then keep on reading. (No spoilers for you, though)

[Tracy Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I don't often seek it out but do love a good time travel story. The time turner plot was one of the reasons Prisoner of Azkaban was my favorite Harry Potter book. I liked some of the humor. I mostly liked Fea, the shape-shifting spirit guide (still not quite sure what she was) and the resolution to her story and her regrets over what happened with Maricela was definitely my favorite scene in the book and I may have shed a tear. I liked David okay, but he was so self-absorbed in his minor problems and ignored others' feelings at times.

One of my sticking points was the crush/relationship with David and his best friend, Antoine. It had nothing to do with the fact that they were two boys who had feelings for each other. I would have felt the same way if it was a boy/girl friendship that became something more. These kids are 11. I understand having crushes, and realizing you have feelings for someone. But a significant chunk of the book is Fea trying to convince David that what he needs to do is confess his feelings for Antoine. I know this was what her regret was in life, but I feel like 11 is too young for this to be about a budding relationship. If the characters were aged up to 13 or 14, I would have totally been behind it. But having these preteens blushing and hand-holding and gazing into each other's glistening eyes felt like reading a middle schooler's #hurt/comfort AO3 story.

That sounds pretty harsh, and maybe my feelings are those of a lame GenX mom who is not the intended audience, but it was a mixed bag. I wished for so much more. Sometimes unrealized potential is worse than something you have low expectations of to begin with.

52BC #45: chapter headings have dates

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the first day of middle school for David Bravo and his best friend Antoine. They won’t be in the same classes anymore and they’re both bummed about starting this new chapter apart. After a disastrous first day, all David wants is a do-over… which is exactly what he gets. He accidently summons a timeline guide in the form of a talking dog named Fea, who is able to change past events to make sure he’s on the right track. This ended up being a really cute and immersive story; the novel really turned itself around because the reader was really worried they weren’t going to like this. This started off fun and light, a little bit of time travel, with a witty sarcastic side animal, but the more we kept going back, the more the reader kept feeling like we were living Groundhog Day and it got old really quick. Also, on a side note, the fact that ‘you only live once’ was said so many times in this was tedious to read; we got it the first couple times it was referenced, after the fifth time it just felt like we were being beaten over the head with it. As we entered the second half the novel, nearing the end, that’s when things really started to pick up and so many things were kinda thrown at the reader in terms of plot development. The ending felt a little rushed, like we learned a lot about David and his birth parents and their story all within the last few chapters and it felt really info-dumpy; the reader wished it could have been spread out better. In the last half it also felt like the plot got more serious. This really tackled anxiety, especially in children, really well; as someone who has dealt with anxiety as a child, this felt very, very relatable and made this reader feel seen. They can’t speak on the topics of adoption, but this felt very authentic and something kids who are adopted could relate to. The queer representation was also beautiful to see; first crushes are always so cute to read about once you’ve outlived that stage in your life; they’re less awkward to read about and more wholesome. The main character, David, really learned a lot over the course of this novel; the reader had to admit that he was a bit whiney to start, and that combined with the repetitive plot, made this a shaky start, but both the plot and David got better as the novel went on. The side animal, Fea, was a really great side character, she’s lovable in a quirky kind of way. She got on your nerves to start, much like she got on David’s nerves, but you soon grew to love her as she really does care, and the reader could feel that. David’s best friend, Antoine, was a great character, too as he was so supportive and he had such cool views – it’s too bad we couldn’t get his POV, but there was already a lot happening. All of the parents felt so present and active in their kid’s lives, it was a joy to read. In the end, this was a well written, fantasy-like story, full of heart and wit. 

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Bravo’s attempts at a do-over for his life is doomed from the start. But you can’t tell a little kid that, especially when he’s being harassed by an otherworldly pest like Fea.

At times Fea was so aggravating that I commiserated with David’s wish that she simply get out of his life. She can’t seem to get him at a time when he’s alone. Thus, he’s constantly seen by other people apparently monologuing since they can’t see her when she’s tagging alongside him. Her powers are erratic, she causes needless damage and is too gleeful at interfering in his life. How is she supposed to be improving matters for him when she’s a constant screwup?

Matters right themselves in the end but not because of her. David’s confusion over what he’s supposed to change in his life have hilarious or dangerous results, depending on when or if Fea’s powers decide to malfunction. So David comes to a momentous decision all on his own.

The novel celebrates his growing maturity, his gradual realization that magic can’t be used to repair a life and that the life he always wanted is closer than he thinks. In spite of the presence of the annoying Fea, this is a novel about what it means to come to grips with who you are, what you want and whether you have the courage to seek your own happiness.

