Review: Chocolate-Covered Baloney by K.D. McCrite

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The last thing April Grace wants is more change in her life—but that’s exactly what she gets! Plus, April has a new mystery to solve when Myra Sue starts sneaking around and acting very suspicious!
From snooty new neighbors to starting junior high to getting a new baby brother to having her grandmother get a boyfriend, April Grace has had enough change to last until she is at least 87 years old.
But when it rains, it pours, and April Grace is in for the ride of her life when her prissy, citified neighbor Isabel becomes her gym teacher and a long-lost relative suddenly reappears and throws everything into a tizzy. On top of that, April’s sister, Myra Sue, has been hiding something and sneaking around. April needs to find out what is going on before her silly sister gets herself into trouble again. More important, will April find the grace she needs to handle her topsy-turvy life and forgive past wrongs?
Girls will fall in love with April’s humor and completely relate to her as she deals with family, friends, drama, and both the humor and the heartache that are part of growing up.

MY TAKE:
I wasn't too sure about the title of this book, but the blurb did appeal to me so I gave this book a try.

In Chocolate-Covered Baloney, April Grace is dealing with her older sister who is acting strangely, and some additional family drama courtesy of a  surprise visitor in town who may or may not be welcome.

Despite the fact that this book was set in the 1980s, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't even miss the references to cable television, cellphones, etc., which you see in the usual YA books these days.

There are a couple of plotlines in the book, and it didn't mesh together as well as I think it could have. Perhaps it would have been better if the book had focused more on the surprise visitor rather than Myra, because in the end, her storyline wasn't all that significant and important and felt like it was more of a device for the surprise visitor's story to be told.

I did like most of the characters in the book, especially April Grace. The entire time I was reading the book, I could imagine her voice with a Southern accent in my head. She had plenty of really funny lines in the book too. I think lots of young girls will be able to relate to April Grace, even though some of the young girls from the current generation may wonder why April and the other characters don't have cellphones and other more modern technology.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tommy Nelson for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a pretty funny book.
2. If you grew up before the '00s, you might not even notice the lack of current modern technology.
3. The characters are interesting.

THE BAD:

1. It would have been better if the plot centered on the surprise visitor and Myra's storyline was removed.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Well, good gravy, excuse me all over the place for having an inquiring mind.

READ IT IF:

1. You miss the '80s.
2. You are looking for middle-grade and YA books with charming Southern heroines.
3. You are looking for a middle-grade or YA book about families.

RATING:


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