I received this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book!

First off, this book is "based on the true story of the authors’ daughter, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was eleven years old". A large portion of this book is real and that makes me like it even more. Not that Maddie had a tumor but that Maddie is a real person that is bringing light into this world.

Maddie is the narrator and she is a slightly unreliable narrator at times. Like when her imagination kicks in or she really wants to hear something but she always clears it up. But what can you expect from a 12 year old with an overactive imagination.

If you took out the part of the story about her having a brain tumor it is still great story about a girl learning where her place is at school and how to overcome those that are against you.

If you liked Wonder, you will like Mustaches for Maddie. Both books are about children that unknowingly encourage those around them in such a pure and innocent way.

I recommend this book to everyone!

Mustaches for Maddie is full of heart, hope, and humor. Maddie is an unforgettable character who faces her challenges armed with humor and imagination and will no doubt find her way into your heart. I laughed and cried, cheered and worried, and wished I’d had a friend like Maddie when I was in sixth grade. Mustaches is a must-read book for anyone facing challenges of their own.

Maddie is your typical twelve year old, she has worked hard to make it into the in crowd of girls at school, she has a boy she likes (but would never tell him), and she likes to make people laugh especially with her stick on mustaches (she always has several in her pocket for occasions). But when class queen Cassie's bossiness, turns to bullying over who is to try out for what roll in the class play, Maddie just hopes she can be forgiven and still stay in the inner circle. At the same time Maddie's arm has been bugging her and her mom takes her to the doctor only to find out that a serious surgery is in the cards and her play performance is out, but Cassie can even make that turn worse than it is as well.

I put off reading this book when it was first offered as I thought it would be depressing (mostly due to what I was going through at the time). After several people assured it me it wasn't I dove in. Even though I had tears leaking out through most of the book it was very inspiration, and if this child could do this so can I, I just need to find some mustaches and lots of them. I want to thank those two people who talked me into reading this book, you know who your are. It was a awesome to see Maddie transform and see what was really important to her in life, not the in crowd, but true friends the ones that are there for her and would stand by her, no matter what. To even see Maddie's brothers change and transform and pick what was really important to them, not the superficial things but the real things, the deep down things. Maybe those mustaches turned into butterfly's at some point.

With the perfect balance of humor, this story takes on a girl's heart-breaking diagnosis and turns it into an inspiration to make dreams fly.

Maddie is twelve years old and all the problems it brings, especially when it comes to surviving sixth grade. Her biggest problem is the popular girl named Cassie. Maddie bumps shoulders with every other girl in her class just to remain in Cassie's good graces and have the right to be friends with her. But Maddie's gut keeps telling her that what Cassie does to those she doesn't befriend isn't right. Maddie starts to stand up for herself letting her quirky humor cushion her on the way, but just when things seem to be smoothing out, the real monster hits. Maddie has a tumor near her brain. Even her pocket full of fake mustaches can't form a smile out of this news.

This is one of the better middle grade novels I've read in awhile. Maddie is a lovely girl, not an outcast but not the most popular either. She's simply average and fights as best she can, along with the other girls, to stay in the good graces of the popular crowd. Still, she's nice, has a good heart and struggles inwardly when she's about to do something she shouldn't. In other words, she's an average girl that is easy to understand and empathize with. Her quirky humor sets her apart. Not only do the mustaches in her pocket raise eyebrows but her imaginative outbursts about poison claws and deadly monster waiting for sudden attack, make it clear that she's not your average 6th grade girl.

The writing in this is a perfect balance between fun and the more serious side of life. The topics are heavy, but the authors manage to keep the point without bogging down. Middle graders will have no trouble sailing through this read, feeling for Maddie, but still coming out with a smile and tons to think about. A book that leaves the reader in deep thought always gets bonus points from me.

The sixth grade world and it's hurdles are things readers will recognize and be able to compare with their own lives. Maddie and her class mates' fairly extensive knowledge of Shakespeare, his works, and his characters, however, does not fit the age group and will leave the intended audience scratching their heads. Then, at other moments, the characters would come across younger than what they were.

But I would highly recommend this book and find it a gem both boys and girls are sure to enjoy.

“Fact: mustaches are hilarious. Which is why I collect them. Everything is funnier with a mustache.” When the opening line in a book opens like this, you know that you are going to really enjoy reading about Maddie. She sounds like she is going to be a little quirky and a whole lot of fun.
This book is much like other middle grade fiction, the girl that is a little different – in Maddie’s case very funny with a side of strange, trying to impress the 6th grade queen – in this case Cassie who is pretty much the best of everything. After wowing her with her moustache, Cassie points out that Maddie holds her left arm funny, which is then later mentioned by her mum later in the book who becomes quite concerned. This is a turning point for mustache Maddie and her quirky ways, life was about to get a little darker. The book follows Maddie’s journey as she has the fight of her life to conquer a brain tumor, which she fights in her own unique, and strong way.
The book is easy to read and flows at a pace that is consistent and makes you want to keep reading. I really liked how the bond of the family shone through in this book, how relying and being nurtured by your loved ones is important during times of not only struggle but all the time. Normally in books for tweens there is a lot of family angst, but it was refreshing to see a different perspective in this book.
The authors note at the end is very heartwarming, I did not realise until I got to that authors note that it was based on a true story, her daughters story. Her courage to write this book is fantastic, and how blessed is she to have that quirky, fun and courageous daughter Maddie.
The discussion questions at the end of the book are a fantastic addition. The content in this book might be confronting for some children so it is good to discuss all the different aspects to the story such as Maddie’s imagination, the tumor experience, about laughter and family.
I am glad I got to experience this book, it is a lovely story that makes you hopeful and want to laugh and be a little different just that little bit more. Like many of my fellow reviewers I recommend this to everyone.

