8 Notes to a Nobody

Bird Face #1

by Cynthia T. Toney

Anonymous sticky-notes, a scheming bully, and a ruined summer send fourteen-year-old Wendy down a trail of secrets and self-discovery. Wendy Robichaud doesn't care one bit about being popular like her good-looking classmates Tookie and the Sticks—until Brainiac bully John-Monster schemes against her, and someone leaves anonymous sticky-note messages all over school. Even the best friend she always counted on, Jennifer, is hiding something and pulling away. But the Spring Program, abandoned puppies, and high school track team tryouts don’t leave much time to play detective. When secrets and failed dreams kick off the summer after eighth grade, will Jennifer still be around to support her as high school starts in the fall? Using humor and offering hope, this story for tweens and young teens delicately addresses issues of bullying, eating disorders, imperfect families, and teen suicide.

Genres: Christian, Fiction, Young Adult, Christian Fiction

202 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

Cynthia chose to write for young people to show them how wonderful, powerful, and valuable they are. She creates complex characters and twisty plots—because life is complicated. Ask any teen! Her stories address issues that young people face today, but they are full of hope and laced with humor. Her characters are diverse in culture and ethnicity and include deaf and Jewish teens.

Cynthia's contemporary Bird Face series includes 8 Notes to a Nobody, 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status, 6 Dates to Disaster, and 3 Things to Forget. Her first coming-of-age historical, The Other Side of Freedom, takes place in the rural southern U.S. in 1925. It has received literary awards from Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards (2018 Outstanding Fiction Children/Juvenile and Second Place Fiction Book of the Year), Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2018 First Place Grand Prize and First Place Children's/Juvenile Fiction), Catholic Press Association (2018 CPA Book Awards, Third Place, Children's), and Readers' Favorite Book Awards (2018 Gold Medal, Children: Coming of Age).

In addition to writing, Cynthia has a passion for rescuing dogs from animal shelters and encourages others to save a life by adopting a shelter pet. In her spare time, she grows herbs and studies the complex history of the friendly southern U.S., where she lives with her husband and several canines.

She loves hearing from readers. Connect with her at cynthiattoney.com, birdfacewendy.wordpress.com, facebook.com/birdfacewendy, on Twitter and Instagram @CynthiaTToney, and on Pinterest.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

{Welcome to Teen Week! Every quarter we're going to try and do a Teen Week! A week where every weekday has a new review of a Christian book written just for teens! You’re reading the second one of this quarter's! :) } {Day One Here!}


About this book:

“Anonymous sticky-notes, a scheming bully, and a ruined summer send fourteen-year-old Wendy down a trail of secrets and self-discovery.
Wendy Robichaud doesn't care one bit about being popular like her good-looking classmates Tookie and the Sticks—until Brainiac bully John-Monster schemes against her, and someone leaves anonymous sticky-note messages all over school. Even the best friend she always counted on, Jennifer, is hiding something and pulling away. But the Spring Program, abandoned puppies, and high school track team tryouts don’t leave much time to play detective. When secrets and failed dreams kick off the summer after eighth grade, will Jennifer still be around to support her as high school starts in the fall?
Using humor and offering hope, this story for tweens and young teens delicately addresses issues of bullying, eating disorders, imperfect families, and teen suicide.”


Series: Book #1 in the “Bird Face” series.


Spiritual Content- A Scripture is quoted; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; A few prayers; Mentions of Church; Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of religions; Wendy wears a crucifix & is Catholic;
*Note: a mention of aliens.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crummy’, a ‘dang it’, a ‘geez’, a ‘screwed up’, a ‘what the heck’, a ‘witch’, two of ‘shut up’s, two forms of ‘wimp’, four ‘idiot’s, four ‘rats’, and eight ‘stupid’s; A mention of a promise not to cuss; Sarcasm; Lots & Lots of bullies, taunts, mean names, hating & wishing ill on death a few people; Wanting to hit someone; Mentions of alcoholics, AA & booze; Mentions of rehab; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of pimples & acne; A mention of a dead dog (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of looking at eye diseases; Wendy’s parents are divorced & many mentions of it; A girl passes out & staring at her (semi-detailed); A suicide & wake (barely-above-not-detailed);
*Note: Many mentions of makeup & wearing it.


