Believe

So I'm writing this review as someone who is over ten years older than the target demographic for this book. However, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book.
The story follows Melanie, a fifth-grader, as she navigates school, and does her best to avoid Karen, the school bully. Then Melanie meets Sabrina, a girl who is fearless and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. Sabrina slowly draws Melanie out of her shell and encourages her to believe in herself. The only thing missing is Melanie’s mum, however Sabrina is convinced they can track her down.

I can't remember the last time I read middle grade, but really enjoyed this book, it has a really whimsical feel the whole way through that I loved. I loved Melanie as a character, I loved her imagination and the way she saw the world. The book managed to cover topics such as grief and loss in a really lovely way, that would be perfect for younger readers.
Mathison did an amazing job of only having a handful of characters, but making them all really unique and interesting- I felt like I knew all the other children in Melanie’s class by the end of the book.

I guessed pretty early on the “twists” in this story, but I think that’s because I'm an adult reading a children’s book, and even then, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. I think this is a great book for pre-teens, but I also feel like it can be enjoyed by all age groups- I loved it!

My eight year old daughter loved this book! She had a hard time putting it down. At dinner, she would excitedly tell me about what had been happening in the book. She read it in about 5 days. I think other girls from about 2nd grade through early middle school would also like this book. The reading level is appropriate for strong second grade readers on up. We will be looking for more titles by this author!

A fantastic teen story so wonderfully written. A unique plot line following the everyday struggles of young girl. This book tackles mental health in a way that young children can access. The ending was a refreshing surprise, satisfying but not stereotypical. A beautifully written novel.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This was a lovely whimsical read about a young girl navigating daily life at school and at home. Melanie befriends a girl called Sabrina and they become inseparable. Sabrina is everything Melanie isn't and really draws Melanie out of herself to be more confident and less shy.

I guessed the outcome of this story within the first third of the book however it was still a beautiful story and well worth finishing to the end.

The author covers loss and imagination within this book give grace and delicacy and I really enjoyed reading it.

With tons of heart, thought and emotion, this is a journey of a girl finding herself.

Melanie is a fifth grader, who keeps to herself and doesn't fit in with the rest of the kids. During one of the regular bullying sessions, she finds a new friend at her side. This friend is exactly the push she needs to gain courage not only to stand up for herself but also to learn who she is and what she even wants. Melanie also begins the journey of healing as she takes the hunt for her missing mother into her own hands...one that leads to a few surprises along the way.

Melanie is a lovely girl, who has shielded herself off from others. Her awkwardness is endearing but not as much as her heart of gold. Her very active imagination is what will capture readers as she tries to fiddle her way and find her place in the world. But then, fifth graders will easily relate to how awkward fitting in or standing out can be.

The story shines thanks to two main twists. The first one is already clear in the first pages, but young readers probably won't pick up on it for quite some time. It adds a nice touch which had me smiling. The second is also a bit predictable, but it definitely adds the intriguing punch. Especially the ending picked up pace and edged this closer to a four star review, but it wasn't quite enough.

This read is short and entertaining. Young readers will find quite a bit to sympathize with and feel connected to. The ideas of bullying, learning who you are, friendship, loss, overcoming certain fears, and embracing family are all wonderful messages and perfect for the intended age group. While so much is included, I found myself skipping paragraphs again and again...and still, had no trouble keeping up with the tale. Also, this is placed in the 1980's. The author brings in quite a bit of pop-culture from that time, and while she does take the time to explain the important references, I'm not sure it will interest this age group or resonate with them.

All in all, this is a lovely tale with tons of goodness. I'm sure the right reader will enjoy it quite a bit.

My 11yo daughter loved this book. Emotional and thought-provoking there's a strong connection between the reader and the MC needs for friendship during such a difficult time of her life. A well-written novel that staying in the reader's heart for a long while after.

