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Bea Is for Blended
Girl power scores a goal in this uplifting story of teamwork, new beginnings, and coming together to fight for what's right--perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Lynda Mullaly Hunt.
Bea and her mom have always been a two-person team. But now her mom is marrying Wendell, and their team is growing by three boys, two dogs, and a cat.
Finding her place in her new blended family may be tough, but when Bea finds out her school might not get the all-girls soccer team they'd been promised, she learns that the bigger the team, the stronger the fight--and that for the girls to get what they deserve, they're going to need a squad behind them.
Lauded as "remarkable" by the New York Times Book Review, Lindsey Stoddard's heartfelt stories continue to garner critical acclaim, and her latest novel will have fans new and old rooting for Bea as she discovers that building a new life doesn't mean leaving her old one behind.
Bea and her mom have always been a two-person team. But now her mom is marrying Wendell, and their team is growing by three boys, two dogs, and a cat.
Finding her place in her new blended family may be tough, but when Bea finds out her school might not get the all-girls soccer team they'd been promised, she learns that the bigger the team, the stronger the fight--and that for the girls to get what they deserve, they're going to need a squad behind them.
Lauded as "remarkable" by the New York Times Book Review, Lindsey Stoddard's heartfelt stories continue to garner critical acclaim, and her latest novel will have fans new and old rooting for Bea as she discovers that building a new life doesn't mean leaving her old one behind.
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First published May 4, 2021
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About the author
Lindsey Stoddard
6 books218 followersLindsey Stoddard was born and raised in Vermont where she helped boil sap in her grandpa's sugarhouse, skied the snowy mountains, and began her love for reading and writing. She taught middle school English for 10 years in Washington Heights, NYC to the most inspiring, creative kids. Their excitement about reading motivated her to pursue her other childhood dream, writing books. She now lives back in Vermont with her husband and two children. She received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is the author of Just Like Jackie, Right as Rain, Brave Like That, Bea Is for Blended, and The Real Deal (10/25/22).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 25, 2022
Bea Ember is not sure she will be able to keep her spark alive in the overwhelmingly male Valentine household. She is gaining a stepfather, three stepbrothers (one with her very same birthday), and three pets who are all male. Bea has a great support team in mom Louise, Grandma Bea, and Aunt Tam (mom's friend and neighbor). There were many things I absolutely loved about this book: 1) The depiction of the give and take needed to blend a family. 2) Bea's best friend is autistic-- giving us a window into that world. 3) The strong soccer presence and resilience Bea and teammates exhibit. 4) The glimpse into a nontraditional classroom. 5) The ways Bea's teachers used quiet reading to encourage the habit and as a springboard for other skills. The principal and soccer coach was terribly misogynistic. I found him to be a very frustrating character, but was also surprised that parents did not step in before the semifinals. The team situation was quite dysfunctional.
If you love this one, be sure to look for Lindsey Stoddard's new title: The Real Deal
If you love this one, be sure to look for Lindsey Stoddard's new title: The Real Deal
June 4, 2021
This is the third book I have read by this author and I've loved them all. Lindsey Stoddard is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Bea is for Blended is a great story about Bea who is thrown into a blended family after her mom gets married to a guy with three of his own sons. Bea is not happy about this! Bea is spunky, has a great best friend and will be relatable to many kids who read this. Great story!
April 29, 2021
Bea Is for Blended is a heartwarming book about blending families, teamwork, unlikely friendships, and community. This middle grade book tackles so many topics almost effortlessly. Set in a small town with a soccer-loving, feisty protagonist, this one is perfect for fans of family stories, sports books, and books with strong female protagonists. You might shed a tear or at least give this one a bear hug when you’re done.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2020
Thank you to the author & publisher for sharing an ARC with #bookexpedition.
Bright, sparky and ready to ignite Bea Embers and her mom have always been a team. They’ve shared their memories with Grandma Bea, who reminds Bea to start each day with three things she’s grateful for, Aunt Tam who’s lived next door to Bea for her whole life, and Bea’s best bud, Maximilian.
But things are changing. Bea’s mom is marrying Wendell, and their team is growing by a new home, three boys and three pets. And one of those boys is Bryce (who’s the same age as Bea) and who won MVP last soccer season while Bea was given the Most Valuable GIRL award.
Not only is Bea trying to find her place in her new blended family, but she’s also learning firsthand about the inequity that exists in sports. Tired of having to prove her worth on the boys’ soccer team, Bea and her new neighbor lead the charge at school for a separate girls’ team. And it’s no easy task, with Principal/Coach Meesley’s constant inappropriate and sexist comments that girls are lesser athletes.
