musingsofagirl's review against another edition
4.0
This review and many others can also be found at Musings of a (Book) Girl.
Middle grade is one of my favorite genres, and I’m so glad this gem of a book found me! Erin Dionne is the author of numerous middle-grade novels, but this is the first one I’ve read. After Secrets of a Fangirl though I’m hoping to read some of her backlist titles.
A couple of weeks prior to reading Secrets of a Fangirl I had the privilege of interviewing Erin. I could tell right away that she was meant to be writing books for kids. The personality she showed in the interview came out in full force through her writing and made for a fun story. This is such a critical component for middle-grade books that often gets left out.
I loved how relatable of a character Sarah Anne was. We all go through times in life, especially as young kids, when the only thing we want is to fit in. It’s so easy for us to sacrifice the things we love and enjoy in order to seem cool and popular. Sarah Anne’s journey is one that is so important for younger readers. Secrets of a Fangirl helps show that you can be yourself and still have cool friends in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy.
As a parent, this is the kind of story I’m going to want to make available to my son when he’s older. It’s a book I would love to see in school libraries and accessible. Erin Dionne really created something special within these pages. Secrets of a Fangirl is full of personality and really makes you think about whether or not you’re being the best person you can be.
TL;DR: Full of personality and an important message, Secrets of a Fangirl is one you’ll want to read and pass on to the middle grader in your life.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Middle grade is one of my favorite genres, and I’m so glad this gem of a book found me! Erin Dionne is the author of numerous middle-grade novels, but this is the first one I’ve read. After Secrets of a Fangirl though I’m hoping to read some of her backlist titles.
A couple of weeks prior to reading Secrets of a Fangirl I had the privilege of interviewing Erin. I could tell right away that she was meant to be writing books for kids. The personality she showed in the interview came out in full force through her writing and made for a fun story. This is such a critical component for middle-grade books that often gets left out.
I loved how relatable of a character Sarah Anne was. We all go through times in life, especially as young kids, when the only thing we want is to fit in. It’s so easy for us to sacrifice the things we love and enjoy in order to seem cool and popular. Sarah Anne’s journey is one that is so important for younger readers. Secrets of a Fangirl helps show that you can be yourself and still have cool friends in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy.
As a parent, this is the kind of story I’m going to want to make available to my son when he’s older. It’s a book I would love to see in school libraries and accessible. Erin Dionne really created something special within these pages. Secrets of a Fangirl is full of personality and really makes you think about whether or not you’re being the best person you can be.
TL;DR: Full of personality and an important message, Secrets of a Fangirl is one you’ll want to read and pass on to the middle grader in your life.
A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bgid's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful story about fandom, fitting in and having the guts to be who you really are no matter the consequences.
hannahsophialin's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, Secrets of a Fangirl is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
I opened Secrets of a Fangirl and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
Secrets of a Fangirl is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Hello, my name is Sophia, and I am a fangirl of many forms. A book with the word "fangirl" on it? YES PLEASE. You know you have my attention.
Secrets of a Fangirl is a book about a fangirl.
AKA ME! And you, because you've got to be obsessed with something here. Maybe it's over a book or a show or even a movie.
(Are there secrets? Yes, but not deep, dark secrets.)
But namely, Secrets of a Fangirl is about Sarah Anne and her obsession with the MK Nightshade fandom, something she's been a fan of since she first discovered it. While her best friend Roxy has grown out of the series, Sarah Anne remains a fan secretly. She keeps her identity under wraps with a set of rules and continues to do so as she wins a place on a panel for a contest. But during the panel, she finds out her competition disregards her completely, and she wants to prove them wrong by winning the next part of the contest.
Sarah Anne's parents are with her and I am all for it.
I love how Sarah Anne's parents are with her the entire time. They show their support and they help her navigate the digital world as she makes her way through the contest. It's something that's important in a world of media, and I'm happy Dionne includes this in the novel.
Dionne's latest novel is full of moods.
I opened Secrets of a Fangirl and got swallowed up by the book (maybe it's the other way around). Dionne creates a protagonist all of us can relate to in some way. Throughout the book, Sarah Anne struggles with who she is and who she wants to be: does she embrace her inner nerd or continue stifling it? How can she continue to be who she is while not hiding a vital part of herself?
Secrets of a Fangirl is a fun and quick read from Erin Dionne, with a protagonist that I cheered from the beginning of the novel to the end.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
jilljemmett's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!
I could really relate to Sarah Anne, the main character. She was a huge fan of a series called Nightshade, but she had to hide it from her friends. Her friends no longer thought it was “cool” to belong to a fandom, so Sarah Anne had to pretend that she didn’t like it anymore either. When she enters a contest online and wins, entering her into a fandom challenge, her secret “geeky” identity is put on display. I could relate to this because I remember in middle school and high school when liking geeky things, like fantasy book series or video games, was uncool. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I chose to ignore the fandoms that I loved, so that I could fit in with the rest of my classmates and friends. Now that I’m older, I wear tons of fandom gear, and I’m not afraid for anyone to know what geeky things I love.
