Middle Grade Madness! discussion

In honour of National Poetry Month we'll be reading Red, White, and Whole, an interesting novel-in-verse, as our April Book of the Month!

Wheeew it's been ages since we last read a Book of the Month! I'm intrigued to see how it goes. Has everyone else got a copy of the book ready to go? I just got myself a copy now and I'm looking forward to reading it as soon as April starts!

i’m glad people liked my suggestion! i already have my copy and am ready to go. i’m going on a trip the first week of april, so i probably won’t start it until i get back.

Idk if I’ll b able to join this one

I placed a hold at my library!

@Tiffany Awesome! Maybe if your copy comes in by this time next week then you, me, and Grace can start reading it around the same time because my plan is to start it next weekend. No worries if it comes later though, you can join in whenever it’s better for you!

@Eden aww that’s a shame but I get it, no worries take part in what you can and feel like reading!

@Grace ooh a trip! Stay safe and have fun!

Hey everyone
just joined very excited to read the books.. I love middle grade... just 1 question after we are done how to we discuss the books..is there a live event?

i mean how do we

Hi Tanaya! Welcome to the group!
So there's no live event exactly but every event is given their own page for discussion. This is the discussion page for our latest book of the month: Red, White, and Whole.

Once you've got yourself a copy of Red, White, and Whole go ahead and read at your own pace. You don't need to wait till you've finished the book to come and discuss it here. You can come at any time throughout your reading progress and you can discuss whatever grabs your interest or whatever annoys you about the book etc. Basically just leave a message here about whatever you want to discuss and I or someone else can respond and have a conversation about it.

Please remember to use spoiler tags to hide all spoilers you might send in a message. To do that make sure to type (spoiler) at the start of what you want to hide and (/spoiler) at the end of what you want to hide except replacing the () with <>
Hopefully that makes sense. If you've done it properly it should look like this: (view spoiler)[ ta da! (hide spoiler)]

If you've got any questions feel free to ask!
There are other event types, one of which I will be hosting next month, so if you're interested in learning more about the different kinds of events on the group then check this out: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I finished it. It was very sweet -- it was nice to see a big family coming together and supporting each other instead of the teenager constantly yelling at her parents.

A lot of reviews said it made them cry, but I did not. It takes a lot for a book to get me that way.

Kadi wrote: "Hi Tanaya! Welcome to the group!
So there's no live event exactly but every event is given their own page for discussion. This is the discussion page for our latest book of the month: [book:Red, Wh..."

Thanks so much!

@Audrey I’m the same, it takes a lot to make me cry like it has to be really profound or touching more than just cute or sweet, so I’m interested in seeing if it can do the job.
I’m just starting it now so we’ll see soon enough!

@Tanaya no problem😊

Sooo it’s been a while but I’m still reading this one! I stopped halfway through last month and now I’ve picked it back up again, if only to get it off my currently reading shelf.

So far I have absolutely LOVED the accurate representation. I’m ethnically from a western part of India although I’ve never been there so it’s really interesting to be able to see the similarities and differences between my own Muslim West Indian culture and Reha’s Hindu Southern Indian culture; I’ve found it fascinating!

I was really impatient for the storyline of her mother getting cancer to kick in but now I’ve passed the halfway mark I’m glad I stuck around for so long because it is quite emotional to see her poor mum in this situation and how it affects them all.

One thing I do find annoying is the way the spiritual story thing keeps getting in the way of the present time storyline. I saw the relevance of it at the start but now I just want it to stop interrupting the flow of the story.

Hey Annie so yeah I've finished the book by now! Here's my review if anyone else is interested in reading it: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I thought it was a good read and I really enjoyed the representation, it was just missing a little something to push it up to 5 stars. I liked that the ending wasn't a cliche happily ever after type thing, that would've dragged it down to 3 stars. But the ending didn't make me cry, same as Audrey. Probably because it was expected. I did get a little teary at the part where (view spoiler)[ Reha's aunt was feeding her mother but not because there was anything particularly sad about it, just because I was imagining doing that to my own sister or vice versa when we get old. (hide spoiler)] That's something the book did well I think: capture that family spirit.

I really liked the romance element. I thought it was sweet and not at all forced and it felt great to know Reha had someone supporting her at that time but then they just never mentioned it again. Like all the (view spoiler)[ hand holding at the dance and the kiss in the kitchen before Reha gave blood (hide spoiler)] and that made it feel a bit random or like a failed element because it wasn't fully formed or explored.

I would've liked to see how Reha's life went on after the end. Why do these novels in verse always stop at the most interesting part? I swear it's like they go through really awkward bits and then when the plot has finally become a little unpredictable or interesting they abruptly end!

Also, I just wanted to add a big thank you to you Annie! I probably wouldn't have finished this book if it hadn't been for you and I'm glad I did because it was a unique read, I've certainly never come across a middle grade book where I could relate so much to all the cultural representation!

I thought the end was pretty expected. Like I wouldn't have been happy if it was a happy ever after type of ending and the (view spoiler)[ mother ended up surviving. (hide spoiler)] The realistic ending was a better message for young readers.
I didn't really get the red, white and whole thing. How did that relate to anything to do with her? Red and white just made me keep thinking about the Japanese flag😂

Oh yes the red and white blood cells! I forgot about that. It’s smart when you think about it but some of the links to the theme felt tenuous especially the links between the religious story and her parents’ relationship/her mother. I could see what was trying to be accomplished but I didn’t fully feel it

I mite give this one a go at some point this month

EdenB15 wrote: "I mite give this one a go at some point this month"

Ooh it’s a quick read but not a light one. I hope you enjoy it if you do end up reading it and share your thoughts too if you’d like to!

I will

Just started this

The ending almost had me in tears but i enjoyed it. Didnt think much of the main character but the representation was great. I’m glad i read it

EdenB15 wrote: "The ending almost had me in tears but i enjoyed it. Didnt think much of the main character but the representation was great. I’m glad i read it"

I agree on the main character, I didn't think much of her either. The ending was sufficiently sad but it came too soon. The romance was cute but it sort of hovered in a void and then dissolved into nothing. It was a good read I just felt like it could've been more. Imagine if it had a sequel, now that would be interesting!

Ahhh a sequel would b good

EdenB15 wrote: "Ahhh a sequel would b good"

Yeah then we'd get to see how the protagonist copes without her mother and how her school life progresses. It would be much more interesting than what this book covered in my opinion!