Book Sneeze Review: Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks: Confessions of April Grace by KD McCrite

"A Clique of mean girls, a grandma - yes, you heard it - a grandma stuck in a love triangle, a church pageant run by a dictator, and a mom who's acting very mysterious - it all sounds like a disaster, but that's just another day in the super funny life of April Grace Reilly."

I can relate to April Grace. Growing up in the 1980s with BIG hair, leggings and MULLETS was an interesting time. I was fortunate enough not to have to deal with "mean girls" in MY school though. Or a grandma with 2 boyfriends. (My grandmas were celebrating MANY years of marriage to my grandpas.) But growing up in junior high and finding out your mom's having another baby - well, that I can relate too.

April Grace is a spunky 11-year-old living on a farm in Arkansas in 1986. She experiences BIG changes as she starts junior high and even BIGGER changes at home when her Mom becomes unexpectedly pregnant and can't run the church Christmas program when she's confined to bedrest. When April Grace suggests demanding Isabel run the Christmas program, she doesn't expect that SHE'LL be helping out too. But all things work out for a reason and April Grace learns a thing or two along the way about family and love.

My 2¢
I enjoyed reading Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks: Confessions of April Grace. There's something fun about a spunky girl! Written from her viewpoint, the story is lively, personal, humorous, and easy to read. Teenage girls (or us Moms who grew up the small towns in the 1980s) will be able to relate to April Grace and her experiences. I wouldn't recommend it for pre-teen girls though as some topics (such as adult dating) are for older girls.

Disclosure: As a member of the Tyndale Media Center Review Team, I receive free products in exchange for a frank and unbiased review on Our Side of the Mountain. These reviews are my own personal thoughts and opinions.