Sexual Content- Many mentions of boys, cute boys & crushes; Mentions of flirts & flirting; Mentions of ugly boys & girls; two ‘hot’s when referring to how someone looks; A mention of a curvy figure; A mention of getting naked in the locker room; Wendy stuffs her bra with cotton balls & mentions of her breasts being small; Many mentions of & talks about eating disorders, anorexia, starving yourself & losing weight;
*Note: Mentions of shorter skirts, sport bras & bras; two mentions of a bottom, “I landed on my butt.” And “get your butt out of here.”; A mention of unwanted puppies due to the parents not being spayed or neutered.

- Wendy Robichaud, age 13-14
1st person P.O.V. of Wendy
202 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
{Add 1-2 stars for girls in Public School}
First off, I think the cover’s colors are really cute and fun. As for the inside of this book, I was taken back at how bitter & hateful Wendy could be. I can’t say I liked her much in the first half on the book. Wishing death or illness or failure on someone really isn’t the nicest thing to do. I wish there had been more Spiritual Content in this book, but it would have been especially nice if there was Wendy learning to pray over those who she is having difficulty with. Just my .02 cents. ;) By the very end, she had definitely grown, but I hope the next book in the series has more Spiritual Content. Public School girls will enjoy this book better, I think, compared to my fellow homeschoolers.


Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.

[Erin Cupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 Notes was a quick, engaging read that dealt with a number of heavy issues in a compact story. And isn't adolescence like that, really? It's such a short time when so much happens to the heart, mind and soul. 8 Notes tackles all those issues with courage and truth and not too heavy a hand. Wendy's characterization was honest, as was the depiction of life in late middle school and the landscape of all the changing relationships therein. The pacing felt right, and the development between and within the characters was engaging. After this first book I have the rest of the books in the Birdface series now on my TBR list! [I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covered a lot of tough subjects for a tween book. Bullying, eating disorders, suicide, alcoholism, divorce, envy. I generally prefer to read books with an older target audience, but I still enjoyed the story.

Wendy's friend Jennifer seems to have the perfect life. Jennifer's parents are still together, they have a lot of money, and Jennifer is both beautiful and confident. There was a moment where it is hinted that Jennifer might have an eating disorder, and I felt that that could have been expounded upon, to show that, no matter how perfect we might think someone's life is, we might not know what kind of cross they are bearing at any given moment.

Wendy is fairly unremarkable, but one of the things I liked about her is that she is a quiet, shy person who doesn't like speaking up. While in some ways what Jennifer said when she told Wendy she had to speak up for herself is true, but at the same time...I was shy (still am though not as much as I used to be) and it sometimes feels impossible to break out of that shell. I think that it appeared to be a little too easy for Wendy. She spent a day practicing talking to people in front of a mirror, and suddenly could fake confidence in front of anyone she met. I don't know if I'm unusual, but that does not seem normal. Even being able to speak to people more has it's consequences. After a conversation with someone, I sometimes find myself obsessing over one little tiny thing that I said that could be taken the wrong way. Sometimes it's bad enough that I wish I would go back to not talking at all. I guess I would have found it more believable if Wendy had had a problem like this as well, but I suppose there is the second book.

I really liked the way that Wendy's friendship with Alice developed. And with Wendy's mother now dating someone else, the next book might address annulment. I also hope to seem more of Tookie.

This is a good book for younger teens. Wendy is thirteen in the story, but there are a lot of deep subjects that I probably wouldn't have been comfortable reading about when I was that young.

