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In this unabashedly queer middle grade debut, a week-long amusement park road trip becomes a true roller coaster of emotion when Dalia realizes she has more-than-friend feelings for her new bestie. Would-be amusement park aficionado Dalia only has two items on her summer bucket list: (1) finally ride a roller coaster and (2) figure out how to make a new best friend. But when her dad suddenly announces that he's engaged, Dalia's schemes come to a screeching halt. With Dalia's future stepsister Alexa heading back to college soon, the grown-ups want the girls to spend the last weeks of summer bonding--meaning Alexa has to cancel the amusement park road trip she's been planning for months. Luckily Dalia comes up with a new plan: If she joins Alexa on her trip and brings Rani, the new girl from her swim team, along maybe she can have the perfect summer after all. But what starts out as a week of funnel cakes and Lazy River rides goes off the rails when Dalia discovers that Alexa's girlfriend is joining the trip. And keeping Alexa's secret makes Dalia realize one of her own: She might have more-than-friend feelings for Rani.
Publication Year: 2021
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0This book follow Dalia, a thirteen-year old girl who is obsessed with rollercoasters but has yet to be on one, as she figures out how to navigate some life changes her father springs on her the summer before 8th grade. She finds herself on a road trip with a woman bound to be her step-sister and a friend for each of them and a clear message from their parents to figure out how to bond. Neither one of them though is really set out to become best friends, yet alone sister - both are carrying their own big of anger towards their respective parent for their own reasons.
On top of her family changing, she's going through a best friend breakup and navigating a new friendship that is giving her butterflies in her belly. She spends a lot of time within her own head, trying to navigate all of big feelings she's dealing with and trying to understand. A week that is supposed to be fun, visiting multiple amusement parks ends with everybody angry at each other because everyone has stopped communicating. The climax of the book definitely resolves some things and leaves others very wide open BUT the book was really enjoyable. I will definitely be looking forward to other book by Jake Maia Arlow.
0Almost Flying
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 6.85/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
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