There are so many things that I loved about Bea’s story. Her teachers, Ms. Blaise and Ms. Kravitz are inspiring. The reading & writing lessons that are taught in Bea’s ELA class are some that I have taught my own 4th and 5th grade students. The way bullying is portrayed, and addressed, is super important.
But the thing I think readers will connect with most is Bea’s passion and dedication to fighting for what’s right. A must preorder! Publishing in May 2021.
Bright, sparky and ready to ignite Bea Embers and her mom have always been a team. They’ve shared their memories with Grandma Bea, who reminds Bea to start each day with three things she’s grateful for, Aunt Tam who’s lived next door to Bea for her whole life, and Bea’s best bud, Maximilian.
But things are changing. Bea’s mom is marrying Wendell, and their team is growing by a new home, three boys and three pets. And one of those boys is Bryce (who’s the same age as Bea) and who won MVP last soccer season while Bea was given the Most Valuable GIRL award.
Not only is Bea trying to find her place in her new blended family, but she’s also learning firsthand about the inequity that exists in sports. Tired of having to prove her worth on the boys’ soccer team, Bea and her new neighbor lead the charge at school for a separate girls’ team. And it’s no easy task, with Principal/Coach Meesley’s constant inappropriate and sexist comments that girls are lesser athletes.
There are so many things that I loved about Bea’s story. Her teachers, Ms. Blaise and Ms. Kravitz are inspiring. The reading & writing lessons that are taught in Bea’s ELA class are some that I have taught my own 4th and 5th grade students. The way bullying is portrayed, and addressed, is super important.
But the thing I think readers will connect with most is Bea’s passion and dedication to fighting for what’s right. A must preorder! Publishing in May 2021.
March 9, 2022
Bea's life has centered on her mom, grandmother, and aunt Tam. Now she has to handle a stepdad and three stepbrothers, one of whom is her nemesis from school and the soccer field.
December 14, 2021
It has been a long time since I have read a novel that was written as perfectly as "Bea is for Blended." When I finished the last page I sat, hugged it to my chest, and basked in the heartwarming togetherness at the center of this novel. My heart ached in the best possible way and I was so full of love for these characters, this family, this *team.* Lindsey Stoddard does an incredible job creating a world and a cast of characters that the reader will come to love. We have two families learning how to become one, we have a tenacious group of girls who are determined to be seen as equal to their male counterparts, and we have an inspiring set of teachers, parents, guardians, and found family who support them along the way.
Bea has always been on a team of two, the Embers Girls, with her mom. From the very beginning, it has been the two of them against the world, supported only by Grandma Bea and Aunt Tam. Bea can't quite decide how she feels about this team of two expanding to a team of seven as she and her mom move in with her new stepdad, Wendell, and his three boys as they prepare for the birth of her new half-sibling. Their new house is much bigger, much noisier, and much more crowded than the condo she's always shared with her mom, and she's much less excited to have her stepbrother Bryce on the other side of her bedroom wall than she was to share it with Aunt Tam.
The adjustment to her new blended family is complicated by a sexist dynamic in her middle school. Bea and her friends find enough girls to *finally* have a girl's soccer team instead of riding the bench and watching as the boys get all the playing time on their "coed' team. However, they face mocking from their male classmates, derision from their principal, who also serves as their coach, and adversity at every corner as they struggle to prove they belong on the field just as much as the boy's team.
Lindsey Stoddard does an amazing job of drawing you right in as a reader. You feel every injustice right alongside Bea, and you rejoice in her triumphs. Bea, her family, and her friends are easy to root for, and you might just find yourself as their new number one fan after reading this novel. This is truly a must-read for anyone who has ever been told they can't accomplish their dreams, anyone with a middle-grade student, or anyone who loves a good, captivating story. "Bea is for Blended" is the best of the year, in my book.
Bea has always been on a team of two, the Embers Girls, with her mom. From the very beginning, it has been the two of them against the world, supported only by Grandma Bea and Aunt Tam. Bea can't quite decide how she feels about this team of two expanding to a team of seven as she and her mom move in with her new stepdad, Wendell, and his three boys as they prepare for the birth of her new half-sibling. Their new house is much bigger, much noisier, and much more crowded than the condo she's always shared with her mom, and she's much less excited to have her stepbrother Bryce on the other side of her bedroom wall than she was to share it with Aunt Tam.