I kept cringing at Sarah Anne’s popular friends. They were mean to so many kids, just because they liked certain movies and fandoms. One boy even expected Sarah Anne to keep up her position on the lacrosse team, because he couldn’t be seen with her if she wasn’t the best. This was so sad to read about, but it is definitely a real part of school. There are always the mean kids who think they can control what everyone else does in the school. The important thing is to continue to stand up for what you believe in.
This was a great book!
Thank you to Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I could really relate to Sarah Anne, the main character. She was a huge fan of a series called Nightshade, but she had to hide it from her friends. Her friends no longer thought it was “cool” to belong to a fandom, so Sarah Anne had to pretend that she didn’t like it anymore either. When she enters a contest online and wins, entering her into a fandom challenge, her secret “geeky” identity is put on display. I could relate to this because I remember in middle school and high school when liking geeky things, like fantasy book series or video games, was uncool. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I chose to ignore the fandoms that I loved, so that I could fit in with the rest of my classmates and friends. Now that I’m older, I wear tons of fandom gear, and I’m not afraid for anyone to know what geeky things I love.
I kept cringing at Sarah Anne’s popular friends. They were mean to so many kids, just because they liked certain movies and fandoms. One boy even expected Sarah Anne to keep up her position on the lacrosse team, because he couldn’t be seen with her if she wasn’t the best. This was so sad to read about, but it is definitely a real part of school. There are always the mean kids who think they can control what everyone else does in the school. The important thing is to continue to stand up for what you believe in.
This was a great book!
Thank you to Scholastic for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
kateteaching7and8's review against another edition
4.0
@KidLitExchange #partner
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this middle grades novel. It focuses on topics and themes that many middle schoolers have to deal with: peer pressure, fitting in, and being true to yourself. Sarah Anne likes lacrosse, hanging out with her best friend Roxy, and the MK Nightshade series and realm. Roxy also used to enjoy the MK Nightshade fandom but has since deemed it childish and uncool. Sarah Anne enters and wins an MK Nightshade fan contest launching her into an even bigger competition. Now, she struggles with keeping her geeky identity a secret from her friends. Along the way, she begins to question why she's hiding her fandom and if she really wants to fit in with her "friends" or not.
This story and Sarah Anne's struggles are so easy to relate to. Often times enjoying and being a part of a fandom is viewed as dorky. I love that this book focuses on embracing your identity and passions. I also like that it touches on the world of social media and dealing with negative comments and trolls (both on and offline). This was a fun novel and a quick read. I hope to add it to my classroom library once it's released.
Thank you to the @KidLitExchange network and the publisher for the advance copy of Secrets of a Fangirl by Erin Dionne. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this middle grades novel. It focuses on topics and themes that many middle schoolers have to deal with: peer pressure, fitting in, and being true to yourself. Sarah Anne likes lacrosse, hanging out with her best friend Roxy, and the MK Nightshade series and realm. Roxy also used to enjoy the MK Nightshade fandom but has since deemed it childish and uncool. Sarah Anne enters and wins an MK Nightshade fan contest launching her into an even bigger competition. Now, she struggles with keeping her geeky identity a secret from her friends. Along the way, she begins to question why she's hiding her fandom and if she really wants to fit in with her "friends" or not.
This story and Sarah Anne's struggles are so easy to relate to. Often times enjoying and being a part of a fandom is viewed as dorky. I love that this book focuses on embracing your identity and passions. I also like that it touches on the world of social media and dealing with negative comments and trolls (both on and offline). This was a fun novel and a quick read. I hope to add it to my classroom library once it's released.
nicolemhewitt's review
4.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book puts a spotlight on the struggle between fitting in and holding onto the things that make you unique. Sarah Anne' best friends all think that MK Nightshade is for babies, but she's still the ultimate (secret) fan. When she gets the chance to compete for a huge fan prize, she decides to go for it---as long as she can do it without anyone knowing. Of course, that proves easier said than done, and Sarah Anne spends a lot of the book trying desperately to hold onto friendships that are more controlling than they are healthy. I think a lot of kids will relate to Sarah Anne's struggles to live up to her friends' expectations for how she's supposed to act and dress. Keeping her fandom a secret from them is tough. She also struggles with the question of whether or not to go to the dance with a popular boy who isn't so nice. Add in boys who seem to think that a girl couldn't be a "real fan" of Nightshade (or be good at science) and you have a recipe for MG disaster!
