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

Middle school is rough...but this is especially true for Elfie! Middle grade readers will relate to this story.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Elfie Unperfect. Elfie is such a wonderful narrator, earnest, funny, smart, and yes, unperfect. Kids will connect with her character and see themselves in her struggles and joys. She definitely reminded me of the amazing Elfie's in my own life, with her wit and charm and sincere effort to do the right thing. Her character and narration makes the book, which is indeed quite predictable and a little far-fetched, interesting and entertaining.

Elfie has never fit in her public school. She is good at school, follows the rules, and expects everyone else to do the same, and doesn't have any friends. So when she gets into a private school nearby she is ecstatic and ready to go to school with people she expects to be just like her. She will finally have friends. But when she is suspended on the first day of school. Elfie's perfect year isn't looking so perfect anymore. But as she navigates being thrown back into her old school, she starts to realize things aren't nearly as terrible there as she thought. And she might even be able to make some new friends.
Elfie is a delightful character that is navigating a world where she doesn't seem to fit. The reader will go on a journey along with Elfie as she realizes that not everything has to be perfect and that not everyone's life is as simple as it seems. Middle grade readers will see pieces of themselves in Elfie and other characters.

Rating: 4 stars - Great! Might re-read.

This is exactly the sort of middle grade story I enjoy. There are great characters and an engaging story. I loved that few of the threads were wrapped up at the end - Elfie is still on her journey. There are no tidy bows tying up the big, complicated issues covered in the story (cancer, divorce, difficulties making friends). And yet, the ending is completely satisfying. This is Elfie's story, her journey, even if the things she is dealing with continue beyond the bounds of the novel.

Don't miss Elfie's story!

This is a wonderful middle grade book. This book effortlessly tackles a multitude of topics and sprinkles in lots of fun tidbits of knowledge and wisdom along the way. I'll be nominating this Elfie Unperfect if it hasn't already been nominated in GoodReads year end awards. My heart is just swelling with love for this book.

Things I loved:
- the use of the word unperfect
- definition of irony
- love between a close friend challenged with cancer and chemotherapy
- information jar
- scientific names used for plants, insects, animals
- learning about pavement ants
- creating friendships; telling the truth and apologizing
- learning from mistakes
- details regarding the Philippines (stories from lola/grandmother, rambutan fruit)
- egg project

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Kristin Mahoney and the publisher for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of Elfie Unperfect in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 10 Aug 2021.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elfie is a perfectionist and can't wait to get out of her old boring school that she never fit in. Cottonwood Academy is her Perfect Place! Until she gets practically expelled on the first day, and sent back to her old boring school. How is Elfie going to deal with this Tremendously Big Problem?

A really entertaining and heartwarming story of dealing with big issues in life. Elfie's obliviousness is pretty hilarious but it's also endearing, she doesn't always get why people (adults and kids) act a certain way.

I especially like the messages here and it's not always clear-cut how to deal with things and the book is honest about it. I especially appreciate Elfie's relatable anxiety and social awkwardness, she reminds me of me when I was in school.

A great story that many kids (and adults) can relate to!

Delightful middle school story about, well middle school.

Elfie is finally going to leave Cottonwood public school and be in a private school, where people love science, and she can feel at home.

Unfortunately, she pisses off the one boy who can get her kicked out of school, which he does, and she is back at her old public school, with all the people she doesn't like.

And while her parents try to fight to get her back in the school, she has to muddled through Cottonwood.

Well written fish out of water story where you feel for the fish, no matter how annoying she is.a

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review</em>

The ultimate conclusion of this book is basically what you expect though there are some interesting turns along the way. The characters are largely cliches though they each have a little nuance.

Being a perfectionist isn’t always the best...especially when it lands you in trouble. Elfie Oster is getting a fresh start at the Hampshire Academy, a start to make new friends and to have the perfect school experience, but immediately on the first day she finds that she is getting expelled. Now Elfie has to go back to her old school where she doesn’t have friends and feels like no one likes her. This is the start of Elfie finding herself and understanding that imperfection is also an okay thing. It’s a cute story about understanding how things aren’t always as they seem and sometimes we just have to take a closer look and open ourselves up.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

When a misunderstanding leads to her suspension from her new private school, a fifth grade perfectionist finds herself back in her cousin's class at the public school where she's never been able to make friends.

A sweet middle grade coming-of-age story about seeing and accepting people for who they really are. While the drama of the Honor Council hearing draws a thread of suspense throughout the narrative, it quickly falls into the background while themes of empathy and forgiveness rise to the surface. The story has its funny moments and its touching moments and can definitely skew younger if you need a book for an elementary book club.

Elfie Unperfect is a realistic, poignant, and funny middle grade book about letting go of perfectionism and embracing the messiness of real life. With supportive family dynamics, musings on being an only child, and a flawed protagonist who sometimes takes herself too seriously, this book makes for an insightful and enjoyable read. This is one of those rare middle grade books that would work for both younger and somewhat older audiences.

Elfie is a girl who's a perfectionist and anxious, which often makes her misunderstood by others. She does have some people in her corner, but she has to deal with the illness of one closest to her. Upper elementary and early middle grade readers may be able to see themselves in her struggles.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Elfie is an interesting main character. She is completely focused on escaping from her elementary school to attend a private academy. She hopes she will find other students like her there. Disaster strikes on the first day and she ends up back at her former school. She learns some valuable lessons from her cousin, her teacher and her babysitter that other people face larger problems, and you don't know about them unless you focus on other people. Elfie is socially awkward and extremely fact focused. She doesn't pick up on social cues well and is self-focused. Readers see her change and learn to listen to others as well as relax and take risks to engage with others.
A swift read for middle graders. Some of whom will identify with her struggles.