The adjustment to her new blended family is complicated by a sexist dynamic in her middle school. Bea and her friends find enough girls to *finally* have a girl's soccer team instead of riding the bench and watching as the boys get all the playing time on their "coed' team. However, they face mocking from their male classmates, derision from their principal, who also serves as their coach, and adversity at every corner as they struggle to prove they belong on the field just as much as the boy's team.
Lindsey Stoddard does an amazing job of drawing you right in as a reader. You feel every injustice right alongside Bea, and you rejoice in her triumphs. Bea, her family, and her friends are easy to root for, and you might just find yourself as their new number one fan after reading this novel. This is truly a must-read for anyone who has ever been told they can't accomplish their dreams, anyone with a middle-grade student, or anyone who loves a good, captivating story. "Bea is for Blended" is the best of the year, in my book.
February 15, 2021
Have you hugged a book today? Because I have. 💜Bea is for Blended is a lovely new book from Lindsey Stoddard about teamwork, family, and blending into something new. Out 5/4!
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The central argument of this book is that teamwork matters everywhere -- on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in the home. Stoddard's message here is that we all have something to contribute and everyone is much more than their worst moments. We should all be striving to uncover the spark within each other, build each other up, and rise above the bullies (both child and adult!) to choose kindness. 💜
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Bea's mom has married her archenemy's dad and now instead of just her and her mom in a tiny condo, she has to move in with three boys, two dogs, a new stepdad, and a cat named Fred. Even worse, a new girl moves in across the street from their new house and she wants to steal both Bea's soccer jersey number and her position! When the girls discover they have the chance to start their small VT town's first girl's soccer team, though, they will have to work together to overcome all sorts of obstacles (the worst of which is a misogynist principal). Add in a fabulous, loyal best friend who needs Bea just as much as she needs him, a feisty pregnant mom who is a *badass* EMT, a grandma who allows M&M pancakes for breakfast, and teachers who foster a love of books and reading...oh, my heart! There's just so much to love in here. 💜💜💜
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There is also lots of soccer ⚽️ action, which will be a great hook for plenty of kids. They'll pick it up for the soccer and stay for the rest. Grades 3+. Just perfect! Pre-order; it comes out 5/4/21. Thank you to @redcanoereader for sharing her ARC with me!!
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #beaisforblended @lindseystoddardwrites @harpercollins
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.
.
The central argument of this book is that teamwork matters everywhere -- on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in the home. Stoddard's message here is that we all have something to contribute and everyone is much more than their worst moments. We should all be striving to uncover the spark within each other, build each other up, and rise above the bullies (both child and adult!) to choose kindness. 💜
.
.
.
Bea's mom has married her archenemy's dad and now instead of just her and her mom in a tiny condo, she has to move in with three boys, two dogs, a new stepdad, and a cat named Fred. Even worse, a new girl moves in across the street from their new house and she wants to steal both Bea's soccer jersey number and her position! When the girls discover they have the chance to start their small VT town's first girl's soccer team, though, they will have to work together to overcome all sorts of obstacles (the worst of which is a misogynist principal). Add in a fabulous, loyal best friend who needs Bea just as much as she needs him, a feisty pregnant mom who is a *badass* EMT, a grandma who allows M&M pancakes for breakfast, and teachers who foster a love of books and reading...oh, my heart! There's just so much to love in here. 💜💜💜
.
.
.
There is also lots of soccer ⚽️ action, which will be a great hook for plenty of kids. They'll pick it up for the soccer and stay for the rest. Grades 3+. Just perfect! Pre-order; it comes out 5/4/21. Thank you to @redcanoereader for sharing her ARC with me!!
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.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #beaisforblended @lindseystoddardwrites @harpercollins
May 11, 2021
"What are your three?" 1. Receiving great book mail. 2. Spring that tumbles into summer. 3. My sweet pup, Marty.
Bea is for Blended is one of the sweetest middle grade stories that I've ever read. It's always been just Bea and her mom...well, until her mom marries Wendell and Bea suddenly finds herself surrounded by Valentines: Wendell, Cameron, Tucker, Bryce, Dodger, Roscoe, and Fred. There's also a new baby on the way. Bea struggles with all of these family changes while also fielding a new neighbor who also loves soccer, moving away from her best friend, and trying to convince the principal, who is also the soccer coach, that the girls deserve to have their own team.
Stoddard does a fantastic job of providing Bea with an authentic voice. There are many heartwarming moments throughout the book, as well as a few times that, just like Bea, I could feel "a fire burning hot in my belly" over the terrible treatment of the girls' soccer team. I also love that Stoddard uses long-hyphenated-phrases and has her characters read great books into her novels.
