Official Review: Corey Tells a Story! by Meg Kimball
Posted: 08 Jul 2015, 11:35
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Corey Tells a Story!" by Meg Kimball.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Corey Tells a Story! by Meg Kimball is the 6th installment in the Advice Avengers series. It is a novel in the Young Adult genre. Corey Lawrence is a 13-year-old girl who co-writes the Advice Avengers column for the school newspaper with her best friend Andi. She has a close relationship with her widowed mother, although her mother’s dip into the dating pool makes for a few awkward moments.
Things get interesting when Corey, her close friends, and teacher become stranded at school during a snowstorm. A fun school sleepover ultimately turns serious, with the sharing of secrets and a surprise guest.
The author has a nice, natural writing style. The phrases in this book are creative and concise, as opposed to some writers who give long-winded descriptions to illustrate a minor point. As Mrs. Lawrence tells Corey regarding the private schools staying open despite an impending snowstorm, “The public schools could decide to serve alligator meat in the cafeteria, and the private schools would follow suit.”
The characters act in believable ways, such as Corey telling her ringing clock radio to shut up. I often talk this way to my kitchen timer and I'm sure most people have yelled at their alarm clock on occasion. All of the characters are vividly written. Sylvie, a nervous student, reads the school announcements incorrectly, to which another student comments that Sylvie has “mental cooties.” A popular student is visibly relieved when she realizes she received the wrong school pictures, which are actually Corey’s unflattering photos. Middle school life is depicted in all of its awkward yet lovable glory.
The witty mother-daughter banter is a pleasure to read. In one scene, Mrs. Lawrence tells Corey, “If Mrs. Fritz tells you to jump off a bridge, you’re in charge.” When her mother gets the point across that Corey forgot to feed the cat, Corey finds a creative way to prove the empty cat food tin is in the trash. It’s refreshing to see a Young Adult novel with a mother and daughter who have such an easygoing relationship.
Corey’s analysis of her friend Tyler’s Frosty the Snowman haiku is so funny it could be in a stand-up act. The best part is that her review lightens the mood when Andi has a meltdown in the restroom. There are several moments like this in the story, where there is a nice mix of weighty subject matter and comic relief to soften the tone.
There are a few grammatical errors and incorrect words/typos, but these errors did not distract from the story. In some instances, the word usage in Corey’s narration seems unrealistically mature for someone her age. Still, the dialogue among the characters and Corey’s narration are, for the most part, described in an age-appropriate way.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The plot is absorbing, but the real sparklers are the snappy dialogue and seamless blend of serious and funny situations. The story is geared toward tween and teen readers, but really anyone would enjoy this story of a nice teenager and the likeable people in her orbit. Note to the author (with apologies for paraphrasing): There were no lunch ladies harmed in the writing of this review.
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Corey Tells a Story!
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4 out of 4 stars
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Corey Tells a Story! by Meg Kimball is the 6th installment in the Advice Avengers series. It is a novel in the Young Adult genre. Corey Lawrence is a 13-year-old girl who co-writes the Advice Avengers column for the school newspaper with her best friend Andi. She has a close relationship with her widowed mother, although her mother’s dip into the dating pool makes for a few awkward moments.
Things get interesting when Corey, her close friends, and teacher become stranded at school during a snowstorm. A fun school sleepover ultimately turns serious, with the sharing of secrets and a surprise guest.
The author has a nice, natural writing style. The phrases in this book are creative and concise, as opposed to some writers who give long-winded descriptions to illustrate a minor point. As Mrs. Lawrence tells Corey regarding the private schools staying open despite an impending snowstorm, “The public schools could decide to serve alligator meat in the cafeteria, and the private schools would follow suit.”
The characters act in believable ways, such as Corey telling her ringing clock radio to shut up. I often talk this way to my kitchen timer and I'm sure most people have yelled at their alarm clock on occasion. All of the characters are vividly written. Sylvie, a nervous student, reads the school announcements incorrectly, to which another student comments that Sylvie has “mental cooties.” A popular student is visibly relieved when she realizes she received the wrong school pictures, which are actually Corey’s unflattering photos. Middle school life is depicted in all of its awkward yet lovable glory.
The witty mother-daughter banter is a pleasure to read. In one scene, Mrs. Lawrence tells Corey, “If Mrs. Fritz tells you to jump off a bridge, you’re in charge.” When her mother gets the point across that Corey forgot to feed the cat, Corey finds a creative way to prove the empty cat food tin is in the trash. It’s refreshing to see a Young Adult novel with a mother and daughter who have such an easygoing relationship.
Corey’s analysis of her friend Tyler’s Frosty the Snowman haiku is so funny it could be in a stand-up act. The best part is that her review lightens the mood when Andi has a meltdown in the restroom. There are several moments like this in the story, where there is a nice mix of weighty subject matter and comic relief to soften the tone.
There are a few grammatical errors and incorrect words/typos, but these errors did not distract from the story. In some instances, the word usage in Corey’s narration seems unrealistically mature for someone her age. Still, the dialogue among the characters and Corey’s narration are, for the most part, described in an age-appropriate way.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The plot is absorbing, but the real sparklers are the snappy dialogue and seamless blend of serious and funny situations. The story is geared toward tween and teen readers, but really anyone would enjoy this story of a nice teenager and the likeable people in her orbit. Note to the author (with apologies for paraphrasing): There were no lunch ladies harmed in the writing of this review.
******
Corey Tells a Story!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble
Like bookowlie's review? Post a comment saying so!
If anyone else out there reads this volume (or #5), feel free to share your thoughts! I always appreciate hearing them! 
Yes I will. And the lunch ladies will continue to rule the school.
After reading Forever Twelve, I would read anything by the most sarcastical, hilariously heartfelt author Meg Kimball, but your review would definitely sound the alarm from the mountaintops to call new readers in. Bravo, and encore! To the both o' ya's. 