Small Medium at Large

Jul 03, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book (even though my 10-year-old daughter swiped it from me when I was halfway through, so she could read it a second time...it's that kind of book.) The premise is great - middle-school-kid Lilah is struck by lightning and can suddenly hear ghosts, including her dead grandmother and a famous, long-departed fashionista who team up to tkae Lilah bra-shopping. (Best. Scene, Ever.) This book is exactly what it promises to be - warm, wonderful, hilarious, and so much fun. Hig...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Sarvenaz Tash rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalypsies-books, class-of-2k12

Adorable, quirky and oh-so-funny. This charming middle-grade book is a surefire winner with a premise that lives up to its fabulous title. Not only is its depiction of 12-year-old girl woes spot-on, but the ghosts that haunt (small) medium Lilah are hilariously delightful. I predict many, many readers will simply adore this book (this one already does).

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May 09, 2012 Alicia marked it as to-read

I had the privilege of winning an ARC for Small Medium at Large from Evie's book blog ( evie-bookish.blogspot.com) and boy am I ever glad I did!!

I have to admit this is my first MG novel that I have read and what an introduction to this genre! I laughed a great deal throughout this book! Being a smarty-pants myself, I can just hear Lilah's quips come out of a twelve-year old me!! Great characters! I loved them all!!

If you have a tween/teen in your life, or you WERE a tween/teen, you MUST pick u...more

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May 26, 2013 Toria Harris added it

greatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt i love the bk reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed it youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu havvvvvvvve to awwwwwwwwwwwwwsome
you should reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Anremtulla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ten things I liked about SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE:

1) The title. So clever. And it describes the book PERFECTLY.
2) There's a cat. And his name is Salvatore Lasagna. I bet we'll be seeing more of him in the (hopefully) upcoming adventures of Lilah Bloom
3) Bubby Dora, Bubby Dora, Bubby Dora. Say that three times really fast and tell me you're not smiling.
4) First crushes, first dances, first kisses - Levy tackles them all with humor and heart
5) The lead character - charming, witty, delightful. I loved...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

At her mother's wedding, Delilah is struck by lightning. When she wakes up in the hospital, she can hear the voice of her father's mother, Bubby Dora. The problem? Bubby has been dead for four years. Lilah is very concerned about starting junior high and has a huge crush on Andrew, but her grandmother is more concerned with getting Lilah's father back into the dating scene. Lilah soon finds out that other dead people beside her grandmother can talk to her, and she encourages her music teacher, a...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Kayla Eklund rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, reviews-completed

Small Medium at Large was a funny middle grade novel. After finishing the book, I understand what the title means. I love the humor in the title. Once starting the book, the reader finds the same humor throughout the pages. The book made me laugh quite a bit. I don't think a chapter went by without me at least chuckling. The plot was well written. There weren't any plot holes. The story flowed well from beginning to end. It was entertaining. I stayed up late to finish the book because I wanted t...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Sarah (YA Love) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya, july-release, middle-grade, supernatural, ghosts, 2012-debut-author-challenge, read-in-2012, ncte-alan12

Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

In all honesty, I’m really picky about middle grade novels. I don’t know if it’s just that I’m a high school English teacher and therefore more interested in young adult novels, or what, but I don’t always like middle grade novels. I have a really difficult time connecting with them and enjoying them, so when I find one that I like I want to spread the word all over the place. I didn’t just like Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy, I loved it.

Small Medium at...more Review originally posted at Y.A. Love

In all honesty, I’m really picky about middle grade novels. I don’t know if it’s just that I’m a high school English teacher and therefore more interested in young adult novels, or what, but I don’t always like middle grade novels. I have a really difficult time connecting with them and enjoying them, so when I find one that I like I want to spread the word all over the place. I didn’t just like Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy, I loved it.

Small Medium at Large released this week and positive reviews have been all over Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, so on an impulse I decided to get a copy. It’s a short book, at only 208 pages, but it has the perfect blend of realistic situations, supernatural elements, and humor that amounts to one positively adorable and enjoyable book. I’m not always sure what’s “okay” for middle grade readers, but I feel secure recommending Joanne Levy’s debut to 5th graders and above because it’s a clean book and the themes in the story aren’t too complex. The characters aren’t doing anything questionable or using foul language. There are discussions about “boobs” and kissing but that’s as far as it goes. Considering I was reading Caroline B. Cooney books and the like in 5th grade, I think this one is okay (not that her books are bad, but there were some “big” issues in her books).

Lilah Bloom is such a cute character. She ends up with the ability to hear ghosts after being struck by lightning and is pretty level-headed about the whole thing. The first ghost she encounters is Bubby Dora, her grandmother who passed away four years ago. I love her interactions with Bubby because Bubby acts as both an authority figure and a helpful friend. The way she and Lilah spoke to each other made me think of what it would be like if I could talk again with my grandma who passed away when I was six; I think many of our interactions would be the same. The ghosts, in general, are really amusing and bring out Lilah’s character. Lilah is a very believable sixth grader simply trying to fit in, but now trying to do that with the ability to talk to ghosts. She worries about boys, bras, and bullies. Lilah also wants to help her dad get back into the dating scene; those scenes are some of the cutest.

I like that even though Small Medium at Large might be considered supernatural since Lilah is communicating with ghosts, it mostly reads as realistic fiction. Lilah is experiencing many of the same things an average 12 year old experiences, only she has ghosts helping her out at times. She has a close group of friends, she struggles in school sometimes, she’s dealing with a bully, and she’s crushing on a boy.

What really sets this book apart is its execution. Joanne Levy really makes Lilah stand out and come alive on the page, along with all of the supporting characters. There wasn’t a dull moment in the book. Small Medium at Large is my favorite book of the summer so far, and I really hope you read it.(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Savindi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, middle-grade

Cover Gushing Worthiness: I adore this cover and I think John Candell (the Jacket Designer) did a great job. The colours are beautiful and the font of the title is perfect because it adds a spooky feeling to it. I also like the girl’s smile. Overall it’s a great cover for this book!