*I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.*

Melanie is an eleven-year-old girl who's imagination seems to be able to create anything, but she can't make friends in her school or even defend herself from Karen, the school bully.
Then she meets Sabrina, who looks like a TV star and is just fearless, never caring about what anyone thinks. They become friends fast and soon enough Melanie gets encouraged by her, even getting the lead role as Peter Pan in the school play. The only thing missing is Melanie's mom, who disappeared almost a year ago and nobody wants to talk about it. But what if Sabrina and Melanie can finally track her down and find out what happened?

"Believe" is the emotional journey of accepting grief while learning to open yourself up to others. It's a middle-grade book, but I believe older readers can fall in love with it too, just like I did (and I'm 11 years older than the main character).
Julie Mathison's characters are very real and every one of them has a background so we can understand their motivations and why they are the way that they are. The friendships are really well-constructed and all of the "Peter Pan"s references and parallels were amazing! The writing in this book is great!
Melanie's way to see the world and her whole journey throghout the book was so awesome to read that in the end I just wanted to see more, specially from Karen, the school bully, who's story I trully feel like had more to it.
It's not a book full of big surprises (even though it has some), but it's such a beautifully-written story about friendship and love and growing up... I just know it's a great book for all ages and it became one of my favorites.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5

Reader beware! Julie Mathison´s middle grade book Believe will steal your heart. The main character, Melanie, is a witty, sweet fifth grader who is finding it difficult to make friends.
After her mother leaves, Melanie´s dad has been consumed by his art and seems completely disconnected from his daughter. Meanwhile, Melanie endures the wrath of Karen, a bully at school who epitomizes the sad truth ¨Hurt people hurt people.¨ When Melanie learns that her class will perform the play Peter Pan, she fears her shyness will keep her out of the bright lights of the stage. With encouragement from her lone friend Sabrina, Melanie auditions and lands the lead role of Peter Pan. But this is bigger than the stage. Peter Pan was a bridge to her mother and the many hours the two spent reenacting scenes from the play in their blanket forts. Now, Melanie yearns to share her stage experiences with her mother, and she is determined to find her. This young girl's journey becomes a search for herself. How can she move forward unless she understands why her mother left?

Mathison set this book in the 1980s, so some of the references and humor needs explanation that is at times awkward and may leave kids questioning references to icons of pop culture such as Charlie´s Angels. While it was nostalgic for me as an adult who grew up in the 70s and 80s, it made me wonder about Mathison´s decision considering her modern audience of pre-teens. Nevertheless, this is a delightful read, and it established a strong authentic voice for the author, who seemed to enjoy reminiscing.

Mathison´s masterful work is in the depiction of this character's emotional state while dealing with grief. This is a realistic representation of processing those feelings and trying to figure out life's greatest mysteries, especially when provided with very little direction from adults. Melanie´s discoveries about her mother are also the reader´s discoveries. The shared feeling of not having the answers makes this a powerful and emotional experience for readers.

This book would be best for mature middle grade students. It invites important and necessary conversations, but this may be a difficult read for sensitive kids. Melanie´s coping mechanisms may create some confusion for some readers, but Mathison does a wonderful job of portraying difficult topics realistically. This story is a beautiful one, and I absolutely adore Melanie.

I read an advanced copy of this book for NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Melanie is an incredibly loveable character. I felt immediately invested in her story. Her imagination is wild and lovely. The way she explains relationships and intentions is really clever and moving, too.

Melanie’s imagination lands her the lead role in the school’s performance of PETER PAN. It helps her deal with the bullying of a fellow classmate and find the courage to make a new friend.

She describes and observes a lot of relationships in BELIEVE, too. From watching her dad interact with his friends, to navigating her own complicated relationship with her grandmother, she relates those exchanges with flair.

