I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Honestly, I love all things by Chris Grabenstein. To hear he put out a book with his wife JJ? I was down with it.

I enjoyed this sweet book. It's all about learning where you fit in at a new school while learning to be true to yourself!

Great story about what it means to be a good student. Each character has Talents and gifts that are unique to each person, teacher will enjoy using this as a read aloud and will be able to challenge their own kids to think about they want to be when they grow up. Great read aloud for elementary students.

This book should be required reading for ALL middle school students. I cried at the end. I had a feeling that it was going to play out a certain way, and I’m SO glad I was right. This book is brilliant in every way. Not only does it showcase the power that one child has to make a difference, our MC, Piper, was into science and astronomy. I LOVE middle grades books with female characters that like science. We need more books like this. I found myself highlighting so many quotes that I can’t wait to add to my Reading Graffiti bulletin board when the book is released. I also plan to use this book on my Mock Newbery club, as I truly believe it should be in contention for the award in January.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book SO MUCH! It was a light, quick read - so many grade school kiddos could be encouraged to read it. I love how it placed an emphasis on kindness over performance. I can’t wait to read it to my kids!

E ARC provided by Netgalley



Piper Milly and her father live on the east coast, where her father teaches music at a local middle school in order to give her more stability than his dream job of writing Broadway musicals, since her mother died when she was three. Piper is interested in space and is a big fan of the scientist and personality Nellie Dumont Frisse, and she's trying to decide who she wants to be as a person. When her father takes a better paying job at Chumley Prep, where her cello prodigy mother excelled back in the day, Piper feels even more pressure to make something of herself. She is glad to walk a dog for a neighbor, but when the school announces the Excelsior competition, her new friends Tim, Siraj, Emily and Kwame (who dub themselves the Hibbleflitts) help her try to ace the science fair, talent show, and other showcases of awesomeness so that she can live up to her mother's legacy. Her nemesis is Ainsley, who is bound and determined to win the award, even if it means disqualifying Piper's entries on technicalities. When the award is announced, Piper finds that the criteria depended more on being kind than on any academic or extracurricular activity.

Strengths: This has engaging characters, a simple plot, and a nice message. I can see this being used in a classroom, as a follow up to Palacio's Wonder. I especially appreciated that while Piper wasn't thrilled about starting a new school in the middle of the year, she realized it was a good opportunity that would make her father happy, and she didn't complain.
Weaknesses: It seems unlikely that a private school would offer a better salary than a public one, but East Coast private schools are something I just don't understand.
What I really think: This would be a fantastic choice for elementary students who want to read about middle school and is a great treatise on kindness. I'm just not sure how well it would go over with my middle school students.

Everybody can find their own way to Shine, this is the message of this encouraging and empowering new book by the Chris and J.J. Grabenstein. Piper feels that this does not apply to her, especially when her dad gets a job at a prestigious prep school and brings her along. Despite her insecurity she makes some wonderful friends and with their help finds her own way to discovering who she wants to be, how special she really is. This is an empowering story for anyone who is having trouble discovering where they fit and how they can shine.

Piper's dad accepts a job at a private school filled with children of the wealthy, and although not wanting to move schools mid-year, Piper supports her dad and arrives at her new school armed with a good attitude and positive outlook. She quickly finds friends with other students, but also lands in the cross hairs of the popular and talented Ainsely who sees Piper as competition and a stumbling block on her path to winning everything. When the school's founders offer an opportunity to win the mysterious and new Excelsior Award, Piper feels she has no chance to win while Ainsley figures she has already capture the prize.

Piper's character is one of a very good girl; the one who helps others without being asked, always assumes the best in people, and able to keep her positive attitude when treated unfairly, yet not overly "good" so as to be annoying. This character the Grabensteins have created is one who you would want to be friends with and want to be like. A wonderful story that promotes kindness toward others, a helpful attitude, and being the best "you" possible. I hope to see this book on my state reading award lists, along with future collaborative efforts from the Grabensteins!

This is a great story about having faith in yourself even when you don't think you fit in. It's also a great story about making the best out of a less than ideal situation. It was a quick and easy read that will appeal to many readers.

Great story with a great message. Quick read. Predictable, at least for an adult. I really enjoyed the characters. Would have liked to know what happened to her mother other than she died (me being nosey). I would have also liked to see that Piper's friendship from her previous school continued. We don't really know that. Otherwise, its a good story which has a good lesson. One we all need to be reminded of now and then.

This book is plucky and uplifting and a bunch of fun. Nice pacing for young readers. Humor and fun don't overwhelm the serious stuff, but add to the depth of the story. I really loved it!

Piper is in for a big change. Some middle schoolers would jump at the chance to attend prestigious Chumley Prep. For Piper, it is another opportunity to remind her of what she doesn't do well. She isn't competitive, she isn't musical, and she keeps getting distracted by others' problems. Will she be able to find her own talents and start to shine?

Shine! is an excellent book for students to read. This is a wonderful story highlighting the importance of being kind. With a wonderful moral and delightful vignettes, this is a perfect book for all students, classes, and book groups to use as starting point for a discussion on kindness.

In our house, we fight over Chris Grabenstein books. From The Island of Dr. Libris to the Mr. Lemoncello series, we rotate the books between my 7 year old and 11 year olds... and Mom makes sure she gets her turn as well.

His latest book, Shine!, written with wife J.J. Grabenstein, tells the story of twelve year old Piper who is more than happy to blend in. When it comes to shining, Piper is often in the background, supporting her father and friends. But when his new job lands them both in Chummy Prep, and a unique honor is being offered, Piper finds that she is more anxious to stand out. Shine! is a book about being, becoming, and the trials and triumphs of middle school.

