Bea Is for Blended by Lindsey Stoddard
Published by HarperCollins on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 0062878166
Pages: 304
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

Bea and her mom have always been there for each other, and it has always just been the two of them. Bea’s mom is marrying Wendell, and Wendell has 3 boys, two dogs, and a cat. Worst of all, one of Wendell’s sons is a bit of a school bully who happens to share a birthday with Bea. With all the turmoil of blending these two families, Bea is looking forward to the soccer season and this year, they actually have enough interest for her school’s first ever all-girls team. When it appears there’s some pushback from the school administration, Bea and her friends are determined to get what they want and what they deserve.

There are many things to like about this book. Bea is a strong-willed young athlete who loves her family and isn’t afraid to fight for what’s right. Her best friend is autistic, and it isn’t a thing. It’s just who he is. The struggles of blending two families are explored well and offer a glimpse into this reality for so many kids. One drawback for some is the many references to specifics about soccer—if one isn’t an athlete or hasn’t ever played the game, many of those descriptions and the terminology used will lose the reader.

Recommended for readers 4th grade and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME