Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Gut Reaction (Scholastic Press, 2024) by Kirby Larson and Quinn Wyatt was an inspirational read.
After the loss of her father, 8th grader Tess Medina is starting a new school and when she gets her new schedule, it shows a SEL class. What’s that? The counselor explains it is “Social Emotional Learning. Talking about feelings and stuff.” No way is she going to share feelings with strangers! Especially how baking is what still ties her to her dad. Or that she’s got this pain in her stomach that makes her rush for the bathroom. She has a goal of winning the Jubilee Flour Junior Baker West Coast competition, but how is she going to raise the money for the entry fees?
This is Quinn’s debut book, written with her mom, Kirby, and inspired by her own experience with Crohn’s disease. Read this interview about how the book nearly didn’t happen. This is Kirby’s first contemporary middle grade book. Read about the award winning author here and check out all her other books here.
This is the book’s website.
It’s so cool that Kirby and Quinn wrote this together. I always like books involving baking. Thanks for sharing it this week.
If you can’t find a book about a topic important to you, maybe you should write it. 🙂
Great way to write a book with someone you trust! The baking theme adds a lot of appeal for young readers. Thanks for featuring your review on MMGM this week.
Definitely.
How cool that she wrote this with her mom. That’s awesome. I love the attention to these topics, too. Thanks for sharing this! Happy MMGM!
It is cool!
How fun to write a book together, very cool. Also thank you for the link to how the book almost didn’t come about, well worth a read. Happy MMGM!
I thought that was fascinating as well.
This sounds like a great story – what’s not to like about baking and school conflict? And I love the idea of a mother-daughter co-author team.
Exactly!
This sounds a super story, for both those with Crohn’s Disease and those without. Plus who doesn’t enjoy baking competitions or can’t empathise with being the new kid.? Great recommendation!
Definitely!
Fantastic that Kirby teamed up with her daughter to write this book Love her work. And, this is a topic that I should share on my website. Haven’t reviewed anything with Chrones disease. Thanks for sharing today!
Yes, Kirby is great.
This is quite a coincidence. I’m picking up Kirby Larson from the airport tomorrow night as she is participating in the 50th anniversary of the Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival. https://www.authorfest.org/
I will pick up this book at our festival.
She’s such a sweetie, plus being a talented author.
Books and baking. Wonderful.
How do kids cope with classes in school like SEL? Sounds horrendous to me!
I sure never had to do that!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. I thought you would. I really loved it as well. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.