[Theresa Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. I started it yesterday. I only meant to read the first chapter because I had things to do, but the story captivated me and before I knew it I’d finished the book!
This is a well-written story with realistic characters and situations. The subject matter is relevant to the struggles teens face today. I was drawn in by the voice of the main character and the humor—I even laughed out loud. But the story also pulled at my heartstrings, and many moments rang so true they brought me back to my teenage years.
The main character, almost fourteen-year-old Wendy Robichaud, has so much to offer but she just can’t see it. She sees others as having what she lacks and has to remind herself, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s life!” As the story unfolds, with the help of notes from an anonymous friend, she begins to realize the truth. And the truth can be hard at times. She hadn’t known the struggles other kids in school faced.
I wish I’d read this book as a teen or pre-teen. If offers perspective and solutions for the struggles teens face. It’s natural to be introspective in the pre-teen and teenage years, but the more we can look outside and really see others, the more we can realize we’re all in this world together. And everyone is carrying their own cross. Perhaps with that frame of mind, young people can see themselves and others in a new a light.
I am happy to have received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisa Godfrees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you remember junior high? That awkward time where your elementary BFF’s start to drift away because you’re in a new school with new people and all of a sudden you have options. Do you want to be in band, track, orchestra, choir? What electives are you going to take? Are you going to be in honors classes or regular? And the most important question – are you going to hang out in the popular crowd, or some other group? That is, if you have the choice.

Bird Face is an authentic look at the important transitional years of junior high. Wendy, the main character, figures out who she is going to be over the course of the book. Will she be defined by her friends, parents, or a name-calling boy? She struggles with divorced parents, anonymous notes of encouragement, a misunderstood bully, and girls with eating disorders. Not only is this book incredibly well written, the message is strong and from a non-preachy Christian worldview. As a parent, it reminds me of what it was like to be in junior high which will help me empathize with my girls as they get to that age. And I want to read it and discuss it with both my daughters as well. It's a must read for tween girls and their parents.

I received a copy of the book from the author for the purposes of providing an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 Notes to a Nobody manages to tackle the tough issues facing young teens without veering into melodrama or maudlin sentimentality. Instead, Cynthia Toney delivers a well-written, affirming story of self-discovery and maturation.

Both baffled and encouraged by a series of anonymous sticky notes, fourteen-year-old Wendy Robichaud navigates changing friendships, social cliques, her broken family, and bullies. Add in a budding romance, a surrogate grandmother, and some cuddly puppies, and you’ve got a novel that not only entertains but includes a roadmap for girls (and boys) struggling with challenges similar to Wendy’s.

There’s plenty of wisdom and practical advice deftly woven into the narrative, all of which reinforce the message that on the inside, we’re all remarkably similar - seeking acceptance and love.

I’ll be happy to share this with my daughters when they reach the middle-school years. It’s also worth noting that the text is impeccable, free of typos and grammatical errors.

[Karen Deblieck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird Face is a remarkable book that touches on a very common issue that dwells in the hearts of most teens--feeling that you are alone and the odd one out. Each of the characters struggles to find themselves in the harsh realites of junior high. Toney does a remarkable job of writing a seamless narrative that captures the angst of these years. Her characters, and their trials, are real and relatable.

It struck a chord with me as my teenage years were "troubled" at best. Her words carried me back to a time where I was alone.
I was a mess. And no one cared.

That is why this book is so important!
There are so many teens out there hurting,
and no one takes the time to notice them.

They feel like they are alone and no one else would understand.
This book exposes these "negative thoughts" as what they truly are--lies!

I would recommend this book for both teens and parents of teens.
It would be an excellent starting point for discussion.

[Loraine Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page, Bird Face pulled me in and brought me back to my school years in every well-written detail. Cynthia T. Toney did not pull any punches when dealing with issues like eating disorders, bullies, agonizing relationships, females snobs, and teen suicide, but at no time did I ever feel the story was heavy and depressing. I sympathized with the MC when tragic things occurred, but the main character's personality was refreshing and sensitively portrayed. Also, all too often characters can be presented as black and white stereotypes, two dimensional and blah. But the bullies and snobs had depth of character, and I could see why they were the way they were. I give Bird Face an enthusiastic two thumbs up. Well-done Cynthia Toney!

Loraine Kemp

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a meaningful middle school series? I think we've found it! My 6th Grader and I love this book and are looking forward to purchasing more by this author. Great writing, characters we can all (painfully at times) relate to, and REAL-LIFE a little raw-edged-without-being-trashy conflicts make 8 Notes a page-turner.

