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lnocita's review against another edition
3.0
This is the modern day equivalent of The Parent Trap, as many other reviewers have duly noted. The twist is that, at least initially, it's the parents who want their daughters to unite. The girls discover their dads have met at a conference and have begun a long distance relationship that seems to be hurtling along at breakneck speed. Bett sends Avery an email about her discovery and thus begins the exchange of information over the span of two years. The dads plot to have their daughters meet at summer camp while they spend time adventuring together in China. The two girls discover fairly quickly that despite having little in common, they genuinely like each other. Maybe the idea of joining families is not so preposterous. But things fall apart as quickly as they came together, leaving Bett and Avery floundering, plotting, and scheming to find a way back to one another. It's a sweet story about friendship, family, unexpected opportunities, and calamities.
I felt like the characters were a bit indistinct, if I'm being honest. I had to resort to a sticky note with some pertinent details to keep them 100% fixed in my mind. Also, a silly criticism perhaps, I just don't think teens/tweens would really use email to communicate these days. The middle schoolers I know absolutely do not. It was, admittedly, a valid way for Bett to discover Avery, but then I think the medium for communicating would have shifted to text messages or some other social media app. The dialogue felt stilted or should I say felt spoken by adults presenting as tweens? It is a sweet story. It is. I just don't know if it managed to have an authentic voice. It will appeal to us middle-aged adult readers for sure, but middle schoolers? I'm eager to hear what my middle school readers think!
I felt like the characters were a bit indistinct, if I'm being honest. I had to resort to a sticky note with some pertinent details to keep them 100% fixed in my mind. Also, a silly criticism perhaps, I just don't think teens/tweens would really use email to communicate these days. The middle schoolers I know absolutely do not. It was, admittedly, a valid way for Bett to discover Avery, but then I think the medium for communicating would have shifted to text messages or some other social media app. The dialogue felt stilted or should I say felt spoken by adults presenting as tweens? It is a sweet story. It is. I just don't know if it managed to have an authentic voice. It will appeal to us middle-aged adult readers for sure, but middle schoolers? I'm eager to hear what my middle school readers think!
pancakes714's review against another edition
5.0
This is an awesome book!!!
I would highly recommend this book for any tween looking for a good LGBTQIA+ story
There is someone towards the end of the book who gets a concussion
I would highly recommend this book for any tween looking for a good LGBTQIA+ story
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
nermrlib's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a cute book! It caught my eye as I was reading Modern Mrs. Darcy's Summer Reading Guide. It's a middle grade novel that is a modern version of The Parent Trap. Check out the full guide here: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/2019-summer-reading-guide/
thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Avery Bloom and Bett Devlin’s fathers fall in love and send the girls away to sleep-away camp in order for them to bond. However, they can’t be more different: Avery is bookish and shy, and Bett is fearless and outgoing. Despite this, though, they start writing each other letters and refer to themselves as Night Owl and Dogfish. Can they get over their differences and become the family their dads always wanted?
lmusheno's review
funny
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? No
4.75
juller's review against another edition
3.0
The parent trap theme makes it a good summer read. You can't help but like Bett and Avery. It was a fairly predictable story line, but with a modern twist. I thought the "toast" at the end was a little overdone. The other thing is I felt like the character of Javier was a bit of a stereotype and then his character got dropped. All in all, a fun, humorous read for middle grades.
barium_squirrel's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
deschatjes's review against another edition
4.0
Nicely done perspective taking via a series of emails/ letters over a year in the lives of two extremely different teens.
Cleverly done - could be used as mentor text on character development
Cleverly done - could be used as mentor text on character development
ihateprozac's review against another edition
4.0
This is the sassy sweet queer Parent Trap story of my dreams!
I absolutely adored the characters here. There’s so much interpersonal drama: whether it’s the reluctant friendship between the two girls, a largely absent biological mother, the two dads dating, or the girls vs other campers. This book’s strength is really in its characterisation and relationships.
Both girls had such unique voices and vibrant personalities, which really shone through in the email/letter format. I loved how Avery taught Bett to be more sensitive, while Bett taught Avery to get out of her comfort zone.
This book also made me realise how much I love stories set at camp! Between this and Lisa Jenn Bigelow’s “Drum Roll Please”, I think I’ve discovered a new favourite plot device!
To Night Owl from Dogfish was so goddamn cute and laugh out loud funny from start to finish. I loved the rainbow families, the interpersonal relationships, and the writing so so so much. I hope this duo write more middle grade together, and in the meantime I’m off to inhale more summer camp stories ASAP.
I absolutely adored the characters here. There’s so much interpersonal drama: whether it’s the reluctant friendship between the two girls, a largely absent biological mother, the two dads dating, or the girls vs other campers. This book’s strength is really in its characterisation and relationships.
Both girls had such unique voices and vibrant personalities, which really shone through in the email/letter format. I loved how Avery taught Bett to be more sensitive, while Bett taught Avery to get out of her comfort zone.
This book also made me realise how much I love stories set at camp! Between this and Lisa Jenn Bigelow’s “Drum Roll Please”, I think I’ve discovered a new favourite plot device!
To Night Owl from Dogfish was so goddamn cute and laugh out loud funny from start to finish. I loved the rainbow families, the interpersonal relationships, and the writing so so so much. I hope this duo write more middle grade together, and in the meantime I’m off to inhale more summer camp stories ASAP.