Violet in Bloom

December 1, 2010

Gr 4-6-Having established their "friends-forever" status in Love Ya Bunches (Abrams, 2009), the girls with the flower names find that there are just as many highs and lows in maintaining relationships as in starting them. Thoroughly attuned to girl world, Myracle's spot-on, realistic moments include Katie-Rose's bouts of insecurity in response to a manipulative classmate, Yasaman's learning to stand up for herself and her friends, and Camilla's suppressing her fear of hamsters to get closer to her crush. Violet's conflicted emotions about visiting her mother in the hospital serves as a heartfelt balance to the madcap drama. The chat and text speak ("I haz date!!!"), slang (adorkable), blog posts, and occasional screenplay format established in the first book continue here, though the story can stand on its own. In other words, this is trademark Myracle, and those who heart her books will lurve, er, love this one too.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2010
Grades 4-6 The girls from Luv Ya Bunches (2009) are back, and this time, the fifth-grade FFFsFlower Friends Foreverplan to launch a Snack Attack to replace their schools not-so-nutritious morning nibbles with something healthier. Meanwhile, each girl has her own issues: Violets mom is in the hospital; outwardly brash, inwardly insecure Katie-Rose worries that classmate Natalia is stealing her friends, which brings on a conflict with Yasaman; and just as Millas confidence is improving, a shudder-inducing accident with her crush Maxs hamster deeply upsets her. Over a single, eventful week, each girl makes discoveries about herself and others, including her individualand collectiveflower power. The diverse characters and their rotating stories, peppered with blog posts, IMs, and video scripts, are realistically and distinctly drawn, and Myracle includes humorous, heartfelt touches that highlight friendships challenges and joys. Both new and returning readers will find this stand-alone Flower Power Book enjoyable and absorbing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2011
In this sequel to Luv Ya Bunches, the fifth graders navigate the rocky road of friendship. Violet copes with her mother's mental illness, a meddlesome classmate comes between Yasaman and Katie-Rose, and insecure Camilla accidentally kills the hamster of a boy she likes. The girls come together to campaign for healthier snacks at school as well as sort out their realistic and relatable problems.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)