Like I said, we love Chris Grabenstein books. So when he wrote this book with wife, J.J. Grabenstein, we were more than anxious to read it. Shine! felt different than some of Grabenstein's books that we've read previously. But different isn't always bad. While I didn't feel that Shine! was as in-depth as the Mr. Lemoncello series, it does address the awkward middle school stage with a lot of grace and humor. The authors write a young Piper that struggles with identity, but always remains true to her friends, even showing sympathy for the classic mean girl. For reading level, this book is fit for 3-4th graders, but as far as the middle school struggles, I would recommend this book for 5-6th graders, walking through the transition themselves. Quick, sweet, and inspiration, I am happy to have my own daughter reading this one.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from he publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book was so sweet and kind. The main character Piper moves to a new private school where she has to learn to fit in. Through interesting characters, the main themes of friendship and being true to oneself shine through. This is a great read for upper elementary or even a quick read for middle school. Themes can be discussed in literature circles or around the dinner table.

This book would be great for young middle grade readers, I would say 3rd-4th grade. While a lot of the book was predictable to me as an adult, I think younger kiddos would quickly fall in love with this story and would see themselves within the pages of the book. It will definitely be a hit in my future classroom!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Shine!, a quick read, stand-alone novel is co-authored by Chris Grabenstein with his wife, J.J. Grabenstein. It is about twelve-year-old Piper who moves to a new school in the middle of the school year. She encounters bullys and befriends other misfits. The story is meant to be inspirational and encouraging. It is a mostly believable and entertaining story except Piper is able to make friends rather quickly. I used to work with children in girl scouts and in schools. I have found the "new kid" is rarely able to find their group right away.

Chris Grabenstein has written numerous novels and is well known for his children/Young Adult adventure series, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, and for his adult mystery series, John Ceepak, and for collaborating on the I Funny children series with James Patterson. I have not read the I Funny series but I highly recommend his Mr. Lemoncello's Library and his John Ceepak series! J.J. Grabenstein does not have any additional works credited to her on Goodreads but the idea of Shine! is credited to her.

Chris Grabenstein, which according to his website, sounds an awful lot like Frankenstein, has been on my "authors to read" list for years.

This review was published on Goodreads on 5/13/19. This review will be published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on its release date, 11/5/19. When available, the review will be published on Scribd.com and, using Overdrive, will be rated in 9 libraries.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

This was a very sweet book with a lovely, important message: we should focus not just on academic excellence, but also, and more importantly, on being kind, compassionate and helpful. I liked the main character, Piper, and her new group of misfit friends. They felt mostly like real kids. But I was disappointed by the rest of the characters. The villains fell flat for me, and Piper made friends at her new school WAY too easily. I would have liked to see her realistically struggle to find her footing in this new environment, and to delve deeper into her conflicts with her old vs. new friends. I also would have liked a final chapter. Not necessarily an epilogue; I just felt it ended very abruptly and “neatly.”

One other thing that really perturbed me: Piper’s dad is a gifted and enthusiastic teacher. Why would he leave, especially mid-year, the group of kids he has been working with so closely? Kids who worked so hard for him?? He expressed no regret, tossing them easily aside. I know it’s a small detail, but I found it very disappointing and a terrible lesson about adults/teachers and their loyalty to the kids who are inspired by them.

I am a huge Chris Grabenstein fan and I constantly (and successfully) recommend the Lemoncello series to nearly every 3rd-6th grader at my library. (Island of Dr. Libris is also a hit with certain kids.) Shine just didn’t have the same wit, spark and interesting characters of his solo books. That being said, I will recommend to a younger audience of strong 2nd graders through 4th, maybe 5th graders. They will enjoy this easy-to-read-and-absorb story. That brings my rating up to 3.5 stars.

Piper is transferred into a new private school where she definitely doesn't fit in, but to appease her dad she's going to give it her best shot. When the school announces a new contest, Piper knows she'll never be a star and goes about her days just trying to make it through. Little does she know that this contest is testing something the kids never even thought about...

I liked this quick story and felt it was perfect for younger middle grade readers. I guessed pretty quickly as to what the premise of the new contest was going to be all about, but I wonder if kids would get it as fast as I did. Even knowing the idea, I still enjoyed this story about making the right decision even when you think no one is watching.

Shine! was a delightful book with a fast paced story that will be perfect for 10-12 year olds. Piper Milly is a middle schooler that is placed in a new situation and must learn to find her inner star while navigating the twists and turns of early adolescence. She has a wonderful and supportive father and the memory of her mother remains strong in their family. Piper learns many lessons along the way and emerges as a confident and kind young lady.

The authors painted a realistic, albeit somewhat cheesy, picture of a single father trying to do his best for his daughter. There were a few over the top moments but kids won't see it that way. I love books that teach lessons and this one can help kids determine what being excellent really means. There are some parts that remind me of Wonder-in good ways. Kids can never hear enough about the importance of kindness and selflessness. I will recommend this to my almost 12 year old and I know she will love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House, Children's for the ARC.

Twelve-year-old Piper's hero is astronaut Nellie Dumont. The astronaut's mantra is "shine on," and Piper tries to follow it, but she thinks she's not special enough to shine like other kids. On top of everything, Piper has just been enrolled in her new school, Chumley Prep, where she can't seem to find her niche. This book is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Holm and Wendy Mass.