Reviews Young Readers Reviews #79 Fall 2015 ,
A bright and breezy middle-grade novel
When Hannah Smart discovers that Josh Taylor, her favourite singer in the whole world, is coming to her hometown she is wild with excitement. Until her mother informs her that if she wants to go to the concert she will have to raise the money to buy her own ticket. She and her best friend, Rachel, immediately concoct a plan: Operation Josh Taylor. When a yard sale fails to yield the necessary funds, the girls channel their entrepreneurial spirits into a business venture that is sure to help them turn a tidy profit. But can their friendship survive the commotion that ensues? Not if mean-girl Scarlett Hastings has anything to say about it.
In her bright and breezy middle-grade novel, Melody Fitzpatrick captures all the drama and angst of middle school life as Hannah catapults through the full spectrum of emotions. While this short and sassy tale doesn’t delve too deeply into the characters and their relationships it still manages to depict the intensity of Hannah and Rachel’s friendship. Although numerous issues are raised, they are not explored in depth, allowing the narrative to maintain its upbeat and lighthearted tone. Tween readers will root for Hannah and look forward to her next adventures.
Hannah Smart: Operation Josh Taylor
by Melody Fitzpatrick
$12.99, paperback, 144 pp.
Dundurn Press, October 2015
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