One of my favorite parts of Bea is for Blended is when Bea reads an incredibly sad part in The Bridge to Terabithia. Stoddard writes a "sliding glass door" moment that is just beautiful. "I hold the book and I cry. And I can't stop. I cry for Leslie and for Jess and I feel a big, aching sadness. A huge, painful injury. A deep, deep loss. A loss I've never felt before and could never imagine until now." I will be reading this passage to all of my students because these few sentences show the absolutely power and magic of books when a reader is invited into the story and becomes a part of it.
This is definitely a five start read! It's out now, so be sure to pick it up...and that's no "bullsharkey!" Thank you to NetGalley and HarpersCollins for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bea is for Blended is one of the sweetest middle grade stories that I've ever read. It's always been just Bea and her mom...well, until her mom marries Wendell and Bea suddenly finds herself surrounded by Valentines: Wendell, Cameron, Tucker, Bryce, Dodger, Roscoe, and Fred. There's also a new baby on the way. Bea struggles with all of these family changes while also fielding a new neighbor who also loves soccer, moving away from her best friend, and trying to convince the principal, who is also the soccer coach, that the girls deserve to have their own team.
Stoddard does a fantastic job of providing Bea with an authentic voice. There are many heartwarming moments throughout the book, as well as a few times that, just like Bea, I could feel "a fire burning hot in my belly" over the terrible treatment of the girls' soccer team. I also love that Stoddard uses long-hyphenated-phrases and has her characters read great books into her novels.
One of my favorite parts of Bea is for Blended is when Bea reads an incredibly sad part in The Bridge to Terabithia. Stoddard writes a "sliding glass door" moment that is just beautiful. "I hold the book and I cry. And I can't stop. I cry for Leslie and for Jess and I feel a big, aching sadness. A huge, painful injury. A deep, deep loss. A loss I've never felt before and could never imagine until now." I will be reading this passage to all of my students because these few sentences show the absolutely power and magic of books when a reader is invited into the story and becomes a part of it.
This is definitely a five start read! It's out now, so be sure to pick it up...and that's no "bullsharkey!" Thank you to NetGalley and HarpersCollins for an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2021
This is an amazing book about soccer and girl power and friendship. I love it a lot and could not put it down.
May 16, 2021
This is a kick-it-out of the soccer field novel for middle grade readers. Bea is trying to blend in with her new family while learning to fight for equal rights for boys and girls. I promise you'll have all the feels while cheering for Bea and her team.
May 17, 2021
Fans of Lindsey Stoddard will love her new MG lit release! Readers will be rooting for Bea and her teammates throughout the book as they stand up to an injustice at their school. This story is about the power of family, friendships, and finding your voice. Run, don’t walk, to pick up a copy!
January 22, 2021
Bea is adjusting to a new family unit as her mom married Wendell, who has three boys. Blended is the goal, but Bea sometimes misses when it was just mom and her. Did I mention a baby is on its way?!
I love Bea’s voice and gumption with her all girl soccer team coached by a man with misconceptions of girls, girl athletes, and girl power! Bea, her team, and two awesome teachers may have some lessons for him!
Love this book!! ❤️
I love Bea’s voice and gumption with her all girl soccer team coached by a man with misconceptions of girls, girl athletes, and girl power! Bea, her team, and two awesome teachers may have some lessons for him!
Love this book!! ❤️
January 17, 2021
I teach at an all-girls’ middle school and am always looking for books promoting girl-power to add to my classroom library. Many of my students are athletes and fight against sexism against female athletes. They will root for Bea. Children living in blended families will relate as well. Another beautiful Lindsey Stoddard book. Thank you, Harper Collins, for the electronic ARC on NetGalley.
March 31, 2021
Bea and her mom refer to themselves as Team Ember. It’s always just been the two of them in their townhome, plus Grandma Bea who takes care of Bea when her mom is at work, Aunt Tam (Bea’s second mom) who lives next door and Maximilian, her best friend. However, today that is changing. Bea’s mom is marrying Wendall, which wouldn’t be so bad, except for two things. Number one, Wendall is Bryce’s dad and Bryce is one of three boys in Bea’s class who have bullied Maximilian for years. Secondly, tomorrow Bea, her mom, and all of Wendall’s family (three boys, two dogs and a cat) are moving to a new house, which is a five minute drive away from Aunt Tam and her best friend, Maximilian and they will all officially become a blended family.