Review: I have to admit that it was the cover that drew me to read Small Medium At Large. I mean how can anyone resist such a great cover? I first saw this book on goodreads and after reading the synopsis of the book...more Cover Gushing Worthiness: I adore this cover and I think John Candell (the Jacket Designer) did a great job. The colours are beautiful and the font of the title is perfect because it adds a spooky feeling to it. I also like the girl’s smile. Overall it’s a great cover for this book!

Review: I have to admit that it was the cover that drew me to read Small Medium At Large. I mean how can anyone resist such a great cover? I first saw this book on goodreads and after reading the synopsis of the book I decided to give the book a chance and I wasn’t disappointed. Plus I got a signed copy of the book.

The plot of this book is light and quirky as it follows Lilah Bloom who has acquired the power of being able to hear ghosts. Apart from the supernatural element which is central to the book, Levy adds a humorous take on real tween girl issues like buying your first bra and crushing over someone. There were parts in this book where I did laugh out loud because I couldn’t imagine myself talking to my own dad about girl issues, but Lilah takes everything in stride and a part of you thinks “wow, she does handle herself well for a twelve year-old.” Jen from Lost in a Great Book mentioned Levy’s talent as an author to mix both supernatural and realistic elements to make a believable story in her review and I agree with her. Levy wrote the book in such a way that I found myself thinking “Yeah it is completely normal for a twelve year-old to be able to handle school, crushes and talk to dead people and help them in any way she can.” There were some touching moments in this book and I found myself getting a bit teary-eyed, but that’s probably just me. I did feel that some of the subplots of this book were weaker and were just there to fill up the pages, but it’s not a major issue and I was able to look past this particular flow and just enjoy the book.

Characterwise Lilah was a likeable protagonist. As I said before I did find myself laughing at some of the exchanges between Lilah and her friends. When I was reading those parts I was reminded of my former Thesis advisor who keeps telling me to stop using the word ‘like’ so much. But hey Lilah is only twelve years-old, she has plenty of time to grow out of that habit. Actually I hope both Elementary and High School students grow out of using the word ‘like’ all the time, but I’m not sure if it’ll ever happen. Bubby Dora, Lilah’s grandmother was also likeable and I enjoyed her “grandma” moments. Lilah’s love interest Andrew Finkel was an adorable character and I enjoyed reading the interactions between the two. I think Andrew had very realistic reactions to what was going on between Lilah and him and he was a believable thirteen year-old guy.

None of the secondary characters particularly stood out to me, like they did in Adam Canfield: The Last Reporter
but I will say that I was surprised at Dolly Madison’s quick personality change towards the end of the book. Somehow it didn’t seem quite believable. Nevertheless this won’t deter your enjoyment of the book.

I don’t have any issues with the pacing of the book. The book is quite short (only 208) pages and the pacing suits the story arc. I do admit that I did find the ending of the book a little weird.

Overall, Small Medium At Large was an enjoyable read. I can’t say that I loved it like I loved Adam Canfield: The Last Reporter. I do believe that this is a good debut book by Joanne Levy and I do think I will pick up her future work. If you’re looking for a light, quick middle-grade read, this is one book to consider.

My rating: 3/5

Would I recommend it? Yes(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Kevin Craig rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

This review is from my book review blog: http://trythisbookonforsize.blogspot.ca

It has been a while since I read a middle grade novel…at least a few months. My first thoughts on Small Medium at Large were; kid-friendly, a delight to read, fun and funny, well written in a great age-appropriate voice and, well…FUN (It bears repeating).

Lilah Bloom is 12. She comes from a broken family (that term really needs to be refreshed—a lot of families these days are not so much broken, as they are realigned)...more This review is from my book review blog: http://trythisbookonforsize.blogspot.ca

It has been a while since I read a middle grade novel…at least a few months. My first thoughts on Small Medium at Large were; kid-friendly, a delight to read, fun and funny, well written in a great age-appropriate voice and, well…FUN (It bears repeating).

Lilah Bloom is 12. She comes from a broken family (that term really needs to be refreshed—a lot of families these days are not so much broken, as they are realigned). As the story opens, we are at Lilah’s mother’s wedding. Everything is going well until the real fun is about to begin—the dancing. At the outdoor reception, Lilah is literally on the threshold of the temporary dance-floor when the skies darken and a tempest brews.

This is when Lilah is struck by lightning!

Thankfully, she makes a speedy recovery. No lasting damage, but a challenging new talent. Lilah becomes aware of disembodied voices. Levy has written these voices so tremendously well that the reader can sense she had a blast bringing this story to life. What must have been a difficult task for Levy was keeping a story like this so utterly kid-friendly. With humour, excellent characters, friendly and mischievous—but by no means dark—ghosts, and a plot that could stand on its own without the supernatural element, Levy accomplishes this in spades!

Throughout the course of the story, the reader is introduced to several ghost characters. One of the delightful things I found about these characters is that they were actually so well portrayed I could envision what each of them looked like, even though, obviously, there were no physical descriptions to speak of. We have Lilah’s Bubby Dora (her grandmother), Prissy LaFontaine (fashion icon extraordinaire), Mr. Finkel (Andrew Finkel’s father—Andrew being the boy that Lilah is head over heels for) and also watch for the young boy ghost Lilah runs into in her school.

There are some truly delightful scenes in this book, scenes that will make your middle grade reader giggle and totally relate to. Keep your eye out for the bra shopping scene and slumber party—truly authentic! Also, there are some great father/daughter scenes with Lilah and her dad—funny, poignant and powerful scenes (also funnily awkward scenes as Lilah and Dad discuss his new dating life).