[Silver Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 NOTES TO A NOBODY is a compelling page-turner with heart. I finished it within a few days because of the way the writing and characters drew me into the story.

Wendy is a likable protagonist and becomes very "real" to readers through her individual quirks and strong narrative voice. I loved spending time with her and could relate to her lack of interest in following the "cool" crowd. Her friendship with a long-time friend brought with it a certain nostalgia, but also the bittersweet feeling that all of us feel with the passage of time.

Toney's writing style is a wonderful combination of clever turn-of-phrase and unique imagery. Her metaphors truly painted a picture in my mind and often were humorous, as well. It suited the story, as the writing style paralleled the personality of the main character.

While 8 NOTES is a work of contemporary realistic YA, I enjoyed the elements of mystery within, which added a sense of intrigue to the storyline. I could not wait to find out who was giving Wendy the notes, and found myself engaging in speculation as to his/her identity. While I will avoid spoiling the ending, I thought that it was a fitting resolution. I also enjoyed the sprinkling of romance and look forward to the inevitable development of a certain relationship in the next book.

However, more than anything else, what I found to be especially important about the novel was its theme of self-image. So many teenage girls and young adults are insecure about their appearance. They need to know that they are beautiful in their own way and that the popular, "cool" image of how you should look should not be used as a measure for their own appearance. This is the book for any girl who has ever felt insecure about her looks, whether to a mild degree or taken to a more extreme level. When reading, I also found myself reflecting on the idea that a "cool" girl with the perfect image according to society may, deep down, be very insecure. She reaches for what society wishes her to be, yet loses herself in the process. As a result of that insecurity, she may react in a negative way to those who reject society's norms. I don't think I have ever seen that concept played out to this extent in a novel before, and believe that Toney has hit on a truth that many teens and even adults need to remember.

I look forward to the next volume in this series!

[Vanessa Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for my 14-year-old; this is her review:

Wendy, the main character, was funny, charming, and very believable, and her best friend Jennifer was just as witty! Wendy was my favorite of all the characters in the book, and each character was colorful and different and they all had their unique problems and emotions.

The story itself was amazing, with a believable main plot line and varying, supportive side plots. I love how Cynthia Toney has brought so many different themes into Birdface! Many of them having to do with things that bother a lot of young teens, including best friends and the ups and downs that come with them, social expectancies and acceptance, bullying, girl-feuds, divorced/divorcing parents, boys, and the thresholds we have to cross in our teenage years before becoming certified adults.

It was incredibly hard to put down. I loved the characters and the stories; they almost literally grab you and pull you in like a fishing pole.

[Anthea Kotlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first yellow sticky-note to the last page of this book, the reader follows Wendy on a journey through a difficult time in junior high. While Wendy desperately seeks to find out who is sending her anonymous notes, she also begins the process of getting to know herself. Not just the person her classmates and even her family think she is, but the person Wendy is on the inside. Her faith, her family, and her friends help her on her way. Taking this trip with Wendy, gives readers of all ages great insight into serious problems young people face like eating disorders, bullying and depression. Despite the heaviness of such issues, author Cynthia Toney uses humor and healing to leave the reader with a sense of hope at the end this first book in a series that will no doubt be well worth the read.
I received a copy of the book from the author for the purposes of providing an honest review.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A standout among books written for or about the junior-high crowd: this book doesn't deal with vampires, the occult, or any of the other usual subjects. It does delve into the soul of a shy but talented eighth-grader who's trying to find her place in her family, her community and the cliques in her school. As she discovers more about who she is and how to be a friend to those around her, she sees others' vulnerabilities. Author Cynthia Toney nails the voice of the fourteen-year-old protagonist.
Recommended for middle-schoolers and teens--but this book carries messages for the adult reader as well.

[Mary Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Toney writes with an authentic middle grade voice, describing the various groups/cliques at school as well as the inner thoughts and insecurities of an 8th grade girl. Wendy Robichaud experiences typical junior high emotions as she deals with cruel taunting, her father's apparent indifference, and the loss of her best friend. But she learns valuable lessons in overcoming shyness that even adults can employ.
Even though I am middle age rather than middle grade, this story kept me engaged and connected with the main character. I'd recommend it for any tween and young teen reader.

