About This Book:
There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. They’ve been together all their lives. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that’s not necessarily a great thing.
There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. That’s because Renni Dean’s father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town. Renni’s desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets; is still pulling their strings.
When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni’s chair, the other seventh graders don’t know what to think. Orchid—who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris—seems to float. Her dress skims the floor. She’s wearing a flower behind her ear.
Fawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups—the self-proclaimed “God Squad,” the jocks, the outsiders—just like anyplace else. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them?
*Review Contributed by Mark Buxton, Staff Reviewer*
Who am I?
What worked:
The author shares common social drama found among seventh-grade students with tenderness and understanding. Bullying and self-awareness are the main topics, and the stories are told through the eyes of the different characters. The class is composed of thirteen students, which makes the cast of school characters more manageable for readers, and different chapters step within the minds of each student. The new girl, Orchid, is the catalyst that sets the feelings, gossip, and relationships into turmoil, and eventually clarity. The kids of Fawn Creek are content to keep things as they’ve always been until Orchid indirectly causes most everyone to reevaluate the people they’re becoming.
The author makes Orchid a pleasant, enjoyable, and mysterious addition to the small community in Louisiana. She’s pretty and kind to everyone, and she shares wonderful stories of her life in amazing places across the world. She doesn’t speak badly of anyone, even when she’s provoked, and she shows remarkable compassion when she sees others dealing with problems. Is she too good to be real? Rumors say she might be a witch or in witness protection, and no one knows where she lives? Classmates see her walk off into the woods, but there aren’t any homes out there. Who is Orchid?
The main characters, Greyson and Dorothy, have been tight friends for years, and they’re the glue holding the story together. They both dream of leaving “Yawn” Creek and are ready to make changes. Dorothy likes Orchid’s idea of calling herself Didi, and she imagines what her first kiss will be like. She’s infatuated with Orchid, and the new girl motivates her to get out of her comfort zone. Greyson has no interest in hunting and “manly” things like his father and older brother, but he’s afraid to tell anyone that he secretly likes to design clothes. It’s not clear if he’s going through a sexual revelation, but it’s extremely risky to broadcast his interest in fashion.
What didn’t work as well:
I’ve never been a huge fan of middle-school melodrama that I’ve witnessed and read about, so the plot isn’t overly captivating for me. However, most young readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters and relate to their experiences. Many readers are experiencing the same issues. As Orchid says later in the book, Fawn Creek students represent all of the groups you might find in any small town.
The Final Verdict:
Who am I? The book tenderly explores the confusing culture of middle school, as all of the main characters go through meaningful transformations. No one knows what will happen in the future, but the kids are setting themselves up to live out their dreams. The story deserves your attention, and I recommend you give it a shot.
*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*
