A review by howifeelaboutbooks
Operation Pucker Up by Rachele Alpine

5.0

Seventh-grader Grace Shaw is ecstatic when she beats out the eighth grade theater girls for lead in the school’s production of Snow White. Things don’t seem so great, however, when she can’t even tell her mom and sister the good news because her dad showed up for dinner after living on his own for months. It only gets worse when Grace realizes she’ll have to kiss one of the most popular boys in school in the final scene of the play - and she’s never been kissed before! Her two best friends get to work developing “Operation Pucker Up” - a detailed plan to get Grace kissed that fills a notebook. But no plan can go off without a hitch, and that includes Grace’s life onstage as well as at home. Alpine’s first middle grade book is very well-written and strong. Her first novel was for young adults and I really enjoyed that one as well, but I think she’s found her niche with tween writing! She makes the characters come alive as relatable people, and good role models for tween girls.