Elfie is excited to start private school and leave behind the public school where she is an outsider. Eflie loves school, loves to study, and loves to learn and doesn't understand when other kids get irritated with her because they don't quite share her level of focus on schooling. Private school, while everything Eflie dreams of, takes a wrong turn when she is suspended in the first few hours of her first day due to another student's misguided accusation. Eflie is forced back to public school and has to face all the students she was so eager to leave behind. This is a turning point for Elfie, though, as she begins to understand others' feelings and gains understanding and empathy for trials they are facing in their lives.

I really loved this book. Elfie is such an unusual protagonist. She is mature for her age, and has parents who very much respect her intelligence and quirks. It is easy to see how the other kids find her irritating, but that doesn't make Elfie unlikeable. It is easy to champion her and hold out hope that someone will just give her a chance. Thankfully, her cousin (who is the same age and in the same class as she) confronts Elfie's behavior and becomes a supportive friend,

Good realistic fiction book that will appeal to fans of the late Andrew Clements. I would also recommend this book to readers who like Sara Pennypacker's "Clementine" series.

Elfie is excited to be starting fifth grade at her dream school where she is sure everything will be perfect. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned. On the first day of school she is expelled for an honor code violation and has to return to her old school. Welcome to Elfie's unperfect life. She's back to going to school with her annoying cousin, doing hated group projects, and eating her lunch alone in the cafeteria. But Elfie soon learns that her unperfect life is actually perfect for her after all. Loved, loved, loved this book! The characters were so perfectly realistic with all their imperfections. I think kids will really relate to this story and the lesson it has for everyone.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Elfie is a very particular child who has struggled through Cottonwood Elementary School, finding it hard to make friends, even with her cousin, Jenna. She's thrilled that she's gotten into Hampshire Academy, where she has to wear a uniform, and where she hopes the students are as interested in academic matters as she is. Other things are changing as well; her long time babysitter, Rhoda, is now in nursing school, so doesn't have as much time to spend with Elfie. Things are rocky on her first day of school, although she does connect with another girl, Sierra, with whom she is working on a project. The third member of the group, Cole, brings out his phone to look up something, even though the students have been told they are not allowed to use tools to help them. Worried about breaking the rules, Elfie takes Cole's phone and puts it in her back pack. When an all school assembly is called, she tries to get the phone back to him, but can't locate him. After the headmaster makes an announcement that the phone is missing and it is tracked down to her back pack, Elfie is suspended, with her case going before a review board. Since that may take months, she enrolls back in Cottonwood, where Jenna is in her class with Ms. Rambutan. Elfie has a rocky day here, too, since she shows off her information about the rambutan fruit that the teacher brings in, and she feels that other students are irritated with her. She asks to go to the restroom, and when Jenna follows her to help, the two argue. Ms. Rambutan is concerned about Elfie and works with her in constructive ways, pairing her with Will and Jenna for an Egg Baby project, thinking that they will be easier to work with. Jenna is having some problems with her parents' relationship of which Elfie is unaware, and Rhoda is diagnosed with cancer, which worries Elfie quite a bit. Elfie's parents reach out to Sierra's to see if their daughter has any information that might help Elfie get back into Hampshire Academy, and the two girls get along quite well. Elfie even has a play date with Sierra, although she ignores something she is supposed to do with Jenna, further alienating her cousin. Will Elfie be able to carve out a niche for herself at whatever school she finally attends? And will she find coping mechanisms to help her get through life?
Strengths: When I started teaching 30 odd years ago, I never thought that they way students would change would be to get more anxious, but here we are. Elfie is an absolutely typical student, with her difficulties in connecting with other people. She seems like she might be on the Autism spectrum, but this is never specifically stated. This reminded me a bit of Lopez's Lucky Luna when it came to having a cousin in the same school, and feeling some jealousy there. The parents are super supportive, and it was interesting to see a long time babysitter included. Ms. Rambutan's class seemed like a lot of fun, and the Filippino representation is good to see. This reminded me a bit of Keller's The Science of Breakable Things as well.
Weaknesses: The inclusion of Rhoda's cancer was interesting, but I could have used either more details or fewer details. Can't quite put my finger on it, but it would have been nice to see it developed as something more than an occurrence that was upsetting Elfie, since so many other things were upsetting her. It's a hard balance to strike, and it did end up being crucial to a plot point.
What I really think: This was on the young side for middle school. My students really enjoy this author's The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School, as well as Annie's Life in Lists, but this had many solidly elementary themes. I would definitely purchase it for an elementary school but will wait to see what the budget looks like before picking this one up.

I really loved this book. It was well-written, with great characters and character development, great plot, and it's both funny and touching. We have a lot of things going on at once in this book, including a school suspension, new friends, a cancer diagnosis, and a divorce. However, everything intertwines well without seeming too overwhelming. The ending was great. Not every problem had a happy ending but that's ok because it was a realistic and satisfying ending. This is a great character-driven middle grade novel.

Elfie is the type of girl that so many kids can relate to. Everyone who feels that they don't fit in, that they don't make friends, that they aren't popular can see their own story echoed in Elfie's journey. I loved how Elfie tried so hard to be perfect and how she made mistakes again and again in her quest for perfection. Her realistic struggles are remarkable in how honestly they portray life.

Elfie is a perfectionist who sees things in an either/or universe. Situational differences and why people might sometimes break the rules are not readily apparent to her. When she is accepted to a prestigious private school where the equipment is state-of-the-art and academic standards are very high, she is elated. Being expelled on the first day of school was not part of her plan. Going back to her old school is humiliating, as is being in class with her seemingly vapid cousin. Journey with Elfie as she learns a new way of seeing the world around her.