Reviews

Keep It Together, Keiko Carter by Debbi Michiko Florence

librarydragonfly's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

marcidarling's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was really sweet and IMMEDIATELY transported me back to the good, bad and ugly of 7th grade. I loved the low stakes high drama of the friendship, crushes and family dynamics. Definitely makes me want to see what else is coming out here in this genre 

booksnbrains's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

freybrarian's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

mikyoung's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i_will_papercut_a_bish's review against another edition

5.0

So this was an EASY favorite for my middle schooler, who devoured it in one session! KEEP IT TOGETHER KEIKO CARTER has everything the contemporary upper MG reader could want: friendship, how to grow apart gracefully, dealing with conflict in healthy ways, crushes, plot twists, learning to stand up for yourself even when it's tough, chocolate, dogs, boba tea...it has it all! I was rooting for Keiko all the way through.

elissacsweet's review against another edition

5.0

KEEP IT TOGETHER, KEIKO CARTER is the kind of book I want every preteen girl to read, because it feels so true to the experience of being a middle-school girl and navigating the tough social waters of female friendship, cliques and crushes. It's packed with pop culture references, friend drama, cute boys, and adorable dogs, and as young readers race through the story, they might not even notice that they're also learning great lessons about hard choices, growing up and growing apart, staying true to yourself, casual racism, and speaking up even when it means disrupting the peace.

The title character is seventh-grader Keiko Carter, who just wants to have a great year with her two best friends. Keiko is smart, funny, honest and obsessed with chocolate, and in her life she is often the caregiver and the peacemaker—the one who sometimes lets people step on her just to smooth things over. When her two best friends begin fighting and her home life feels like it's unraveling a bit, she finds that the middle ground just won't cut it anymore.

Eventually, Keiko realizes that maybe it's more important to be honest with yourself and others, and even lose a friend or two, than to worry about making everyone happy. It's a lesson I wish I had learned earlier, and I'm so excited for girls Keiko's age to pick up this book.

madames_des_livres's review against another edition

4.0

Ein süßes, aufmunternden Kinderbuch. Mit dem Flair von To all the Boys ist dieses Buch wirklich unglaublich knuffig, sprüht vor Lebensfreude und ist ein ganz besonderes Lesevergnügen. Sympathische Charaktere, eine Handlung so süß wie Vollmilchschokolade und ein hinreißenden Cover machen dieses Buch zu einem absoluten Genuss. Ich hatte viel Spaß beim lesen und konnte das Buch, obwohl ich nicht gerade in die eigentliche Zielgruppe gehöre, nicht aus der Hand legen. Mit den von mir vergeben 4,5 Sternen ist dieses Buch allen kleinen und großen Leserinnen und Lesern zu empfehlen die von Schokolade, der ersten Liebe und der ganz großen Freundschaft träumen oder sie gerade erleben.

books_plan_create's review against another edition

4.0

Really quick and easy read with an enjoyable story that actually felt realistic and like something you would go through in Middle School. So that was nice.


Read for Lunar New Year Readathon 2021

lost_goddess's review against another edition

It's about 7th graders getting boyfriends. Also, the writing style is like a 7th grader wrote it. Way too many exclamation points, and too little character development.