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Gigi Shin #1
Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd
FRONT DESK meets THE BABYSITTERS' CLUB in the first book of a new middle grade series about a twelve-year-old Korean American girl who starts her own tutoring business with her friends to earn money for a prestigious art camp and escape her boring Texan suburban town.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published March 5, 2024
17 people are currently reading
3,473 people want to read
About the author
Lyla Lee
22books740followersLyla Lee is the bestselling author of books for all ages. Inspired by her Korean heritage and love of pop culture, she writes cute and sometimes swoony stories that have been translated into multiple languages around the world. Originally from South Korea, she’s lived in various cities throughout the United States, worked in Hollywood, and studied Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. She now lives in Dallas, Texas. Visit Lyla at lylaleebooks.com or on social media (Kid lit: @literarylyla and adult romance: @authorlylalee).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 6, 2024
You know how it is with Asian parents and how it is with their expectations from their kids. It shows in this story and do believe me when I say it gets more serious than this when it comes to choosing subjects and our career when we are still kids in school. Our parents are more strict when it comes to anything that is not related to studies or our career. Even then we just can’t go out or do anything extra that would most probably distract us.
Well, I am not complaining. It has its good and not so good to it but I get it when I read books like this. I hope more growing kids get to read this book.
It is the story about a girl who sees that her parents would find it difficult to spend extra for a camp. But she comes up with a club to earn a little bit with her closest and friends who are interested in tutoring younger kids as well as those who needed it from their class.
I find this book to be really honest and it shows how proper communication between friends, between children and parents can resolve misunderstandings and cut the gap between them before things get complicated.
I love this book! Just go for it.
Well, I am not complaining. It has its good and not so good to it but I get it when I read books like this. I hope more growing kids get to read this book.
It is the story about a girl who sees that her parents would find it difficult to spend extra for a camp. But she comes up with a club to earn a little bit with her closest and friends who are interested in tutoring younger kids as well as those who needed it from their class.
I find this book to be really honest and it shows how proper communication between friends, between children and parents can resolve misunderstandings and cut the gap between them before things get complicated.
I love this book! Just go for it.
December 7, 2023
The first in a middle grade series perfect for fans of The Baby-Sitters Club, following a young Korean American girl who starts a tutoring business with her best friends to support her artistic dreams. Being in seventh grade isn't easy, especially when you want to pursue a art program that your parents can't afford and prove to them that you are serious about your career. Jiyoung "Gigi" Shin dreams about being an artist, she lives and breathes art. Yet it's not something her working class, immigrant parents want her to focus on, rather they'd have her pursue a more practical career. So when a prestigious art program appears, Gigi is determined to get in, even if it means starting her own tutoring business with her best friends to raise money... but nothing is ever easy especially when her childhood friend/crush and the most popular boy in school asks her to tutor him... and her friend also likes him. Family drama, crushes, friendship, and being in seventh grade, this was such a charming and cute book. I related so much to Jiyoung as an Asian American kid who wanted to be an artist. This book was adorable and just a really cute read, I will absolutely be reading the rest of the series and can't wait to see what Gigi and her friends get up to next!
*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing,Aladdin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing,Aladdin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
November 17, 2024
This was very sweet and thoughtful!
February 10, 2024
Thank you ŷ and Simon Kids for this ARC � I couldn't put it down!
Imagine the Babysitters Club meets kickass Asian and Muslim representation � talk about representation! I tore through this book in just two hours, soaking up every bit of it. The Asian parent references? Totally relatable and refreshingly authentic � major props to Lyla authors for keeping it realistic.
And can we talk about Gigi? An artist breaking stereotypes? Yes, please! As someone who once dreamed of being an art teacher, I relate to this so much it's not even funny. It's high time we saw more creativity from Asian kids, am I right?
The characters are so well-crafted, that even the parents feel like they could be your neighbors. And those parents owning an Asian supermarket, that's basically my grandparents? Pure nostalgia. Plus, as an only child myself, I felt a special connection to those references.
The conflict? Gripping and oh-so-relatable, especially for the middle school crowd. Trust me, I've been there � it's tough out there! I loved this! I could write an essay on it.