Fans of THE OTHER BETTER ME by Antony Jon or NOT IF I CAN HELP IT by Carolyn Mackler will definitely want this book in their libraries.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Believe is that kind of book that leaves you with a couch full of used napkins and a heart that is broken and is healing at the same time.
This story is about Melanie, amazing kid that does not believe in herself. Mel is a bullied girl that has no friends, she’s full of questions and answers, but doesn’t know which one are the answers she is looking for until the day she meets Sabrina. Sabrina is the heroine she has always admired; bold, fearless and loyal. And strangely enough, she wants to be Mel’s friend. With Sabrina’s help Melanie will begin to make new friends, open up to the people she loves and most important, to believe in herself.
I have to admit that this is not the book I was looking for but the book I needed.
The general plot has already been seen and there’s no plot twist. I understood from the beginning what was going on and how it was going to end. BUT. There’s a big but here. I loved the tenderness of the author in explaining Mel’s thoughts, her fears and most of all I loved how her character developed. I can’t even start to explain how the 30yo me at 2am was crying alone in the bed because she didn’t want this book to end.
I definitely recommend Believe to the people that still believe in magic. Not the wizard stuff. But the magic that is inside of all of us. The one that when we were kids let us dream and speak with objects just to know their story, the one that let you wake up in the morning knowing it will be a bright day, the one that let us hope.

This was such a beautiful story of one young girl’s journey of overcoming and coping with loss. I loved the main character and her wonderful spirit. She has such an imagination that shines throughout the story. I felt the author wrote a very intriguing story that had me hooked from the start. I wouldn’t quite recommend this to a younger audience. I felt like it might be better understood from a slightly older audience. However, I do highly recommend this book. It’s definitely at the top of my favorites I’ve read this year.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

"You have to choose, even if there is only one option"

11 year old Melanie Harper, has recently moved to a new town. Her mom is "gone", her dad is lost in his own world and the only one who seems to notice her existence is the school bully. Melanie is vastly more comfortable conveying her thoughts to here journal than her peers, until Sabrina shows up. Sabrina gives her the confidence to share her writing with the class, audition for the school play and seek answers to what has happened to her mother.

One of the things I appreciate most about this book is that it's set in the 80s (1980). It's fun to remember what adolescence was like before Snapchat and Tiktok dances. We get to see what a deep, imaginative character Melanie is.

As a person who has often understood books more than people. Melanie is a character after my own heart. Mathison gently unfolds Melanie's story for the reader so well, that it feels as if we are discovering Melanie's truth right along side of her. It's a relatable story that deals equally well with adolescence, loss and finding confidence in one's self.

This book was sad, hopeful, and sweet all rolled into one. I loved the idea of kind, thoughtful, but also shy Melanie and her 2 best friends, Sabrina and Leanne. I really enjoyed the idea of the book and reading it was like a little gift. Such an awesome book! This book is perfect for readers ages 8-11.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy of this book.

As a 33 year old woman reading this book, i was hooked. I had read the synopsis but was unsure of how i would feel about it since i don't typically read Middle grade books. It was an easy read that still included concepts i could relate to at my age. The main character Melanie is quirky and marches to the beat of her own drum. It's a great story i would recommend anyone to read. No matter your age we have all dealt with being new somewhere, trying to make new friends, and dealing with people that want to make you feel bad about yourself. It's a great lessen to learn that it's okay to be yourself!

I recieved this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

I love day dreaming and this book gave me that warm feeling of a good dream. It was that good.

This is Melanie's story. She's a shy kid who's going through a lot. She doesn't have friends, a girl from school is bullying her and her dad is kind of lost in his art. In this book we follow Melanie as she goes with her life trying to blend in. At the beginning a teacher tells her students that there'll be auditions for the play of Peter Pan, a book Melanie loves and the story is centered around it.

This was really good and lovely. Melanie was a relatable character for me cause she's always kind of day dreaming and I found the story beautiful. I read it pretty quickly and I was shocked by the ending even though I could have imagined it. I loved that it surprised me.

It's a wonderful middle grade book and I definitely recommend it.

Although I wasn't the target demographic for this book I quite enjoyed it! Beautifully written and magical, perfect read to escape the rubbish that the world is currently dealing with!