A sign of a great middle grade book is its ability to resolve the issues of the main characters without coming off as too cheesy or predictable. Small Medium at Large does this. There are plenty of things going on in this story. Levy deals with bullying, divorce, death, first crushes, jealousy—you name it. Her ability to tie up all the threads in a satisfactory way is astonishing. Perhaps one of my favourite threads was the one with Lilah and her grade eight nemesis, ‘Dolly’ Madison. Of course, Dolly was going to be the bully of the story—she’s far superior to Lilah and her friends, being as she’s in grade eight and they’re mere grade sevens. Thankfully, though, Levy played this thread perfectly. Another sign of a great middle grade story is that not all bad characters are all bad and not all good characters are all good. I’m confident readers will love the way this thread plays out. I won’t go into details—as I don’t want to give away any spoilers—but sometimes help comes from the most unlikely of places.

If you have a young reader in your life, share this book with them! I’m sure it will become an instant favourite for them. Lilah’s a good kid—they’re gonna love her!
(less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Lessa Pelayo-lozada rated it 2 of 5 stars

When Lilah gets struck by lightning at her mother's wedding, something happens to her. She can hear her dead Bubby telling her that her dad needs to get over the divorce and dating. She can hear a famous fashion designer critique her clothes. She can hear the boy she like's dad telling her how proud he is of her.

Basically, Lilah can now hear dead people. And on top of all that, she has middle school, boys, and a changing body to deal with. It's a lot to take on, but Lilah is determined to make i...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Carol Owen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Those looking for a light read should definitely consider Small Medium at Large. While attending her mother's wedding, Lilah is struck by lightning. She survives, but is left with a unique ability - she can hear ghosts. Although she hides this from her dad, especially since one of the ghost's (her grandmother, Bubby) plans to get Lilah to help him see that he has to start dating again, she shares it with others, especially as the ghosts request her to give messages to love ones. This is not Ghos...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Stacy Ford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, kennedy-2013, girl-protagonist

Small Medium at Large is a fun story! Lilah is pre-teen Jewish girl who is pretty much like any one else, until she is struck by lightning. Then she starts hearing her dead grandmother, a deceased fashionista, a former student from her school who met an untimely death and a few other ghosts. Now, her normal life is taking an interesting turn.

Characters: Lilah takes everything in stride. Her moms wedding that opens the story, no problemo. Her single, almost hermetic Dad, not a big deal. Her crush...more Small Medium at Large is a fun story! Lilah is pre-teen Jewish girl who is pretty much like any one else, until she is struck by lightning. Then she starts hearing her dead grandmother, a deceased fashionista, a former student from her school who met an untimely death and a few other ghosts. Now, her normal life is taking an interesting turn.

Characters: Lilah takes everything in stride. Her moms wedding that opens the story, no problemo. Her single, almost hermetic Dad, not a big deal. Her crush on Andrew Finkel, she is dealing with it. Lilah is a strong character who is a problem solver. She is surprised, but not phased, when she begins hearing her dead grandmother after regaining consciousness. She deals with all sorts of problems, bullying, crushes, parents in stride. She is never over confident.

Plot: The story opens at Lilah's mother's wedding reception. Lilah is happy for her mother. However, when Lilah steps outside to retrieve her cell phone she is struck by lightning and everything changes. Lilah has no other ill effects from the lightning strike, other than now she can hear dead people speak to her. The first person to speak to her is her grandmother, Bubby Dora. Bubby Dora wants Lilah's help in setting her father up. He has been lonely since the divorce and hasn't even been on a date. Lilah is quick to see Bubby Dora's point and begins helping her find a match. Meanwhile, Lilah is having a typical middle school experience. She has a big crush on Andrew Finkel. She soon discovers his father has passed away when his spirit tries to communicate with Andrew via Lilah. At first, Andrew scoffs at the idea, but soon he discovers that Lilah is indeed telling the truth. Meanwhile, Ms. Lafontaine, the deceased fashionista, helps Lilah deal with a girl who belittles her style and really needs some help of her own. Together, Lilah and Ms. Lafontaine are able to help the aforementioned girls fashion show become a success.

The crux of the story is Lilah learning how to use her new "gift" to help others. The story is never too heavy and is a fun read.

Kid Appeal: I would say this is good for 5th-7th grade. Tween girls will like this book. It may have limited appeal with a male audience. The story is downright fun and enjoyable.

BOTTOM LINE: This book merits consideration and will be enjoyed by 5th grade and up.(less)

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Jul 22, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-paranormal, 2012-ya-debuts, middle-graders, ya-fantasy

Originally posted at Riffs And Reviews

This review is for the ebook version.

Joanne Levy’s début middle-grade novel, Small Medium at Large (what a great title!), is a funny and engaging story. Spunky 12-year-old Lilah Bloom is suddenly hearing dead people after being struck by lightning. With the help of these friendly ghosts, including her very own grandmother Bubby Dora, Lilah is determined to find a girlfriend for her dad – and maybe even a boyfriend for herself!

Levy’s début is full of fun and...more Originally posted at Riffs And Reviews

This review is for the ebook version.

Joanne Levy’s début middle-grade novel, Small Medium at Large (what a great title!), is a funny and engaging story. Spunky 12-year-old Lilah Bloom is suddenly hearing dead people after being struck by lightning. With the help of these friendly ghosts, including her very own grandmother Bubby Dora, Lilah is determined to find a girlfriend for her dad – and maybe even a boyfriend for herself!

