It's hard to pinpoint what this book is actually about, apart from what it means to be a girl. There's no real central conflict, no clear goal that the characters are working toward. It's more a picture of this girl's life at puberty.

Beatrice, who lives with her grandmother and mother, is dealing with emotions surrounding the beginning of middle school and other changes such as her mother dating, her attraction to Rodney, and choosing good, true friends.

Marketed as a novel-in-verse, this book seemed more a hybrid between verse and prose. Not only in format (which could have been affected by it being read as a digital galley), but in the language used. Chapters would read like prose, but then switch midstream to verse and then jump back to prose. Some of the chapter headings continued into a full sentence and some were mere headings which was occasionally confusing. I'm also not quite clear what the conflict in the book actually was; was it friendship - choosing between her true friends and the cool kids? Her mother dating? Her feelings for a boy? The teacher that was inadvertently favoring the boys in his class over the girls? Her father's death when she was an infant? There was a little of everything in this book but nothing really went past being introduced, and more like details that were introduced to support the main idea that Beatrice was sad, overwhelmed, and angsty teen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I love verse novels, and I especially love verse novels where the protagonist is a bad-a girl who finds herself. I love the theme running through this book of loving who you are but being ashamed of it, and I think it will resonate with a lot of young readers.

I enjoyed this book about fitting in and deciding what is right to do. Beatrice is a great character and I loved reading about her internal struggles and how she changes throughout the book. It's a great read for people ages 10-13.

Bea Miller is in that difficult middle school place. Not quite young adult, but no longer a child. She lives with her eccentric Mamaw, and hardworking mother. She has two of the very best of friends who support, love and encourage her in her desire to fit in, in school. Bea's biggest problem is that she doesn't want to stand out. She doesn't want to appear to be too hillbillyish, too babyish, too weird, too uncool. She worries a lot about what other people think, and doesn't worry enough about what those that love her do

I love books in verse and how my students find them more accessible. Hagan's words are quite effective in showing how Bea grows and matures. Life lessons about true friendship, true family and authentic self make this a great addition to my classroom.

Wonderful middle grade novel in verse! Beatrice is navigating wanting to grow up quickly, while wanting to savor childhood, and finding balance. 7th grade is going to be different and she feels she should look more grown up, act more grown up, but does she really want to be more grown up? I love the unity and family support of her mom and Mamaw.

This is a coming of age novel written in verse in which Bea wrestles with being "not a girl, and not yet a woman" (name that tune!). This book touches on crushes, family relationships, mean girls, puberty, dealing with embarrassment, and all the other things girls experience as they come into who they are. I think the novel in verse form worked well for this one because you got to explore Bea's inner thoughts.

Bea reminds me of one of my daughters -- struggling with wanting to be more grown up, but also looking back at her childhood with a little bit of longing. The transition from girl to young woman is difficult and confusing, and I appreciate that this book didn't shy away from things we went through: crushes, bullying/mean girl interactions, being embarrassed of our families, wishing we had more. I thought this one worked well in verse, as Bea makes her way through a tumultuous season in life.

What a wonderful story about girl power! I loved how the book touches on issues that the girls of this generation deal with while coming of age. The emphasis of family and surrounding themselves with loved ones gives children a strong lesson about love and caring. Definitely an intriguing read for the middle grade.

In this novel in verse, Bea lives in Bardstown, Kentucky with her mother and Mamaw. Her father passed away before she was born, but she has plenty of support. She is going into seventh grade soon, and navigating this change in her life with her friends Mariella (who is Latinx) and StaceyAnn (whose father is black and whose mother is white). She participates on the swim team, but spends most of her time pondering important adolescent questions like whether she should shave her legs and wear a bra, and when she might get her period. Even though Mamaw is described as wild and somewhat wacky, increasingly so as she gets older (a mere 63), Bea is not allowed to have a cell phone or shave her legs. When she starts middle school, some things are tough, and her goal to become the best at everything is difficult. Gym class is horrible, and it's hard to know how to approach her friendship with Rodney, since she starts to "like like" him. Her mother starts to date a man she dislikes, and Bea starts to worry that she will have to move to Cincinnati. Through all of her problems, she has the steadfast love of her mother and grandmother to help her through difficult times.
Strengths: While Blume's Are You There God, It's Me Margaret is a favorite of many teachers and librarians, it's very dated. This is a good replacement that touches on issues that seem so important when one is twelve and so completely inconsequential when one is old. Periods, body image, worries about middle school and boys, difficulties with parents; these are all stressful to tween and teen readers.
Weaknesses: Despite the influence of her grandmother, who seemed fairly reckless and glorious, Bea struck me as having very dated attitudes about many things. I wished she had been involved in more activities.
What I really think: A good choice for readers who like novels in verse and want books similar to Yeh's The Truth About Twinkie Pie, Salazar's The Moon Within, Weston's Speed of Life. or Dahl's Genie Wishes. I may stick with Harrington's Revenge of the Red Club, which seems to embrace a much more modern approach to middle school issues.

Hagan delivers a well-rounded, delicate, and important story without sacrificing any heart. Set in the American South, Beatrice Miller navigates the uncertain world of middle grade friendships, puberty, and those all encompassing questions: Who am I? Who will I become? Written in verse with rich and vivid descriptions, "Reckless, Glorious, Girl", is an engrossing and timely coming-of-age story.

The format of the book is great for all readers, even reluctant readers, and offers middle graders the opportunity to see someone who may be asking some of the same questions they are grappling with at this time.

While there are moments of beauty in this verse-based book, the brighter moments tend to get lost in the long and wandering non-plot. Very little happens and what does isn't investigated deeply. There's potential here, but not much else in my opinion.

When I downloaded this book, the formatting got all weird. I requested to read a physical copy of the ARC from a reading group I am a part of called, Book Posse. Knowing that this novel is written in verse, I think the final design of the story is imperative to get to the overall feel. I am looking forward to reading the physical ARC. I have heard awesome things from my fellow book club readers.

What an incredibly beautiful, gentle and pure book about growing up in lower/middle class, southern America. Beatrice is a 12 year old "everygirl", with all the hormones, emotions and insecurities that come at that age. As luck would have it for this precious girl, family, friends, community and love allow her to overcome her doubts, securing her place in the world. Beatrice teaches us all, young as well as young-at-heart, that surrounding oneself with love, family and true friendship is the greatest path to happiness.

Told in free verse, Reckless, Glorious, Girl follows Beatrice during the summer before seventh grade right up until New Year's. Will she fit in? Why is her face full of pimples? Why isn't cool to like toys any more? The reader really gets an insight into the mind of a 12-13 year old girl. Covers all the questions, concerns and issues of the age group.

Beautifully written in verse & a very easy read. It would make a great gift for all young ladies! The cover art is also stunning & what drew me to the book.

Reckless, Glorious, Girl is written in verse and follows Beatrice from her summer before 7th grade through New Years as she navigates the anxiety of middle school, turning 13, and who she is. The characters are richly drawn and the vivid descriptions transported me back to middle school. I can't say I loved each chapter, as soon seemed unnecessary filler, but the overall approach was interesting and I enjoyed the read overall. My favorite sentences, which seemed to encapsulate the entire book, were "We all want something we don't have. That's comforting to me."

I received an advance copy of, Reckless, Glorious, Girl, by Ellen Hagan. This novel in verse is cool. Beatrice is growing up, and all that entails. I would not want to go through adolescence again. I liked the characters and how the book, was like reading a poem.