Carols and Crushes

October 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-A holiday-themed book filled with lessons on the meaning of friendship. Charlie Dickens loves everything about Christmas. She is most excited about the holiday concert that her school performs every year, and this year she is hoping to get a solo. Catastrophe occurs when Mrs. Hamilton, the music teacher, goes on maternity leave, and there is fear that the holiday concert will be cancelled. Charlie teams up with Renee, her best friend; Eric, her crush; and Matthew, the most popular guy in school, to make sure that they have perfect harmony when they get a chance to perform. Charlie begins to worry when she notices some changes happening with her friends and family. Will Charlie's family come to her concert? Does Renee have a crush on Eric? Or does Charlie now have a crush on Matthew after finding out what he is really like? VERDICT Though the plot is fairly predictable, middle schoolers looking for a holiday-set story will enjoy the themes about friendship.-Adrienne Sayban, Peoria Public Library, AZ

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