Except for the middle school principal (someone I wish didn’t exist in schools, but unfortunately does), I loved the adults in the story. - Wendall, who loves and supports his new family - Bea and Bryce’s two teachers who demand kindness in their classroom and will go to any length to help their kids find a free reading book they will love - Bea’s mom and grandma who demand Bea always begin her day by telling three things she’s grateful for and have raised Bea to be a strong, caring girl - and finally, all of the supportive parents of her soccer teammates. I loved some kids, as well. - Bea’s new, supportive big brothers - her soccer teammates who courageously fight for the right to play and dedicate themselves to achieving success - Maximilian, who is has always been a caring, supportive friend to Bea - and finally, Bea, who #1, understands Maximilian’s anxiety and is always there to quietly walk him through it and #2 finds the leadership, creativity and courage within herself to persuade the very biased school principal to allow the girls to form a soccer team.
This is a book for soccer lovers, for anyone who loves a heartwarming family story and for those who fiercely believe kindness, fairness and caring toward all makes this world a better place. You can preorder now for this 5.4.21 release.
March 12, 2021
Thank you to Lindsey Stoddard and Harper Collins for this advanced readers edition of Bea is for Blended, to be released 4 May 2021.
Bea and her mom have always been a team. It's always been just the two of them, with lots of love and support from her Grandma Bea and Aunt Tam. But on the first page of this story, Mom is marrying Wendell, who comes with 3 sons and 3 pets, and they are expecting a baby of their own. They have to leave their cozy just-the-girls condo and move into the big, noisy all-boys house.
Bea and his youngest son, Bryce, have been in the same class since 2nd grade and they don't get along. Bryce hangs with the bullies in their class and has become what Bea calls a bully-follower.
As you might suspect from the title, this story focuses on Bea's family and Bryce's family becoming one, big family. But there is so much more to this contemporary middle grade novel. In addition to the struggles of a newly blended family, Stoddard has woven in 5th grade characters who are dealing with a variety of tough issues: OCD, divorce, a big move, the death of a parent, and bullying. Mix in a chauvinistic principal, and two incredibly cool 5th grade teachers, and the stage is set for fun and growth.
Bea and the other soccer-loving girls at her school have always been told there isn't enough interest to form a girls' soccer team, but they are welcome to play on the boys' team. On the boys' team, however, they don't get much playing time. When a new girl moves in who loves soccer as much as Bea, they decide it's time to force the issue, so they find 11 girls to play. The principal insists they must also have a sub and a manager, so they find those as well, and the girls' team is born. Never one to make things easy on the girls, the principal insists on being their coach.
He clearly doesn't think the girls are as good as the boys, and he creates resentment towards the girls when he reduces the boys' practices to 3 days a week so that he can coach the girls 2 days a week.
That's not good enough for these girls - they are talented soccer players and want to get even better. They decide to practice without him, but he insists they can't practice without a staff member there to supervise them. Enter the very cool 5th grade teachers.
Ms. Blaise and Ms. Kravitz have been busy masterfully creating a cohesive, bully-free classroom, introducing their class to ASL to welcome a new student who is deaf (and moves in just in time to be the 11th girl on the soccer team!), creating a love of reading among their students, and are now supervising the girls' extra soccer practices while they grade papers and plan lessons.
This is a great story! I appreciate the way Stoddard keeps the adults as an active part of the children's day-to-day activities, but allows the children to handle the tough situations, knowing that their parents are right there to support them.
Bea grows so much through her experiences. It is clear that she is mature in many ways, having lived in an adult world most of her life. She is observant, responsible, and internalizes the things her adults teach her. The way she supports and protects her best friend, Maximilian, is so sweet.
But it is also clear that she has some things to overcome. What makes Bea so endearing is that she knows she has things to work on and she embraces the opportunities for growth as they come along, even if she has to grump about it a little bit first.
I won't spoil the ending, but it's perfect - without being a perfect ending.
Bea and her mom have always been a team. It's always been just the two of them, with lots of love and support from her Grandma Bea and Aunt Tam. But on the first page of this story, Mom is marrying Wendell, who comes with 3 sons and 3 pets, and they are expecting a baby of their own. They have to leave their cozy just-the-girls condo and move into the big, noisy all-boys house.
Bea and his youngest son, Bryce, have been in the same class since 2nd grade and they don't get along. Bryce hangs with the bullies in their class and has become what Bea calls a bully-follower.