Overall, a fun read that many MG readers will relate to.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book puts a spotlight on the struggle between fitting in and holding onto the things that make you unique. Sarah Anne' best friends all think that MK Nightshade is for babies, but she's still the ultimate (secret) fan. When she gets the chance to compete for a huge fan prize, she decides to go for it---as long as she can do it without anyone knowing. Of course, that proves easier said than done, and Sarah Anne spends a lot of the book trying desperately to hold onto friendships that are more controlling than they are healthy. I think a lot of kids will relate to Sarah Anne's struggles to live up to her friends' expectations for how she's supposed to act and dress. Keeping her fandom a secret from them is tough. She also struggles with the question of whether or not to go to the dance with a popular boy who isn't so nice. Add in boys who seem to think that a girl couldn't be a "real fan" of Nightshade (or be good at science) and you have a recipe for MG disaster!
Overall, a fun read that many MG readers will relate to.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
aundie27's review
3.0
Plot
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC
Sarah Anne is popular, plays lacrosse, and has a secret life of loving a book series that she and her friends all loved in elementary school. When she wins a contest, she starts pulling away from her two best friends in order to keep her fangirl life secret. Jess D., a new mean girl, joins their group, and Sarah Anne's popularity and status is questioned by her. It doesn't help that a boy has a crush on Sarah Anne, and the group leader, Roxy, really wants her to go so Roxy can go with the guy's bestie. But, as Sarah Anne gets further into the contest competitions, her friendships are further tested because she's started talking to the "losers" in her science class. Sarah Anne isn't really sure who she is between her fan love, sports, and friends, but she needs to make some decisions before something breaks.
Review
So, this series that Sarah Anne likes seems to be like Percy Jackson. Elementary and middle school kids love it, but it's not really read past that age. SA hides her love of the series, despite other kids in her grade thinking it was dumb to still like it. Okay... then she wins a contest where right away the guy greeting them thinks SA's dad is the contestant... when she gets up near the winner panel table, there are two high school boys who mock and belittle her because they don't think a middle school female could have won the contest... wtf... Then she's told by the guy running the contest that her dad can't help her during the second part of the contest. This makes no sense, because if this series is aimed toward younger kids, why is she being questioned for loving this series??? Shouldn't the boys be getting judged for loving a middle grade series? [not that it's a bad thing, but they're like, way harsh]
Okay, and as for the contest, it seems to be only in their local area, because one of the other winners is a brother to a boy in her class. During the second competition round, there's a game the winners have to play where they use their phones in real time and walk around trying to find stuff. Which is super stupid and dangerous, and seems to be like Pokemon Go.
The one big topic this book touches on several times is misogyny, but not much is done other than some revenge/sabotage. Which, in the end worked. I had some other issues, but in the end I think it's a book about a middle school girl trying to figure things out, and she plays lacrosse so hopefully that will appeal to students.
Appropriate for 4th-8th
WASHyarg May 2019, ARC
kaylareadsbooks's review
5.0
*Before I jump into my review, I want thank the publisher and The FFBC for providing me with a spot on this blog tour and an ARC in exchange for this honest review.*
Sarah Anne wants to be cool, I mean she is cool! But she wants to stay cool, she doesn’t want anything jeopardizing that and her best friend can’t know about her passion. But when she enters a contest which needs her to do more things that put her “geek” on full display.
I really enjoyed this book. The author captured the feelings of being in middle-school so well, making me remember my time in middle school. I could feel the angst and the pressure jumping off the page.
Sarah Anne is cool. She is cooler than I could have EVER been when I was her age. She is devoted and she is her own person.
Sarah Anne doesn’t let anything or anyone stop her, she knows that there are people who want to see her fail but that doesnt matter. And sometimes we think that people will be weirded out by the things we find to be our favorites, but thats not usually the case. I know I still feel weird about people finding out about my blog sometimes, but at the end of the day we ALL have something we think is embarrassing when we know it’s really not.
The story touches upon SO many important things that happen as a middle-schooler and I enjoyed it so much. It is well-written, fun and a great read! I really recommend it!
Sarah Anne wants to be cool, I mean she is cool! But she wants to stay cool, she doesn’t want anything jeopardizing that and her best friend can’t know about her passion. But when she enters a contest which needs her to do more things that put her “geek” on full display.
I really enjoyed this book. The author captured the feelings of being in middle-school so well, making me remember my time in middle school. I could feel the angst and the pressure jumping off the page.
Sarah Anne is cool. She is cooler than I could have EVER been when I was her age. She is devoted and she is her own person.
Sarah Anne doesn’t let anything or anyone stop her, she knows that there are people who want to see her fail but that doesnt matter. And sometimes we think that people will be weirded out by the things we find to be our favorites, but thats not usually the case. I know I still feel weird about people finding out about my blog sometimes, but at the end of the day we ALL have something we think is embarrassing when we know it’s really not.
The story touches upon SO many important things that happen as a middle-schooler and I enjoyed it so much. It is well-written, fun and a great read! I really recommend it!
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