[Shylock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was terrific as middle grade fiction goes. Sufficient drama, believable characters and real-world settings. As far as contemporary fiction for a specific age group, you can't go wrong with this for girl readers.

[Wendy Hinbest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It brought me back to my days in junior high. Great job Cynthia!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently Author Susan Peek posted a list of Catholic Teen Fiction a day for June. , I believe the list originally comes from Read the review on my blog Theresa Linden.. Of the 30 books in the list I had already read and reviewed 14 of the titles, and already had a few others in my to be read pile. But the title of this book grabbed my attention. This book was my introduction to the writings of Cynthia T. Toney, but it will not be my last. Before I had even finished this book I had picked up the eBooks for the other two in this series and added her book that is coming out in the fall to my wish list.

This book was a good clean uplifting read. It is in the genre of realistic fiction, but with strong Christian and specifically Catholic undertones. It also does a great job of capturing life in high school. And dealing with divorce and blended families. It starts with some bullying and the stress of school and teen life. But the beginning of the turning point for fourteen year old Wendy Robichaud, is the sudden appearance of random sticky notes with short messages and signed A Frend. The sticky notes are a little baffling, a bit of a challenge and get Wendy thinking. This book also deals with teen suicide, and does so in a caring sensitive way.

The book also deals with crushed expectations, friends growing apart, and also the development of new friendships. Overall I was very impressed with the writing and the character development in this story. But I must say if it still had the original title of Bird Face, and original cover I likely would never have picked it up. Once I got going in the book I could relate to the main character and being focused on artwork and getting school work done and done well.

One of the ways that I judge books is do I want to share them with my children. I cannot wait for my girls to be older to be able to read this book with them. I think there are a lot of great lessons in this book without being pushy or preachy. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author soon!

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Ainsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ⭐️ || i was forced into reading this book for a summer reading assignment but i am happy i did. this book goes along with my age range and i feel like in this day and age i can see similarities between teenagers now and the characters in this book. this book discussed very heavy topics and i thought that would make me not like it. surprisingly i enjoyed this book and i will most likely find myself reaching for the next book.

[Burton W. Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That really wasn’t what I was expecting. At first, I was drawn into “Bird Face” as I tried to figure out who was leaving the mysterious notes from the misspelled “frend” for Wendy Robichaud. But while there are many secrets to uncover in Cynthia T. Toney’s novel for middle school girls, it turned out not to be a whodunit, but an exploration into emotional scars, health and social issues, the pains of jeers and rejections, and the roller-coaster highs and lows of everyday life.

I cringed numerous times as the charming and witty Wendy struggled through her days. I would not care to relive my years in junior high school, and “Bird Face” reminded me why. As Wendy will tell you, there are the cliques such as the Sticks, the Suaves, and the Brainiacs. There’s the downright meanness of John-Monster, the haughtiness of Tookie Miller, and the maybe attentions of handsome and wonderful David—although why he’d actually be looking this way instead of at your much cuter and bubbly best friend… Maybe she’s drifting away to leave you all alone. Add into all this trying to figure out why your dad left your mom, if he even thinks about you anymore, and, well, how can God expect you to find joy in any of this swirling mess.

I thought I was reading a mystery story, but the mystery was about all the junk we keep locked inside. Layer by layer, secrets are revealed, and we learn that life isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence, that we just might have more going for us than we think, and that God just might love us anyway.

I heartily recommend this book. Cynthia is a great storyteller, and I think more of us than care to admit will identify the awkwardness, fears, and hurts, and will smile at also recognizing what grit, determination, faith, and willingness to reach out to others will accomplish.

