“Heart-rendingly unflagging in the face of life-changing events, Missy’s a funny, compelling heroine that readers will cheer for.”  Kirkus Reviews

THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS - 2015 BLUE RIBBON AWARD

“An admirable nonconformist struggling to navigate the limbo between childhood and adolescence—to accept change, to communicate, to see situations and people in shades of gray—Missy narrates in a voice both authentic and insightful. This accessible, enjoyable novel is well suited for those tweens who, like Missy, are balking at life’s crossroads.”

 

THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW:

"For many children, the itchy summertime pleasures of the outdoors have been replaced by air-conditioned hours in front of a screen. But two new middle-grade novels offer young readers a sampling of classic summer adventure - and may even tempt them to leave the house and find excitement in the natural world..."

For the rest of the review, click HERE.

 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

"Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Missy and her older brother Patrick think they’re in for another boring summer, but an ad for blueberry pickers changes everything. Missy quickly discovers that she is an adept picker and loves the quiet magic of the blueberry fields. Much to Missy’s chagrin, Patrick meets Shauna, a fellow worker, and becomes more interested in having fun than picking blueberries. Already upset over her father’s impending remarriage and the shift in her friendship with her two best friends, Missy feels betrayed by Patrick’s change of heart. A clue to field owner Moose’s blood feud with his brother is revealed when Bev, Moose’s wife, spots Missy’s potential and asks her to pick the secret blueberries. While trying to get back at Patrick, Missy inadvertently reveals the field’s secret location and suffers the consequences. As the summer draws to a close, Missy learns that she must begin accepting the changes that inevitably occur as one grows up. This quiet, deftly written coming-of-age novel is a good choice for kids looking for a sympathetic protagonist whose issues are relatable but not too serious."

 

KIRKUS:

"As friends change and her family morphs again, Missy, with her mother's subtle guidance, gradually accepts the inevitable with a newly emerging grace. Heart-rendingly unflagging in the face of life-changing events, Missy's a funny, compelling heroine that readers will cheer for. (Fiction. 10-13)"

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DETROIT FREE PRESS:

Much depth... Missy grows in her empathy and understanding, whether it's for her father's upcoming marriage, a farmer's feud, or her own brother's secrets. The tale is as sweet as summer blueberries.

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KIDSREADS:

"Nickerson constantly balances her plot with lighthearted moments that are punctuated with unexpected comedy. Together with Missy’s flashbacks, a slew of un-hackneyed scenes, cliffhanging chapter breaks and a perfect ending, these literary tools help createan absolutely stellar coming-of-age story that should be earmarked for the silver screen."

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READING NOOK REVIEWS

"Wholly relatable and conveyed with the type of gentle good humor that readers of any age will understand and empathize with. Twelve-year-old Missy's struggles to adapt to a gradually changing world around her are."

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THE SEATTLE TIMES

For ages 12-15: A plan to earn pocket money over the summer by picking blueberries doesn’t work out quite as 12-year-old Missy hoped: Her older brother deserts her for a pretty fellow picker, her friends are having fun at camp without her, and the owners of the blueberry farm are engaged in a mysterious feud. This sweet, funny coming-of-age story will charm readers with its likable protagonist, who just wants to stay a kid.

 

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