As you might suspect from the title, this story focuses on Bea's family and Bryce's family becoming one, big family. But there is so much more to this contemporary middle grade novel. In addition to the struggles of a newly blended family, Stoddard has woven in 5th grade characters who are dealing with a variety of tough issues: OCD, divorce, a big move, the death of a parent, and bullying. Mix in a chauvinistic principal, and two incredibly cool 5th grade teachers, and the stage is set for fun and growth.
Bea and the other soccer-loving girls at her school have always been told there isn't enough interest to form a girls' soccer team, but they are welcome to play on the boys' team. On the boys' team, however, they don't get much playing time. When a new girl moves in who loves soccer as much as Bea, they decide it's time to force the issue, so they find 11 girls to play. The principal insists they must also have a sub and a manager, so they find those as well, and the girls' team is born. Never one to make things easy on the girls, the principal insists on being their coach.
He clearly doesn't think the girls are as good as the boys, and he creates resentment towards the girls when he reduces the boys' practices to 3 days a week so that he can coach the girls 2 days a week.
That's not good enough for these girls - they are talented soccer players and want to get even better. They decide to practice without him, but he insists they can't practice without a staff member there to supervise them. Enter the very cool 5th grade teachers.
Ms. Blaise and Ms. Kravitz have been busy masterfully creating a cohesive, bully-free classroom, introducing their class to ASL to welcome a new student who is deaf (and moves in just in time to be the 11th girl on the soccer team!), creating a love of reading among their students, and are now supervising the girls' extra soccer practices while they grade papers and plan lessons.
This is a great story! I appreciate the way Stoddard keeps the adults as an active part of the children's day-to-day activities, but allows the children to handle the tough situations, knowing that their parents are right there to support them.
Bea grows so much through her experiences. It is clear that she is mature in many ways, having lived in an adult world most of her life. She is observant, responsible, and internalizes the things her adults teach her. The way she supports and protects her best friend, Maximilian, is so sweet.
But it is also clear that she has some things to overcome. What makes Bea so endearing is that she knows she has things to work on and she embraces the opportunities for growth as they come along, even if she has to grump about it a little bit first.
I won't spoil the ending, but it's perfect - without being a perfect ending.
January 3, 2021
Every once in a while, a book comes along that is perfectly crafted, one that you want to keep reading but also savor slowly so that it doesn't end too quickly. Bea is for Blended is just that book. Lindsey Stoddard has expertly woven even the smallest details together so that the threads continually wind throughout the book. Bea has the most beautiful energy and is surrounded by tremendous people. Despite adversity and challenging circumstances, hope uplifts her along with her "I've got this" attitude. During a time when everything feels overwhelming, readers will appreciate Bea's ability to navigate her world and make it better at the same time. She is both spunky and lovable and also driven and caring. It's difficult to create characters with flaws that work naturally into the story, but Lindsey succeeds with every one. I wasn't sure I could love an MC more than Robbie in Just Like Jackie, but Bea is simply the best!
May 29, 2021
Stories about feisty underdogs are one of my favorite things and this absorbing book is certainly that! It is also a truly sweet story of of family, a supportive set of adults and a team that comes together to help each other. I didn't want to put this book down and I finished it in record time - something sadly unusual lately.
Bea Embers is dealing with a LOT of new things. Her mom is marrying and with her new dad, Bea is gaining 3 brothers, 2 dogs and a cat, all male! There is also a new baby on the way and one of her new brothers is a long-time nemesis in her class at school. Bea is a gifted soccer player but the school's soccer coach and principal has little time for girls and keeps them on the bench of her co-rec team. This year 11 girls have signed up and Bea thinks it is time they had a girl's team.
Readers will be rooting for Bea and her team AND the blended family that comes together for each other. Absolutely charming and a pleasure to read!
Bea Embers is dealing with a LOT of new things. Her mom is marrying and with her new dad, Bea is gaining 3 brothers, 2 dogs and a cat, all male! There is also a new baby on the way and one of her new brothers is a long-time nemesis in her class at school. Bea is a gifted soccer player but the school's soccer coach and principal has little time for girls and keeps them on the bench of her co-rec team. This year 11 girls have signed up and Bea thinks it is time they had a girl's team.
Readers will be rooting for Bea and her team AND the blended family that comes together for each other. Absolutely charming and a pleasure to read!