[Rachel Rauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good, it's sweet and funny, but the main thing that took away from it is the fact that EVERYTHING in the book has a parallel or a mirror or feels like it HAS to be connected in some way. The character has a twin brother who has the SAME LIFE and the SAME PROBLEMS as him. His time guide is connected to his twin's adoptive grandmother. His friend is adopted and has a SISTER. Like, come on. Not to mention when the character finally makes the decision to do it all again, there are like 20 pages of the SAME exact text from the beginning of the book, typos and all. The author just copy-pasted. And like I get it, but I feel like the small subtle changes that get made to the story aren't really enough to make rereading that worth it. It also feels strange watching a character who wouldn't have remembered their character arc still be affected by it. Overall, a very fun summer story that I would recommend to people who enjoy time travel stories (which are good if done well but not my thing in this case).

[Emily Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Mark Oshiro, and the publisher of this book for an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Middle school has not started out well for David Bravo. He doesn't have any classes with his best friend Antoine, he's not sure how to give his first presentation about his family (he's adopted), and he's picked on by two boys in his class. To make matters worse, David hurts Antoine at practice. David wishes he could do it over and when he's given the chance, he jumps at the opportunity. But when his first try (and second and third) are unsuccessful, David starts to wonder if that's the path he is suppose to follow or not. What is David going to do?

I LOVED this story and cant wait to buy a copy of my own. I hope it will teach children that mistakes happen and it's better to move on/how we handle them that impact the rest of our future.
This was a 5-star middle grade read in my book!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

David is starting middle school and is very anxious about it, although he has a good friend and cross country teammate in Antoine. His anxiety increases when his social studies teacher announces a family folklore project; David was adopted as an infant through a closed adoption and knows nothing about his birth parents. When he gives his presentation, some of his classmates give him a hard time, and he thinks he has screwed it up. This causes him to make a mistake during a cross country run that injures Antoine, whose father wants him to be an elite athlete. Soon afterwards, David meets Fea, a xoloizcuintli who takes him on a time traveling adventure into his past. He tries to repair his mistakes, but ends up meeting another version of himself in the past, and also goes six months into the future. Will David ever be at ease with his adoption and his sense of self, or with the two depth of his relationship with Antoine? Big plot twist at the end.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. It will be published in September of 2022.

I really love the idea of this book and after reading other reviews, I wish I could have made it through this one. It just couldn't keep my attention.

David Bravo is starting middle school and he doesn't have any classes with his best friend, Antoine. Middle school gest even worse when he has to give a presentation about his heritage, but he was adopted and doesn't quite know how to proceed. Then he causes a crash in his first cross-country race where he's left with a busted ankle.

Then time travel comes into play so he can try to undo his mistakes, but I lost interest. Maybe I will try this book again after it comes out. I really wanted to like this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the first day of middle school, David Bravo is very nervous about being in different classes than his best friend, Antoine, he doesn't know what to write for his first homework assignment that asks him to describe his home and culture, and he's a little sick to his stomach to boot. Then a strange, talking dog appears that only he can see and David is whisked off on time-travelling adventures trying to figure out what choice he may have made that sent his whole life off on the wrong timeline. I'm not a huge fan of time travel stories, but this one is more entertaining than most. Ultimately, David is learning to be true to who he is and to express himself that way, which is always a worthy lesson.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Oshiro really has a knack for writing middle grade, honestly. David's voice feels so authentic throughout the book, and he's just trying to figure out who he is. I loved that this featured a kid who was adopted, and he was really learning how that influences his own identity. Plus, his friendships are changing because he's in middle school, and it's just something that's really relatable to middle grade readers.

I'll be honest, I was absolutely hooked for the second half of this book. I didn't want to put it down until I was done reading! While I think it ends up being slightly too long, I still enjoyed it all the way until the end. It's such a fun middle grade read, and IC an't wait to recommend it at work!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no clue what to expect when I started this book and honestly, I forgot I ordered it in my BTSB haul. But I'm so glad I tried it out!

It was HILARIOUS. and meaningful and the TWISTS!! I love a good twist. I know it's supposed to be "fantasy" but honestly, I can see this book in my humor section because I was LOLing throughout. Now, don't get me wrong there were several times I was on the verge of tears because Mark's writing is just chef's kiss*.

I'm so glad I found this talented author and now I want to read ALL of his books. What a talent. I'm in awe of how he kept the characters time-traveling but it wasn't confusing (because you know sometimes it can get confusingggggg). This book is a middle-grades collection MUST.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you could relive a certain key moment in your life, how would it change you? David Bravo has that chance, and has to decide: what is really important to him? What parts of his life does he like? What can he change to keep what he likes, but change the parts he doesn't? He has an annoying but helpful "spirit guide" in the form of a xoloitzcuintle (an ugly Mexican dog). I wasn't a fan of the pressure he faces to acknowledge his attraction to his best friend Antoine because what 11-year-old is comfortable with those kinds of feelings, even for someone of the opposite sex? But I liked the whole theme of someone exploring who they are and what they want, and the consequences of choices.