Levy’s début is full of fun and mischief, as Lilah learns to cope with her new abilities and directs her dad in his disastrous attempts at getting back in the dating game. Along the way, she finds herself actually talking with crush Andrew (Andy) Finkel and experiencing some rather embarrassing moments with him. (I admit, I cringed as badly as Lilah did when these moments happened.) The story is told in the first-person narrative, so it is a good thing I liked being in Lilah’s head. She definitely had a pretty mature outlook for a 12-year-old, but there were moments throughout that made me remember she was a pre-teen. Scenes involving Lilah shopping for her first bra and discussing “french kissing” with her best friend Alex (Alexandra) are perfect examples. Both scenes made me laugh out loud and remember similar moments from my own younger years. I really liked her description of crush Andy, “Andrew had shaggy brown hair and emerald-green eyes. Perfect. And he was really nice, which is also very important in a potential boyfriend.” (Chapter 1) I’m going to have to agree with this sentiment – “really nice” is a VERY important thing to look for in a boyfriend, so to recognize that means she has a good head on her shoulders. I mean, let’s face it, a lot of boys may be cute, but they’re not all Prince Charming!

A couple of things surprised me (pleasantly) as I read Small Medium at Large. First, it was nice to see a story in which a child is living with only one parent and it’s dad. Mom is definitely in the picture – after all it was her second wedding where the lightning occurred – but it is clear that dad has primary custody. In many books where only one parent is in the picture it is generally mom, so I like when a father-daughter dynamic is brought in. The struggles Lilah goes through to get him back in the dating scene were cute and funny, and it was great to see how well-adjusted she was to her parents’ split. Secondly, Lilah is very open with her abilitity to talk to dead people – except with her own parents. Allowing her friends and other students (and even a teacher) to know of her ability seemed a little too trusting of her, but then I remembered her age and confidence and decided her openness was natural. This is a well-loved child with solid relationships around her, so being able to tell others about something unusual that has happened to her works.

Other than Bubby Dora, most of the other ghosts make brief appearances: Chuckles the clown at a party; former school cafeteria worker Miss Marion (who turns out to really know her food) in, of course, the cafeteria; a former girlfriend of the aforementioned teacher who wants him to do something important; etc. Fashion designer Prissy Lagontaine shows up more often, providing much-needed fashion advice, and a relative close to Andy also makes a few appearances, one of them leading to a rather humiliating little scene for Lilah. All of them are very friendly and/or mischievous, so there are no scares in this book. There are a few poignant moments with the ghosts, but this is a very light-hearted read and fear is not on the agenda.

On the human side of things, Lilah’s best friend Alex is flighty and boy crazy but bearable. Andy really IS nice and the perfect first boyfriend, and his inadvertent entry into the bra shopping experience is both funny and cringe-inducing (if you’re a girl). Somehow Lilah’s most embarrassing moments seem to involve underwear and Andy! Mean girl Dolly Madison turns out to have a heart, while Lilah’s friends Tamsin, Anita, Fiona and Sherise are sweet. And dad? Well, he’s a little lost with the whole dating thing, but he is also a really nice guy who ends up having a surprising shot at romance. All in all, a good group to spend a little time with.

With its engaging story, large doses of humor and spunky heroine, Joanne Levy’s début novel Small Medium at Large is geared to the middle-grade crowd but is a fast and extremely fun read that can be enjoyed by everyone. I’ll be keeping my eye out for future books from Ms. Levy, and hoping they are as entertaining as this one.(less)

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Oct 11, 2012 Clementine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, fiction, mg

When 12-year-old Lilah Bloom is struck by lightning at her mom’s wedding, she discovers she has a new skill: she can hear dead people. They are everywhere, and they are verbose. Her Bubby is one of the most opinionated ghosts, and she wants Lilah to help her get Lilah’s dad dating again. All of this means Lilah must navigate the stress of seventh grade while also dealing with chatty ghosts–and somehow, she’ll have to try to work up the courage to talk to her crush, Andrew Finkel.

Joanne Levy’s de...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedic-fiction, supernatural

When I was 10 years old, books didn’t get much better than Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Those two women knew how to create great characters, put them in realistic, but interesting situations, and make you care if those people solved their problems.

Joanne Levy, the author of the new middle grades book Small Medium at Large, reminds me of those two wonderful authors.

The story is about Lilah, a 12 year old girl with typical 12 year old girl problems – divorced parents, prissy schoolmates, a crush...more When I was 10 years old, books didn’t get much better than Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Those two women knew how to create great characters, put them in realistic, but interesting situations, and make you care if those people solved their problems.

Joanne Levy, the author of the new middle grades book Small Medium at Large, reminds me of those two wonderful authors.

The story is about Lilah, a 12 year old girl with typical 12 year old girl problems – divorced parents, prissy schoolmates, a crush that doesn’t seem to know she exists, and… oh yeah… dead people talk to her.

You see, Lilah was struck by lightning the day of her mom’s wedding. Don’t worry, she’s fine – if you count suddenly having conversations with her deceased grandmother – Bubby Dora, a famous dead fashion designer, an attention starved (also dead) birthday clown, and the father of her crush (yup, he’s dead too) as being fine.

There’s your plot. It’s fun. It’s silly. It’s a comedic version of The Sixth Sense in a lot of ways. This idea, in the hands of a lesser author, may have gone no where, but Levy’s strength is character. Lilah is one of those kids that you wish was in your class. Her best friend, Alex, is the perfect sidekick, loaded with believable (and the believable is the hard part, because most authors make 12 year old characters too adult) sass and chutzpah. Her dad is sad, but sympathetic, making a good contrast to Alex’s energy. And the ghosts each add something new to the play – comedy from Prissy and the Clown, heart from Andrew(the crush)’s dad, and mystery from the young boy Rufus. Lilah’s grandmother, Bubby Dora, though, steals the show – she’s absolutely fantastic, interfering at just the right (for comedy)/wrong (for Lilah) moments with the kind of sarcastic wit that will make middle grade readers fall in love with her.