[Susan Peek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suicide, parental separation, school bullying, eating disorders -- not exactly cheerful subjects to read about in a book, are they? Especially in a book written for teens. Yet those are exactly the tough subjects Cynthia T. Toney has addressed in this book. A bold story, to say the least, but one that offers immense hope to teens who are struggling with these issues, or have friends who do. And what is most surprising is that it is actually written with humor! "8 Notes to a Nobody" has for its heroine 13- year old Wendy, whom many a young girl in today's public school system can surely relate to. She's not Miss Popular. She's not a cheerleader. She doesn't have boys vying for her attention. She's just . . . well, a "Nobody." An average girl struggling with family problems, friend problems, self-image problems. Basically the normal growing pains that all girls go through. Then, out of the blue, someone starts leaving her notes. As her world and her friendships start whirling out of her control, the notes take on an importance in her life.
This is a delicate story, written with sensitivity and humor. I would not say it is suitable for every girl, but there is no denying these are issues that a lot of teens today face, and because of that, this book can potentially do much good.
One of the things that impressed me most is knowing that the author is a Catholic. She could have used her incredible God-given writing talents to churn out any old kind of novel, but she chose instead to use her writing to glorify God. This, alone, makes "8 Notes to a Nobody" worthy of five stars. This author wrote for souls that Christ loves, died for, and wants to help. I'm sure her story will bear much fruit.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 Notes to a Nobody is the first book in a series by Cynthia T. Toney known as Bird Face. Fourteen-year-old Wendy Robichaud is navigating junior high school, and all the social difficulties that accompany it. Along with trying to figure who might be sending her anonymous post-it notes, she is also working on understanding how she fits into her peer group, her family, and the world at large.
As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself that this book was basically the Alice series (by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor) for Christian kids. All the same heavy topics are covered here: divorce, friends growing apart, bullying, even suicide - but they are not used for shock value or to push the envelope. Instead, this book presents the reality of the challenges young teens face, and also promotes the idea that these difficulties are surmountable with the help of strong relationships with friends and family. There is a strong sense of hope throughout this book that makes it feel like a safe outlet for thinking about some of the dark issues that arise during adolescence.

Like many people, I had a very difficult time in middle school, and I remember it was hard at the time to find books that reflected my experience and seemed to really understand it. This author really gets it. My girls are homeschooled and at the moment, still quite young and sheltered. Someday, though, when we want to have conversations about the difficulties many girls have growing up, this book is at the top of my list for broaching those topics. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Zoran Majstorovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for every teenage girl. The main character is Wendy Robichaud. She's an eighth grader and has the typical teenage problems of growing up. She thinks Jennifer, her best friend, is so much better then her. She has a perfect family, perfect hair, perfect looks, and she makes friends easily. Yet, they seem to function very well together. Wendy is closed in her shell and without Jennifer her life is miserable. Somehow through difficulties that surrounds her, Wendy is opening up. She's realizing that we are not all talented in the same way. Someone has an extraordinary natural outer beauty and someone has an extraordinary inner beauty. But who defines outer beauty? And what really matters in life? Wendy is starting to realize that it is she who defines herself and what matters in her life. No one else.

This is also a good book for teenage boys because they can learn a lot of things that bother teenage girls and develop an empathy for them. So boys, no matter how unpopular you may be at the beginning, if you develop an empathy you are a winner at the end.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Glenn Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Robichaud is sweating eighth grade at Bellingrath Junior High. Bullies mock her looks, the cool kids ignore her, and her only friend is blooming like a flower—maybe growing away. Things are tough at home too; after divorcing mom, dad remains distant, and the gloomy little house feels like a cage. Someone starts passing her mysterious post-it notes at school, but is it a friend or another mocker? When the masks start slipping on the other kids, Wendy realizes she’s not the only one desperately seeking acceptance and in the process, she discovers secrets about friendship and self respect.
With sharp wit and a message of hope, Eight Notes to a Nobody gets real, focusing on middle school friendships and acceptance from a subtly Christian worldview. The author, Cynthia Toney, also touches upon the tough issues of bullying, divorce, eating disorders, first crushes, suicide and doing the right thing. With humor offering hope, for ages 10-14, Bird Face was an entertaining and encouraging read.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, engaging, and well-written story about Wendy, a shy, sensitive middle-schooler who feels inadequate in so many ways, despite her kindheartedness and talents. She experiences strongly not only the many pangs that are hers alone--her absent father, her too-large nose, and the bully who has singled her out--but also, vicariously, the pangs of her friends and schoolmates who have their own sufferings and pining for acceptance.