Massive kudos to Lyla Lee for penning the book of my seventh-grade dreams. This is the read I wish I had when I was in middle school.
Thank you! I could write more if I wanted to about Gigi. I will leave that up to Lyla.
Imagine the Babysitters Club meets kickass Asian and Muslim representation � talk about representation! I tore through this book in just two hours, soaking up every bit of it. The Asian parent references? Totally relatable and refreshingly authentic � major props to Lyla authors for keeping it realistic.
And can we talk about Gigi? An artist breaking stereotypes? Yes, please! As someone who once dreamed of being an art teacher, I relate to this so much it's not even funny. It's high time we saw more creativity from Asian kids, am I right?
The characters are so well-crafted, that even the parents feel like they could be your neighbors. And those parents owning an Asian supermarket, that's basically my grandparents? Pure nostalgia. Plus, as an only child myself, I felt a special connection to those references.
The conflict? Gripping and oh-so-relatable, especially for the middle school crowd. Trust me, I've been there � it's tough out there! I loved this! I could write an essay on it.
Massive kudos to Lyla Lee for penning the book of my seventh-grade dreams. This is the read I wish I had when I was in middle school.
Thank you! I could write more if I wanted to about Gigi. I will leave that up to Lyla.
February 5, 2024
When I saw the comp to Babysitters Club I knew this would be a fun nostalgic read!
🎨🖼️👩🏻č�
When it’s announced that a prestigious art camp is accepting applications Gigi and her friends all want to apply. Gigi knows her family won’t be able to afford it� so she comes up with a plan to raise the money� a tutoring program� she recruits her friends that each have there own curricular specialty and start to raise money for the group to hopefully attend the camp! A few obstacles are presented that felt very middle school and oh so perfect!
I loved this one! It really reminded me of the feeling I had at a young age and being so envious of the BSC girls and wanting to create a club with a group of my friends. I’m excited to hear what tweens think of this one and looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank You Simon Kids for the gifted ARC
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January 14, 2024
Gigi Shin loves art. She dreams of becoming an artist some day. Her parents think she needs for focus on math or science, something worth while. In Art class she learns about a prestigious summer art camp called Starscape. Gigi wants to go, but know her parents can’t afford to send her even if she gets accepted. She decides to start a tuturing program afterschool with her friends. Gigi’s parents find out about and are not happy, especially since she received a bad grade on a quiz. They feel it is taking up her studying time. Will she get accepted to camp & will her parents let her continue the tutoring? Read to find out!!
I enjoyed reading about Gigi-her friendship, her struggles & her perseverance, I can’t wait to see what happens to her next.
I enjoyed reading about Gigi-her friendship, her struggles & her perseverance, I can’t wait to see what happens to her next.
March 9, 2024
Gigi Shin is a Korean American middle school student. She has a small circle of three friends that have similar interests, art. By all accounts, they are all extremely talented art
ists and they all are good at different subjects in school which becomes the driving force for them to make money. Their art teacher has offered an opportunity to attend a prestigious art camp the following summer which they will have to apply for. Knowing her parents would be against the art school, as they want Gigi to excel in science and math, she, behind their backs, starts a tutoring club called the Ace Squad, so she and her friends can make money to attend the school in New York City if they are excepted.
This sweet little chapter book is perfect for readers who enjoy great characters and girls who are self motivated to fight for their dreams. Not to say, there isn’t the typical girl drama, boy crush and parental disappointment, this book delivers a great message on how to deal with difficult situations and find answers to solving problems harmoniously.
ists and they all are good at different subjects in school which becomes the driving force for them to make money. Their art teacher has offered an opportunity to attend a prestigious art camp the following summer which they will have to apply for. Knowing her parents would be against the art school, as they want Gigi to excel in science and math, she, behind their backs, starts a tutoring club called the Ace Squad, so she and her friends can make money to attend the school in New York City if they are excepted.
This sweet little chapter book is perfect for readers who enjoy great characters and girls who are self motivated to fight for their dreams. Not to say, there isn’t the typical girl drama, boy crush and parental disappointment, this book delivers a great message on how to deal with difficult situations and find answers to solving problems harmoniously.