May 30, 2021
Thank you to the author for providing a copy with #Collabookation. I was drawn into Bea's character from the first page. The story opens with the wedding of Bea's mother, who just happens to be marrying the dad of one of her classmates. It's soccer season, and it is time for those who want to play to sign up, however, there is no girl's team. Instead, the girls have to play on the boys team. This sounds great, except the coach never plays the girls and benches them long enough so that they always quit. It turns out, that their coach is also the principal of the school, who favors the boys team in every possible way. When the girls get enough people to sign up to have their own team, they get push back at every opportunity. The girls get less practice time, old uniforms (while the boy's team gets new ones), and simply are not a priority. This is a fantastic story that would generate wonderful conversations around equity, bullying and being an upstander, loss of a parent, blended families, and more. Highly recommend! This story just had it's book birthday in May 2021. Available today!
May 7, 2021
Ms. Stoddard’s books keep getting better and better! This is one of the best juvenile fiction books I’ve read in 2021. I think so many kids will be able to see themselves, or their friends or their classroom or their family in this book. There are many themes that seem to be common in middle grade books - blended family, bullying, sports - but each is so well incorporated into the arc of the story that you almost don’t realize it. But at the same time it is having an impact. Sometimes books try to cover so many topics that the book feels jumbled and purposeless, but that doesn’t happen here. The author does a great job in developing the characters that I really feel like I got to know each one and the characters carried the story. I know I will be able to recommend this book to so many readers.
July 9, 2021
This novel is raw and gut-wrenching. It is the story of Bea and her mom, always a team. Suddenly, her family is growing and by adding her biggest enemy. In addition, she loves soccer, but the principal doesn’t value the girls and doesn’t grant them a soccer team even when they have enough players. Bullying is a real thing, and unfortunately it comes in all shapes and sizes. This is a wonderful, middle grade novel that is a must read. Everyone is valuable.
May 26, 2021
This is another great middle grades book by Stoddard about a strong, active, intelligent young girl. It is as honest and real as the rest of Stoddard’s work. Bea is faced with moving from life with her single mother to a house filled with new brothers and pets when her mom gets married. Although family plays an important role in this story, its heart is rooted in Bea’s determination to empower her classmates to establish a girls’ soccer team at their school. One of her stepbrothers, Bryce, represents all that she is up against in a system that would rather she quietly step aside, but it turns out Bea just might be unstoppable!
June 14, 2021
This is one of the best books I have read for middle-graders about blended families. Lindsey Stoddard has written a heartfelt, realistic, relatable book that should be in all libraries for kids. Bea is starting 6th grade, but that's not all that's new: after being a team with her mom all of their lives, her mom has married Wendell. They have moved into a new house with Wendell's three sons, two dogs, and one cat - and there is another new sibling on the way. As Bea struggles to make space for herself in her new, louder family, she find herself in a battle at school as well - this time, for a girls' soccer team. Fortunately, she has an amazing Grandma Bea who brings out the best in Bea, and helps her to focus on what she is grateful for. Though she is able to find enough members for a team, the school principal (also the boys' soccer coach) is reluctant and soon shows his favoritism toward the boys' team. When he refuses to listen to Bea and the other girls, they take matters into their own hands. I love that Bea is learning (along with readers) about conflict resolution, and that she is so loyal and supportive of her best friend Maximilian. I especially love that their teachers model and expect respectful behavior that doesn't compromise the values of anyone else. Sports fans will love this book, but so will non-sports fans.
Perfect for ages 10+.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. Opinions are my own.
Perfect for ages 10+.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. Opinions are my own.
May 1, 2023
An actual 3.5 stars.
The story of blended family and the hurt and love that can come with it. I enjoyed the 1st part of the book especially when it comes to Bea our main protagonist and Bryce her new brother who bullies her best friend. One of the main themes in the book is Bea started a new girl soccer team. The 2nd part of this book deals mainly on soccer. Im not a huge fan of soccer so I did lose interest. This book would be a fabulous book for girls who love soccer!! So if you have a girl who’s into soccer this book would definitely be for them!! All in all a really good read!!
The story of blended family and the hurt and love that can come with it. I enjoyed the 1st part of the book especially when it comes to Bea our main protagonist and Bryce her new brother who bullies her best friend. One of the main themes in the book is Bea started a new girl soccer team. The 2nd part of this book deals mainly on soccer. Im not a huge fan of soccer so I did lose interest. This book would be a fabulous book for girls who love soccer!! So if you have a girl who’s into soccer this book would definitely be for them!! All in all a really good read!!
June 1, 2021
enjoyed every bit of it! Lindsey Stoddard did an amazing job!
this book shows what girls are capable of and what they can do together as a Team!
I really recommend reading this book, Enjoy :)
this book shows what girls are capable of and what they can do together as a Team!
