Cici Reno by Kristina Springer
Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
A middle-grade romance is not my typical choice of reading, but I have to branch out every once in a while. How else can I recommend books to my students?
I love the random yoga tips at the start of each chapter. I recently started doing yoga in the mornings before school, so it was fun to see that in a middle-grade book.
Cici is really good at giving advice. I’m curious if my middle school students would be as good at giving advice or even taking it.
It’s a new school year, and some big changes have occurred. Cici’s best friend, Aggie, has boobs! She is one of the first girls in school to develop, so she gets a lot of attention. Boys can’t stop looking, and girls can’t stop talking about her behind her back. Aggie’s crush, Drew, has also developed, and Aggie (as well as Cici) has noticed.
Aggie is too nervous to talk to Drew, so Cici comes up with a plan. Cici will create a fake social media account and start the conversation by pretending to be Aggie.
As I was reading it, I thought this sounded familiar, and then it hit me! Cyrano de Bergerac! Cici Reno is a modern-day Cyrano! If you know the play, this will be similar (but not death!).
Cici is chatting with Drew online, but Aggie has to talk to Drew in real life. As the relationship blooms, Cici has to stomp down her true feelings for the sake of the friendship. But does Drew really like Aggie? Does Aggie really like Drew? Is Cici pushing them together so she can keep chatting online with Drew?
There was just enough tension to keep things interesting but not so much that it was annoying. I really liked this book. I loved Cici’s friendships with everyone and I loved her personality. I wish I had been that put together in middle school. Heck, I wish I was that put together now!
Literary Coffee 