With some of the strongest dialogue I’ve read in a long time and fantastic physical comedy, the book is full of hilarious moments, but my favorite is a scene in which Andrew and Lilah meet up at a cafe at the behest of Andrew’s dad. Andrew doesn’t believe what’s going on as Lilah tries to help his dead father communicate with his son. You can feel the frustration, sense the love, and understand the pain that both Lilah and Mr. Finkle must feel as the meeting goes south, but Levy throws in just the right amount of humor to keep the scene teetering on that line between laughter and tears. I’ll go ahead and say it, that scene alone is one of the best written passages in a middle grades book ever.

With a debut novel like this one, I can not wait to see what Joanee Levy has for us next. This is a true talent.(less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Paige Bradish rated it 4 of 5 stars

So I just finished Small Medium At Large and after reading the book I finally understand the title! I never really understood them before but now I do! Small Medium At Large is a story about a girl named Lilah who while attending her mothers wedding she gets hit by lighting. When she wakes up in the hospital she starts hearing voices and she's confused because only her parents are in the room but neither of them are speaking. The voice finally reveals itself to us as Lilah's dead grandmother Bub...more So I just finished Small Medium At Large and after reading the book I finally understand the title! I never really understood them before but now I do! Small Medium At Large is a story about a girl named Lilah who while attending her mothers wedding she gets hit by lighting. When she wakes up in the hospital she starts hearing voices and she's confused because only her parents are in the room but neither of them are speaking. The voice finally reveals itself to us as Lilah's dead grandmother Bubby. But don't worry Bubby isn't the only spirit we get to meet. I have to say that Joanne Levy did a great job keeping my interest between the spirits, Lilah trying to get her dad to date, and her trying to get her own crush to notice her it all kept my attention!

For this book it's hard to pick favorites because I really enjoyed all the characters but I have to say that I did have a least favorite and it might sound weird because this character was in the book for like 3 chapters but she still really annoyed me and that person was Lilah's mother. Why you ask? Well because her daughter gets hit by lighting and of course she's there when she wakes up the first time. But when she wakes up in the hospital the second time before she goes home her mother isn't there because she's gone on her honeymoon. Now granted Lilah did have her father who she was closer with but if I had a daughter and she was HIT BY LIGHTING! I would so not be leaving her side until she was at home safe. Anybody agree with me?

I absolutely loved Lilah's dad he was such a fun character to read. He was the kind of dad that I want my dad to be. He was like Lilah's best friend, a great dad who protected his daughter when need be but he wasn't way to over protective and he even let her help him start dating again! I thought he was a cute character because he just seemed so innocent! But you realize what a good relationship she has with her dad in the first place because after her parents divorce she lives with her dad instead of her mom. (Another thing about the mom. I would make sure I have custody of my kids!)

Sorry about all the ranting this book has sent me on a tangent! Anyways the whole spirit thing with Lilah! was another one of my favorite parts of the book. One thing that surprised me was how easily her friends and a few other people believed her when she told them she hears dead people. I would of thought she would of had a really hard time convincing them but she didn't and I sort of liked that! I thought it was awesome how the sprits just popped up out of nowhere to help her when she needed it!

This book for me gets a 4 out of 5 stars. Reason being is because although I enjoyed the whole thing I think a few things could of changed as I said above. But don't get me wrong the book was an awesome quick read and i'd definitely read it again!(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, signed-copy, for-author, bloomsbury, 2012, middle-grade

Joanne Levy's a local author to this area, and I was so excited when she offered to send me an ARC of her debut Middle grade novel- and I was so pleased to enjoy Small Medium at Large, even though it's fairly different from my typical choice of books.

An adorable middle grade novel, there were so many facets to love about this one- and I could easily see younger readers thoroughly enjoying this one, and even older fans of MG books for its sweet story and even sweeter heroine.

Reasons to Read:

1.A...more Joanne Levy's a local author to this area, and I was so excited when she offered to send me an ARC of her debut Middle grade novel- and I was so pleased to enjoy Small Medium at Large, even though it's fairly different from my typical choice of books.

An adorable middle grade novel, there were so many facets to love about this one- and I could easily see younger readers thoroughly enjoying this one, and even older fans of MG books for its sweet story and even sweeter heroine.

Reasons to Read:

1.A superstar heroine:

Oh, I just ADORED Lilah as a character! She's so sweet and well-intentioned, and she has these incredibly embarrassing moments at times that she totally shines during, regardless of how embarrassed she is. They're scenarios that could happen to any 12 year old girl (12 year old Brenna can remember feeling tha tway, at times) but I was amazed at how well she continually bounced back. She's exactly the kind of girl younger girls will be able to relate to, but she has this quiet kind of confidence that you can't help but admire for - exactly the kind of girl I'd want the preteen/teen girls I know reading about. She knows what's important in life and doesn't let things hold her down.

2.Uplifting family dynamics:

Not all families are perfect, but I really appreciate reading about some who try their best and you can tell truly love and care for each other. The Blooms are a perfect example of that, and Lilah's relationship with her father is particularly touching. They're incredibly close, in their own way, and work hard to support each other as much as they can.

3.A healthy dose of reality:

I like that life isn't all sunshine & rainbows perfection in the story. There's divorce and cancer and death (well, clearly since there are ghosts) and bullying. But Lilah doens't let that affect her in a bad way, and it doesn't change her character. She makes mistakes and learns from them - but more importantly she knows to admit when she's wrong. Similarily, other characters learn from their own pain, are possible ways to move on and let things go.

There were a few times I felt like Lilah's voice "slipped" and she came across as far older than a 12 year old girl - for example, I really don't know that many preteens who throw around the word "ogle" so casually. It can happen, sure, but I didn't feel like there was enough of an explanation for it (besides casually mentioning that she likes Scrabble - I think that could have been played up a bit more to explain her character and why her vocabulary is so impressive most of the time).

