A review by emandm2222
Let's Pretend We Never Met by Melissa C. Walker
4.0
*actual rating is 3.5 stars*
Sometimes moving is hard...
Mattie's family decides to move from North Carolina to Philadelphia to be closer to her paternal grandmother, for reasons unknown to Mattie. Not only does she have to leave her old school and friends behind, she also has to do it in the middle of the school year.
Sometimes friendship is difficult...
Mattie's two friends from North Carolina slowly become closer to each other and do not find the need to contact Mattie as often and Mattie would like them to. Luckily, Mattie has a neighbor her age in her new apartment building. However, her new neighbor, Agnes, is a little less than normal. Despite this, Agnes and Mattie quickly become friends over the course of winter break.
Sometimes you are in the wrong...
When it comes time to go back to school, Agnes says home, so Mattie has a chance to start making new friends at school without the influence of Agnes. But, Mattie learns that Agnes quirkiness is seen as weird at school. Upon Agnes's return to school Mattie ignores her on campus, but hangs out with her after school in their apartment building. This split between home and school creates difficulties in Mattie's view of Agnes and she starts to resent her friendship with someone who is not see as "normal."
Sometimes letting go is not easy...
At the same time, Mattie's grandmother is packing up the valuables at her home. Mattie's dad spends an ample amount of time helping his mother with the packing and helping her to not confuse Mattie with her cousin, Elodie.
Sometimes change is good...
In the end, Mattie learns several great lessons. She discovers what true friendship is and what it takes to be a good friend. She accepts her grandmother's condition and choices for how to live out her life. She observes what an equal partnership marriage looks like in her parents, and the give and take that comes with it. She learns that people grow up at their own paces and need room to grow by themselves. And, most importantly, Mattie learns to respect the personalities of others and how to best support those she loves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and appreciated all of the adorable moments in it. Mattie is in sixth grade, which is a difficult year in school even if you were not pulled out of school in the middle of the year. But, she takes it in stride and lives a wonderful rest of the year with her parents, new friends, and a budding puppy love. This book is relevant in context with the openness of mental disabilities and with popular culture with YouTube, cell phones, books, and movies (I especially loved the mention of the How to Train Your Dragon movies, which are some of my favorite films). It is a good opportunity to have children experience several difficult topics in a light, but still serious, way.
Let's Pretend We Never Met will definitely be in my wheelhouse of go-to books to recommend for upper elementary and middle school children in the future.
I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Sometimes moving is hard...
Mattie's family decides to move from North Carolina to Philadelphia to be closer to her paternal grandmother, for reasons unknown to Mattie. Not only does she have to leave her old school and friends behind, she also has to do it in the middle of the school year.
Sometimes friendship is difficult...
Mattie's two friends from North Carolina slowly become closer to each other and do not find the need to contact Mattie as often and Mattie would like them to. Luckily, Mattie has a neighbor her age in her new apartment building. However, her new neighbor, Agnes, is a little less than normal. Despite this, Agnes and Mattie quickly become friends over the course of winter break.
Sometimes you are in the wrong...
When it comes time to go back to school, Agnes says home, so Mattie has a chance to start making new friends at school without the influence of Agnes. But, Mattie learns that Agnes quirkiness is seen as weird at school. Upon Agnes's return to school Mattie ignores her on campus, but hangs out with her after school in their apartment building. This split between home and school creates difficulties in Mattie's view of Agnes and she starts to resent her friendship with someone who is not see as "normal."
Sometimes letting go is not easy...
At the same time, Mattie's grandmother is packing up the valuables at her home. Mattie's dad spends an ample amount of time helping his mother with the packing and helping her to not confuse Mattie with her cousin, Elodie.
Sometimes change is good...
In the end, Mattie learns several great lessons. She discovers what true friendship is and what it takes to be a good friend. She accepts her grandmother's condition and choices for how to live out her life. She observes what an equal partnership marriage looks like in her parents, and the give and take that comes with it. She learns that people grow up at their own paces and need room to grow by themselves. And, most importantly, Mattie learns to respect the personalities of others and how to best support those she loves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and appreciated all of the adorable moments in it. Mattie is in sixth grade, which is a difficult year in school even if you were not pulled out of school in the middle of the year. But, she takes it in stride and lives a wonderful rest of the year with her parents, new friends, and a budding puppy love. This book is relevant in context with the openness of mental disabilities and with popular culture with YouTube, cell phones, books, and movies (I especially loved the mention of the How to Train Your Dragon movies, which are some of my favorite films). It is a good opportunity to have children experience several difficult topics in a light, but still serious, way.
Let's Pretend We Never Met will definitely be in my wheelhouse of go-to books to recommend for upper elementary and middle school children in the future.
I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.