But even with Wendy's shyness, she's a spunky girl who works hard to improve her situation, overcome her inner obstacles, and learn to accept those parts of herself that can't be changed. Only then is she able to reach out to others. Wendy is a highly likable, relatable character--not prissy, not perfect, but somebody who manages to gain some perspective on life's crosses and gains by them. I can truly see how early teens/preteens could benefit from reading this book, as it covers many realistic struggles that young people face today. Oh, and it's a fun read, too!

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is about the difficulties of the middle school years. It’s a beautiful story that deals honestly with many difficult subjects such a low self-esteem, depression and other serious issues. Toney does an incredible job of tackling these hard topics in a hopeful and empowering way. I love how the main character finds the strength to take charge and change things for herself by following her 5 step plan to making friends. This is such a great proactive idea that all teens could try. My favorite part of the story was seeing how things changed for the main character over the summer as she prepared for high school. It was so wonderful to see that even though heartache and tragedies occurred things could change and get better, leaving this deep book ending on a wonderfully positive note. This is a great book for any middle school student. And you’ll be thrilled to know there is a sequel!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say that there has ever been a time in my life where I said, "Gosh I miss junior high." At least not with a straight face. Cynthia T. Toney reminds me why.

The protagonist, Wendy, speaks with an authentic voice, and her problems are the everyman problems of an 8th grade girl. The novel moves too quickly, though, and also deals with too many of the "big issues" at once. No need to cover suicide, depression, eating disorders, and bullying in one novel!

Still, the novel was good and I look forward to reading the next in the series. Because, while the author gifted me a copy of this one in hopes of a (favorable) review, free books aren't good books and my opinions remain my own. So much so, that I went ahead and purchased Book 2 in the Bird Face series and queued it up on the Kindle.

Want more? The blog post review is here.

[Benita Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad I had the entire afternoon free because I didn't want to stop reading this book. It really resonated with me because I and some of my friends have gone through similar things to what Wendy and her friends go through.

Overall Wendy was a good main character. In the beginning she was a little harsh and not altogether likable, but she grew over the course of the book which is a sign of a good story! My main impression of her was that she was very real.

One thing that bothered me was that the implied subplot with Jennifer losing weight was never played out. It had no closure. There were a couple of other subplots that never received closure either. I'm hoping they're developed in the second book in the Bird Face series, which I definitely plan to read.

I really liked 8 Notes to a Nobody and would recommend it to high school age and older.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Toney's debut novel Bird Face addresses tough topics such as divorce, alcoholism, eating disorders, bullying, and teen suicide. Yet the book is so full of hope it never comes across as depressing. Between Wendy's witty observations, the quirky characters, and crazy situations that can only happen to junior high kids, the book is quite humorous. With me, character is king. Often junior high stories feature secondary characters that are 1-dimensional. That's not the case with Bird Face. Cynthia has crafted each character to be unique. While you couldn't pay me to relive those days, I loved journeying through Wendy's experience and remembering all of those awkward moments that can only happen in junior high.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird Face reminded me of all the undercurrents and angst of Junior High life (and why I don't spend much time reflecting on that period of mine!) - but Cynthia Toney skillfully developed a shy girl into a confident young woman within the pages of this book. She demonstrates a solid understanding of the stresses of the age, then gently weaves in concrete actions or attitude shifts that young teens can employ to actually change their lives during a time when they feel the least in control. Everyone has a story and a burden that is unseen even by those closest to them; Ms. Toney brings those secrets to the fore with dignity. Wonderful book for teens - and adults, a mark of the best young adult authors!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stellar debut novel with a captivating voice by a talented writer. The main character, Wendy, is realistic and sympathetically portrayed, so much so that the book drew me in and transported me back in time to the end of eighth grade with all those up-and-down emotions, from joy to angst. The author holds nothing back in dealing with the serious problems affecting today's youth: anorexia, depression, divorce, alcoholism, and suicide, yet all are portrayed in a sensitive, caring manner, and the main character grows in wonderful and sometimes unexpected ways. Highly recommended for ages 13 and up!