And definitely be prepared for a book that's very much a MG read - I know that should be a given, but I also want readers to be clear that it's a very quick read, with a straightforward and enjoyable story. Everything is neatly resolved and tied up by the end, leaving the reader with a satisfying conclusion.

ARC received from author for honest review; no other compensationw as received.(less)

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Mar 15, 2013 Annie McMahon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Positive Points
The embarrassing situations the main character found herself in made me laugh out loud. The author captures the essence and voice of a middle grade child very well in this book. It reminded me of how I used to be when I was twelve. I love books that can make me laugh and nod in understanding.

I always enjoy books with a touch of spirituality, and this one definitely had that. The whole theme of the book was about communicating with spirits. It also had good moral values, without be...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-july

This review was published at: http://wp.me/p1vzzU-jr

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy a refreshingly funny and likeable middle grade novel that is sure to be a hit with readers. The story follows Lilah Bloom, a twelve-year-old girl who is attending her mother's wedding to a new step-father. It's a pretty relaxed affair, and Lilah is happy for her mother - that is, until Lilah is struck by lightning on her way to retrieve her bridesmaid bouquet. From there, her life with never be the same, as...more This review was published at: http://wp.me/p1vzzU-jr

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy a refreshingly funny and likeable middle grade novel that is sure to be a hit with readers. The story follows Lilah Bloom, a twelve-year-old girl who is attending her mother's wedding to a new step-father. It's a pretty relaxed affair, and Lilah is happy for her mother - that is, until Lilah is struck by lightning on her way to retrieve her bridesmaid bouquet. From there, her life with never be the same, as she is hearing the voices of the dead, usually with hilarious results.

Ms Levy has a knack for writing a completely believable twelve-year-old. Lilah talks and acts like an almost-teen girl, and her conversations could have been transcribed from outside of my students' lockers. There's also a lot of humour in this book. I'll confess that I read it on the subway, and I managed to garner more than a few looks for my laughter (FYI - the scene where Lilah goes bra-shopping with the voices of her Bubby Dora and Prissy Lafontaine? Absolutely hysterical!).

Lilah's relationship with her Bubby is a loving one, and it is obvious that, even as a ghostly presence, her Bubby is a strong role model and caregiver for her granddaughter. The ghosts aren't there to be the focus of the book; instead, each encounter allows Lilah to either help someone in need, or to become more aware of her own abilities. Having said that, this isn't a 'preachy' book by any stretch and Lilah learns and grows naturally, making mistakes like any other girl her age.

What helps this book to stand apart from other middle grade novels is its ability to combine both supernatural elements with realistic fiction with a healthy dose of humour along the way. Lilah is a completely relatable character - smart, but still struggling in Math, a good friend, and shy around boys but yearning for Andrew Finkel to notice her. As well, she deals with very normal situations in her life - her first crush, school issues, friendships, encouraging her dad to move on and begin dating, and navigating the social structure of middle school. Yes, she does so with the guidance of ghostly advisors, but her character handles that unusual aspect with great aplomb and in a completely normal fashion.

In the end, it's this focus on the realities of life at a twelve-year-old and the ever-present humour that makes this such an enjoyable book. It brings to mind the best of my own middle school reads, and I would venture to say that this book ranks right up there with my favourite Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger books. If you haven't picked up a copy for your middle school reader, it will make a great summer read!(less)

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Oct 25, 2012 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, genre-middlegrade, 2012-50bookpledge

This, and other reviews can be found on my blog Just a Lil' Lost

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4.5/5 stars)

Lilah Bloom is just a normal 12-year-old, hanging out with her best friend Alex while watching her mom get remarried. As it starts to rain on an otherwise nice May afternoon, the last thing Lilah remembers is feeling tingles go through her body. She wakes up in the hospital to find that she had been struck by lightening and not only has she survived but she can now also hear the dead speaking to her. H...more This, and other reviews can be found on my blog Just a Lil' Lost

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ (4.5/5 stars)

Lilah Bloom is just a normal 12-year-old, hanging out with her best friend Alex while watching her mom get remarried. As it starts to rain on an otherwise nice May afternoon, the last thing Lilah remembers is feeling tingles go through her body. She wakes up in the hospital to find that she had been struck by lightening and not only has she survived but she can now also hear the dead speaking to her. Her deceased grandmother constantly speaks to her and insists that she must help her father meet someone. Between dealing with her new ability to playing matchmaker to catching the attention from her crush, Lilah’s got her hands quite full.

I don’t normally review Middle Grade fiction but this one was too delightful to pass up. I enjoy ghost stories and this one was absolutely entertaining to read. Levy has captured the voice of a 12 year old as how I remember preteens at that age to be like. The inclusion of problems that kids at that age (and, I suppose, any age really) would be going through was subtle and well-woven into the story. Lilah has to deal with the remarraige of one of her parents, which unfortunately is quite the norm nowadays. She achingly pines for her crush, Andrew, and many of us might remember at that young age to be so completely obsessed about a crush and over analyzing every encounter with them. Most importantly, Levy writes about Lilah’s experience with a school bully. Now, more than ever, the issue of bullying is so timely and the whole story around this is dealt with well, and without sounding preachy.

While I found some of the ghostly interactions a little campy and silly, I had to remind myself that this was a book for younger readers. I also found it a bit odd how almost everyone Lilah approached with her new talent was so quick to accept it and not find it overly strange. If TV has taught me anything with all those shows, I guess that’s how it is with mediums… if you have proof, it’s hard to dispute that! The ending left me a bit confused as to the outcome of a few of the characters and how it worked out for them but the story definitely leaves it up for a sequel, and I hope there is one!