I really recommend reading this book, Enjoy :)
June 12, 2021
Lindsey Stoddard is a favorite for sure. Everything to love about this one as well as her other three (Just Like Jackie, Right As Rain, and Brave Like That). Great characters, great storyline and great nod to the Katherine Patterson classic Bridge to Terabithia. Loved it.
December 30, 2020
Just can't show enough love for Bea is for Blended~
Nobody is ever just one thing.
Be open to being surprised by others.
We are stronger together.
Girls kick *ss.
(grin)
Nobody is ever just one thing.
Be open to being surprised by others.
We are stronger together.
Girls kick *ss.
(grin)
February 13, 2021
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
So many readers will identify with Bea's situation as her mom marries and Bea is indeed "blended". She's also a soccer player whose team experiences unfair treatment by the coach (and principal!) who favors the boys' team. This will be an excellent chioce for student book clubs because as Bea's story unfolds, the discussion readers can have would be meaningful.
So many readers will identify with Bea's situation as her mom marries and Bea is indeed "blended". She's also a soccer player whose team experiences unfair treatment by the coach (and principal!) who favors the boys' team. This will be an excellent chioce for student book clubs because as Bea's story unfolds, the discussion readers can have would be meaningful.
April 29, 2021
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
5 stars = Outstanding!
This was a delight! It took me a bit to get a feel for Bea, but I feel like *Bea* was trying to get a feel for Bea at the beginning, too. I loved getting to "listen" to her process her feelings about all the blending going on in her life, the things she was learning through her reading, how her feelings changed about her step-brother. It was brilliant. The girl-power pieces with the soccer story were excellent. And I adored the adults in this book (well, most of them) - the ways they gave the kids space to work out some of the issues on their own and to advocate for themselves. At the same time, though, it was crystal clear that the kids had a lot of support that would back them up in force if needed. Do NOT miss this one - the characters, the story, the heart of this is fantastic! ( A few excellent uses of the term "badass.")
5 stars = Outstanding!
This was a delight! It took me a bit to get a feel for Bea, but I feel like *Bea* was trying to get a feel for Bea at the beginning, too. I loved getting to "listen" to her process her feelings about all the blending going on in her life, the things she was learning through her reading, how her feelings changed about her step-brother. It was brilliant. The girl-power pieces with the soccer story were excellent. And I adored the adults in this book (well, most of them) - the ways they gave the kids space to work out some of the issues on their own and to advocate for themselves. At the same time, though, it was crystal clear that the kids had a lot of support that would back them up in force if needed. Do NOT miss this one - the characters, the story, the heart of this is fantastic! ( A few excellent uses of the term "badass.")
June 12, 2021
Loved this strong, female main character!
May 13, 2021
Animated bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CO1ATu4De...
“It takes guts to build a home team.” What a perfect sentence to describe the multilayered themes of Lindsey Stoddard’s latest release, BEA IS FOR BLENDED. Bea is a force to reckon with and the epitome of girl power! Under appreciated for her awesome skills on the boys team, Bea becomes determined to form the first all-girls soccer team at her new middle school. At home (in a new house), she is trying to adjust to her newly blended family after her mom’s marriage to a man who has three sons (and three pets). I found both scenarios utterly relatable and loved how Bea influenced and encouraged others to be their best selves and consider new viewpoints. It wasn’t always easy, of course, and readers will admire her passion, tenacity, and resilience. They’ll love the vivid soccer scenes and the action both on and off the field. Stoddard writes some beautifully tender moments, too, and I adored Bea’s friendship with Maximillian and interactions with her lovable grandmother. Endearing and engaging, BEA IS FOR BLENDED is a winning combination of family, heart, and respect and kindness for all.
“It takes guts to build a home team.” What a perfect sentence to describe the multilayered themes of Lindsey Stoddard’s latest release, BEA IS FOR BLENDED. Bea is a force to reckon with and the epitome of girl power! Under appreciated for her awesome skills on the boys team, Bea becomes determined to form the first all-girls soccer team at her new middle school. At home (in a new house), she is trying to adjust to her newly blended family after her mom’s marriage to a man who has three sons (and three pets). I found both scenarios utterly relatable and loved how Bea influenced and encouraged others to be their best selves and consider new viewpoints. It wasn’t always easy, of course, and readers will admire her passion, tenacity, and resilience. They’ll love the vivid soccer scenes and the action both on and off the field. Stoddard writes some beautifully tender moments, too, and I adored Bea’s friendship with Maximillian and interactions with her lovable grandmother. Endearing and engaging, BEA IS FOR BLENDED is a winning combination of family, heart, and respect and kindness for all.
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