Book Review Ivy Leigh Ever After

 

An impressive debut middle school chapter book captures the turbulent, ever-evolving life of 6th-grader Ivy Leigh. It's a novel that will tug at your heartstrings, no matter the reader's age. The storyline is filled with many poignant statements about friendships, bullying, family dynamics, changing body images, a romantic crush, as well as dealing with the loss of a mother who was their family's moral compass. This book will resonate with middle schoolers who may face similar life challenges.

Ivy Leigh is a spunky middle schooler whose life is turned upside down when her mother dies, and her family struggles to stay afloat. Ivy and her older sisters clash with an uptight grandma who tries to be helpful, but her demands fuel conflicts with their established household routine. Ivy has rescued a dog named Peachy, who is not well-behaved as it lacks proper training. She is in danger of losing her dog, so her neighbor next door, Mr. Winters, tries to help her with training. Ivy faces bullying on the bus and at school. After a physical confrontation with another student, Ivy, who has been pushed to her limits, finds unexpected support from her friends, family, and a school guidance counselor. Along the way, Ivy Leigh learns the value of forgiveness, what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and the importance of talking through one's problems, which, in the end, fosters change and growth. While the storyline deals with struggles, it also conveys messages of hope and the joys of building a community. 

Author Gael Lynch, a retired teacher, uses her teaching expertise to craft this novel. She understands the thought process of a middle schooler as well as their need to fit in. Genuine dialogue and solutions make the story relatable for this age group, for both boys and girls. The storyline unfolds gently as the reader is introduced to Ivy Leigh and her world. The author adds humorous touches to the story. I found the story quite heartwarming, as well as the fact that the book is dedicated to teachers.      

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR  

gaellynch.com

Gael Lynch is a writer and storyteller who traces her roots back to her dad’s carefully crafted bedtime stories of fairy queens and villains, beggars of old, the rags to riches sagas of the ancients, always set in the rich green tones of the Irish countryside. Her own greatest ideas, though, are not those of far away and long ago, but ones that exist right under her nose. In what seems to be the ordinary, Gael loves nothing more than a chance encounter while waiting in line at the grocery store. Perfect strangers offer a world of little gems, experiences she might never have had.