Levy’s narrative is filled with humour and candor, with many cringe-worthy and laugh-out-loud moments. The younger readers will love this and the older readers will chuckle with the memories of their own experiences in some of these awkward situations.(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Lauren Goff rated it 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy from the author as a part of her street team giveaway. Thanks so much! : )

Small Medium At Large tells the story of Lilah and how a chance encounter with a bolt of lightning changed her world forever! After being hit while at her mother’s wedding, Lilah discovers that she had a new talent: she can talk to ghosts! The ghosts she talks to range from the famous to the everyday, and helping them deliver their messages to their still living friends and family is a real challenge. Esp...more I received a copy from the author as a part of her street team giveaway. Thanks so much! : )

Small Medium At Large tells the story of Lilah and how a chance encounter with a bolt of lightning changed her world forever! After being hit while at her mother’s wedding, Lilah discovers that she had a new talent: she can talk to ghosts! The ghosts she talks to range from the famous to the everyday, and helping them deliver their messages to their still living friends and family is a real challenge. Especially when some of those relatives and friends do not believe you. Follow Lilah on her journey to come to terms with growing up, budding relationships, and talking to dead people! You’ll be so glad you did.

I am constantly amazed at the quality of middle grade books that I have been reading lately! I always start them out thinking that they will be a cute, easy read to use as break between YA novels, but they always turn out to be so much more meaningful and fun than I am expecting! The same is true with Small Medium at Large. I had been seeing a lot of buzz about it on various blogs that I follow and decided that I would give it a shot. I was so excited when the author contacted me and told me that I had won a giveaway she had had on her site for her street team, which I had recently joined in order to help spread the word about the book. I read a little of the book over a few days and I was deeply impressed. The writing is wonderful, the characters are memorable, and the plot is not only unique, but also touches on real issues such as boys and first kisses and divorced parents.

The plot was wonderful. I must admit I was definitely not expecting the lightning strike. All I had known going in was that there was a girl who could hear ghosts. I suppose I thought this was just something she had always been able to do, but no! All of a sudden BOOM LIGHTNING! It was great and surprised me, and I loved it! It was so much different than similar books I have read. I cannot think of one character that I have read about that develops medium abilities from being struck by lightning! I do not want to give too much away about the story, but the story flowed very well and was easy to follow. The story was a perfect blend of supernatural, real life relationships between family and friends and possible significant others, and issues with growing up.

The characters were all very realistic and well developed in my opinion. I found myself caring about what happened to them. They also had depth and personality, which is something I look for in every book that I read. I love books that make me care about all of the characters not just the main one. Lilah was lovely. She was so sweet and caring, but she had her faults as well. Her dad was adorable. The ghosts each had their own stories and personalities as well, and I was really interested in learning about their lives. I also loved hearing about her boy crazy friends and Lilah’s crush.

I was expecting a fun break in between rather dark YA books, but what I got was so much more. I loved this book and I cannot wait to spread the word about it and read more from this author!!
(less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Christa (More Than Just Magic) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, apocalypsies, arc, comedy, debut-author, middle-grade, publisher-bloomsbury, sent-for-review

Originally reviewed at Hooked on Books

Small Medium At Large is the story of a spunky young girl named, Lilah Bloom. One day, the day of her mother's wedding to be exact, she gets struck my lightning. Nothing quite gets your attention like someone getting struck by lightining. That is, unless that person can then hear the voice of her dead grandmother, who wants her to help her dad start dating again.

If I were to use a single word to describe Small Medium at Large it would have to be hilarious. F...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended Age:
12+

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

Overall Review:
Lilah Bloom is the epitome of ordinary. She's interested in makeup, malls, and boys; she's eagerly anticipating her thirteenth birthday party in a few months; and... she can hear dead people? After getting struck by lightning, Lilah wakes up in the hospital to discover that she can hear her outspoken grandmother, Bubby Dora—a woman who's been dead for years. Bubby Dora is joined by a host of entertaining, insightful, and sometimes tende...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-childrens-lit

GUYS, Small Medium at Large is every bit as frickin' adorable as the puntastic title implies, and I am so happy to be able to say that. I had extremely high hopes for Joanne Levy's debut, since we've bonded over Twitter, but experience has shown that just because I love an author, I won't necessarily be impressed by their novels. Thankfully, Joanne's was a little ray of middle grade sunshine that made me say "AWWWW" out loud multiple times.

From the very beginning, I knew I would love this, becau...more GUYS, Small Medium at Large is every bit as frickin' adorable as the puntastic title implies, and I am so happy to be able to say that. I had extremely high hopes for Joanne Levy's debut, since we've bonded over Twitter, but experience has shown that just because I love an author, I won't necessarily be impressed by their novels. Thankfully, Joanne's was a little ray of middle grade sunshine that made me say "AWWWW" out loud multiple times.

From the very beginning, I knew I would love this, because Lilah has such a great, optimistic voice, perfect for a middle grade narrator. As the book begins, Lilah's the bridesmaid as her mother marries her new step-father, Stan. In most books, this would be where we hear about the evil step-parent or sadness over the divorce, but Lilah is nothing but supportive of her parents finding happiness. Even better, both of her parents are involved and loving.

While standing outside the reception hall, Lilah leans against a metal pole while trying to scrape some crud off her shoe and gets struck by lightning. She wakes up in the hospital with all three concerned parental units (mom and step-father having delayed their honeymoon), apparently no worse for the wear. Well, except that now she can hear her Bubby (her dead grandmother) talking to her.

Turns out, the lightning strike scrambled her brain and now she can hear dead people, but not see them, which is probably for the best. It's like The Sixth Sense, only hilarious and adorable instead of creepy. These sassy ghosts do what sassy ghosts do best: impart lots of advice of varying quantities of usefulness, and also ask for help of their own. Lilah, being the sweet, caring girl she is, takes this all relatively in stride and does her best to help everyone that comes her way, with the occasionally bumbling assistance of her best friend, and future band-mate, Alex.

