Praiseworthy Pages

Reader Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Jerry Spinelli was one of the most influential authors of my childhood, and this book is an inspiring example as to why. This book captures the stresses of being young, the reality of anxiety, and the beauty of family / true friendship.  

Language: 10/10 (No swearing at all).
Sex: 10/10 (No sexual content).
Violence and gore: 9/10 (Minimal violence/gore).

Plot: 8/10 (For the audience it was written for, namely 10-12-year-olds, this plot is incredibly complex and motivating. I read this as a kid and remember being very impacted by it).
Characters: 9/10 (Extremely realistic. The book is about a 10-year-old, and the character feels like a genuine 10-year-old).
Writing style: 9/10 (Spinelli was one of my favorite authors when I was young, and his ability to write beautifully yet simply enough for a child to understand is incredible).

Genre: Middle-grade literature, realistic fiction
Potential triggers: Peer pressure, animal cruelty, bullying, etc.
Is this book part of a series? No.
I would recommend this book to anyone 10+.