For whatever reason, I liked the book more than my head tells me I should have, and I'll bet kids will like it more.įor kids from about 8-11, I think. Or wondering if there was going to be a wholly unbelievable ending (I'm happy to report there is not). Maybe it was just the interest of seeing who Frannie would be next. Here's the thing, though: I blasted through the book and really liked it in spite of all that. Just way too sweet and perfect to be believed for a second, and I would hate for kids to think that's what a really happy family would look like. I also thought the loving families went a bit over the top, or at least the first one does. I found it a bit facile, not to say unlikely, but it does serve the purpose of setting Frannie up for the level of heartfelt wishing that causes her to start 'bouncing.' We do need to understand that doesn't happen to just anyone (which begs the question of what's happening to the girls she becomes for the day, and why they would be wishing to be anyone else, since most of them have pretty great lives). I suspect kids won't be as hard on the book as I was about the over-the-top awful family that Frannie has to deal with when she's herself. Maybe that last one's only an issue for old folks like me. On yet another hand (how many hands do I have? Good heavens, I've turned into an octopus!), the too-faithful reproduction of how kids speak got old in a hurry. On the other hand, the story was still pretty fun. The heart is definitely in the right place, but the message felt a bit blatant.

The power of love and connection, Megan Shull’s extraordinary new novelĬaptures one girl’s journey to find her voice, heal her heart, and But as her new life spins out of control, Frannieīegins to worry if she’ll ever get back home.

She’s only imagined-from being a pop star to meeting one super-cuteīoy-Frannie finds courage in the unforgettable friends and families she Wish-BOOM!-she magically bounces into a whole new life, with a totallyĭifferent family. Her mean older sister can’t stand her.Īnd her parents have just announced they’re going on a last-minute Hudson wonders what it would be like to trade in her family for a new

Bounce by Megan Shull