What made this feel so essentially middle grade was Lilah's reaction to all of this. She has so much less skepticism in the face of the phenomenon and much less fear of other people's reactions. Where a teen or adult would keep this information on the down low, Lilah tells person after person, because she's honest and wants to help. An older person might devise a clever way around telling how they know what they do, but that's just not Lilah's style. It was adorable, especially one particular scene where Lilah tries to convince her crush, Andrew Finkle, that his dead father was speaking to her. Oh, also amusing was Lilah's inability to avoid responding to the ghosts, such that she ends up getting caught talking to herself a lot.

Lilah's interactions with others, both ghost and human alike, are where the book really shines. She takes such good care of her father, urging him (at Bubby's request) to start dating again. Her interactions with Andrew are totally accurate to middle school flirting in their sweet awkwardness. Bubby and Ms. Lafontaine stole the show with their sassy advice to Lilah, as well as their occasional shock at twelve-year-olds these days, who want to get kissed at the seventh grade dance (shocking!).

If you love adorable middle grade stories or know some middle graders who do, Small Medium at Large is an excellent choice, sure to delight a younger reader even more than it did me.(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Liliah can hear dead people, but this really isn't a ghost story. This is a story about a girl trying to get through those rough middle school years who just happens to get some pretty excellent advice from dead people. Namely, her grandmother and a once uber famous fashion designer. What I wouldn't do to talk to my grandmothers again! Lilah goes through the normal ups and downs of 7th grade - snotty girls & cute boys -and in my opinion, she is one lucky girl to have her ghost sidekicks. The...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: class-of-2k12

I <3 this book!! This is a wonderful middle grades book that I think readers of all levels will enjoy. Not only is Lilah hilarious, but the ghosts that she can now hear are classic. Lilah not only has to deal with talking to her crush after an embarrassing (but hilarious) incident at the store, but her grandmother (Bubby Dora) has a mission for her. I like how the personalities of the students in the book are similar to what you'd see in school. There is so much about the interactions of the...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: july-2012, arc-tour

Read all my reviews at http://www.flyleafreview.com

I adore Middle Grade books. Well let me rephrase, I adore GOOD Middle Grade books. If you have read my About Me page on the blog, you'll know that once I read Judy Blume, Wylly Folk St. John and Beverly Cleary, my life was never the same. It is always exciting to me to discover a book or author that falls into this specific age group because I firmly believe, based on my own experience, that these books act as a springboard and can encourage a l...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Orchid rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-authors, arcs, contest-wins

Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

First Sentence:

Despite the suffocating mid-May heat, and the nonbreathable fabric of my lavender polyester dress, it was shaping up to be a very good day.

It would definitely seem that this is the year of mid-grade greatness. I have read a fair amount of mid-grade books this year and so far have not been disapointed by any of them, and Small Medium at Large was no exception.

Small Medium at Large is the third book I have read were the mai...more Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

First Sentence:

Despite the suffocating mid-May heat, and the nonbreathable fabric of my lavender polyester dress, it was shaping up to be a very good day.

It would definitely seem that this is the year of mid-grade greatness. I have read a fair amount of mid-grade books this year and so far have not been disapointed by any of them, and Small Medium at Large was no exception.

Small Medium at Large is the third book I have read were the main character is struck by lightning. Even so, I found this one to be unique and nothing like the other two books with lightning strike survivors.
What really made it so original and interesting would have to be the interaction between Lilah and the ghosts that begin to pop up in her life. I thought it was definitely a nice twist that one of the ghosts was one that was familiar to Lilah herself, being that it was her grandmother. I like to think the addition Bubby Dora, Liliah's grandmother, made it easier for her to accept her new found ability. Besides, Bubby Dora was an absolute hoot and cracked me up everytime she made an appearance.
One of the reasons I loved Small Medium at Large as much as I did would have to be the writing. I thought that Ms Levy did an excellent job of capturing Lilah's personality. She also knew how to hit the funny, embarrassing moments right on the head with out the humour coming across as forced or overly planned. I definitely look forward to seeing what else the fabulous Ms. Levy will have in store for readers on whatever she tackles next.

Lilah was definitely one spunky girl and a joy to read about. One of the things that surprised me most about Lilah herself would have to be how well she dealt with her newly gained abiliy of speaking with the dead. It was interesting to see that she did not freak out too terribly bad. Lilah was just one of those characterts that is absolutely likeable and who you want to see succeed, plus it was nice to read about a character that got on with their parents.

Usually I name one thing that I liked about a book, like an element to the story, but this time the thing I liked the most was a scene. And that scene would have to be the undergarment shopping/run in with Lilah's crush. Oh my goodness, I was giggling like crazy over this scene because it was flat-out hilarious and so well written. Ms Levy did an excellent job writing such mortifying encounter tn be forgetting it.

The only downfall of the awesomeness that was Small Medium at Large would have to be that it was over entirely too soon. I was so sad to see it draw to an end, but happy with the way things ended for Lilah.

Final Verdict: Small Medium at Large is an epically funny read with

Small Medium at Large earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.(less)

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Dec 19, 2012 Tara added it

Shelves: 2012debut, challenge-dac2012

Review originally posted http://bookalicious.org/2012/07/revie...

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy was a cute middle grade story with a premise I really enjoyed.

I loved Lilah as a protagonist. The set up for her psychic powers was awesome and I loved that the first voice she started hearing was her grandmother. She was dealing with so many problems that I remember dealing with when I was 12 turning 13, so it was so easy to relate to Lilah.

And the variety of voices that Lilah heard throughout...more

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