What a wonderful story that I would definitely love to read again and would recommend to parents and young readers

Moving, poignant, and beautifully written, "Mustaches for Maddie" is a sweet true story about a young girl named Maddie who bravely takes on the world as she faces insurmountable odds. A great, hopeful, read!

This novel is based on a true story about the author's daughter, who had a brain tumor. I thought this book would be sad, but it was filled with funny stories. Maddie had such a great imagination and I loved her obsession with mustaches and how they just made life better. Maddie shows that even though she is going through a hard situation that she can include others in her sphere of friends. Her imagination really was the best.

This book is beautiful. It is also based on a true story of the author's daughter's illness. I love reading "write what you know" books because there is a depth to them not even well researched books can achieve.

The book is also much more than a story about a girl dealing with serious illness. It has family issue, sibling relationship, school trials and tribulations, peer group uncertainty, and friendship elements tucked neatly into Maddie's narrative. The reading was so smooth and effortless I finished it in no time and I think this is a huge plus when dealing with Middle Grade aged readers

This is a beautiful book about a beautiful and creative 12 year old who gets a brain tumor. The story follows her along before, during, and after her surgery, letting us into Maddie's middle school world where boys are just coming onto the scene, girlfriend rivalries are already well in place, and kids still look to their teachers and parents for guidance. In many ways, this was a bigger part of the story than the actual tumor. It was more the story of a young girl traversing the world of being a young girl with the tumor only providing a framework for the story. Mr. Morris did a great job of balancing the medical aspects of the surgery with humor to keep the book from getting dark. Maddie's imagination was solidly on display during the parts of the story that would be fearful to younger children. I could easily see this book being read aloud to a child facing a scary situation. The only bad thing I can say about this book is that Maddie felt a bit immature for a 12 year old. I have hopes that there are kids that age who still play games on the playground and would be unselfconscious enough to plop on a mustache because that is really how they should be at 12. Maybe I need to find some different 12 year olds? I look forward to purchasing this book for a few friends at Christmas and hope it is offered in a gift set with some mustaches.

This book is based on the true story of the author’s daughter, Maddie. I didn’t know this until after I finished the book. I was delighted to learn that Maddie’s character traits, her big heart, strong imagination and sense of humor are real. And, yes, the real Maddie also LOVES fake mustaches because they make people laugh. It is hard to fathom how a simple act of donning a silly pink mustache can cut through a tense situation. This simple kinda crazy effort has in reality made such a positive impact.

One day, Maddie is diagnosed with a brain tumor. She faces this life-threatening challenge with the same humor she has used under healthier circumstances. She discovers early on that she does not have to face this alone. Friends, classmates and teachers rally around her. Aware of just how much she loves fake mustaches, they start an inspiring and creative show of support by sending pictures of themselves wearing mustaches. The same happened in the real Maddie’s life when this effort caught on like wildfire and “hundreds, if not thousands” were sent to help cheer the girl. All we seem to hear about are negative things, this story was a good one and a breath of fresh air.
*will be posting in additional outlets upon publication.

Authors Chad Morris and Shelly Brown have come together and written a beautiful realistic fiction story for kids. It is about the hardships of fitting in at school, including trying to make friends. It is also about the struggle a family’s struggle of dealing with a daughter’s unexpected brain tumor. This novel not only shows the pain and the struggles, but also finding joy in the hard times. A fun family friendly novel, this story is beautifully written and inspirational; readers will absolutely not want to put it down. It is one that not only young readers, but adults will love and learn from page one.

Genre: children’s, middle grade, young adult, contemporary, realistic fiction
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: October 3, 2017
Number of pages: 256

This incredible story about a girl with a brain tumor really pulls readers in. Maddie is at that age where she wants to fit in, but still wants to be herself. That's difficult when you are not the queen bee. Things get more odd when Maggie is diagnosed with a brain tumor and her classmates doubt the veracity of it all based on the Queen Bee's statements. A must read.

This was a beautiful book... it had me both smiling and crying, even laughing at some of the antics of Maddie. She is a sweet girl facing something huge, and was doing it in her own special way.

One character I did want to throw in a lake at one point... learning something new about her changes the perspective a bit and made you think. In this case, I was proud of Maddie for how she handled it. (She struck me as an "old soul")

Couple scenes broke my heart and still stick out in my mind. Just beautifully written (all of it really but these especially).

#MustachesforMaddie *Side note: didn't know this was based on something real but it made my heart swell when I read the acknowledgements and a letter afterward... big hugs to the authors and family*

Would highly recommend! Definitely passing this on for my mom to read.

As I said with "Amina's Voice", It makes me happy to see more diverse books (and books dealing with more issues) coming out for kids. I think its very important and hope it never stops:)