March 14, 2024
This was an enjoyable middle grade chapter book. Gigi Shin Is Not A Nerd follows Gigi who dreams of becoming an artist and wants to go to an art camp called Starscape. But since it’s an expensive program that her parents won’t pay for, Gigi and her friends start a tutoring club to try to earn money for it. This was a great read that I think many middle graders will find relatable.
Thank you Simon Kids for sending me an advanced copy for an honest review.
Thank you Simon Kids for sending me an advanced copy for an honest review.
July 16, 2023
Fans of Debbi Michiko Florence and Erin Yun’s MG romance books will love Gigi!
🏻�
Gigi Shin loves drawing and all things art. When an opportunity arises for her and her best friends to apply to an art program in NYC, Gigi can’t wait. The only problem is the cost and her parents don’t want her focusing on art as a potential future occupation. So Gigi and her friends decide to form The Ace Squad to tutor kids so they can make their own money for the camp. When the cutest boy in school asks Gigi to help him in math, one of her worst subjects, she chooses her crush over the good of the group. Will Gigi be able to make it up to her friends?
🎨
This was such a cute book and what I hope is the start of a series. We don’t have enough middle grade novels that deal with crushes, but I also enjoyed the maturity of the girls and how they dealt with problems/issues and their friendship. This title releases March 5, 2024!
🏻�
Gigi Shin loves drawing and all things art. When an opportunity arises for her and her best friends to apply to an art program in NYC, Gigi can’t wait. The only problem is the cost and her parents don’t want her focusing on art as a potential future occupation. So Gigi and her friends decide to form The Ace Squad to tutor kids so they can make their own money for the camp. When the cutest boy in school asks Gigi to help him in math, one of her worst subjects, she chooses her crush over the good of the group. Will Gigi be able to make it up to her friends?
🎨
This was such a cute book and what I hope is the start of a series. We don’t have enough middle grade novels that deal with crushes, but I also enjoyed the maturity of the girls and how they dealt with problems/issues and their friendship. This title releases March 5, 2024!
January 16, 2024
I won this ARC in a book publisher webinar, and I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait to read more of this series, as this was the first in a new series by @LylaLee! Thanks again to @SimonKids for this wonderful novel!!
March 4, 2024
A short but fun read about responsibility and focusing on art as a respected job. I love how they decided to build a club to raise money and attend an awesome art school together. Their friendship is put to the test but they are very mature and responsible in how to deal with their problems, especially because they know how to recognize when they are being mean, and selfish and when it's time to apologize. Parents often prefer that their children have a secure traditional job, but the modern world has much to offer in the art department. It doesn't mean just to paint a painting and hope for people to buy them. I am glad that these books help to educate adults and motivate young artists to pursue their dreams.
I listened to the audiobook with librofm and loved it.
I listened to the audiobook with librofm and loved it.
March 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Aladdin for the ARC. Gigi Shin wants to go to art camp but her hardworking parents think she should do something more academic. Gigi and her friends decide to earn the money for camp by tutoring students. As this stars out as a good idea, new situations show that they might be in over their heads. Must have for school Libraries.
February 17, 2024
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Gigi wants to go to a summer art camp, but she knows her parents won’t be excited about that idea- because they would prefer a focus on academics. Gigi and her friends start a tutoring service to earn money, and when her parents find out and it causes friendship problems on top of that…she must find a way to save the business so she can get to camp.
Gigi wants to go to a summer art camp, but she knows her parents won’t be excited about that idea- because they would prefer a focus on academics. Gigi and her friends start a tutoring service to earn money, and when her parents find out and it causes friendship problems on top of that…she must find a way to save the business so she can get to camp.
Shelved as 'on-stack-at-home'
February 10, 2024I won this book with a goodreads giveaway. Can't wait to check it out.
March 31, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5
So glad this is going to be series!
So glad this is going to be series!
Want to read
August 9, 2023can’t wait!!! I’m sold based on the description. march can’t come fast enough for this book!!!!!!!!!!
January 6, 2024
Short and sweet! A worthy chapter book follow-up to THE BABYSITTERS CLUB. Looking forward to the next one!
March 10, 2024
A really fun and heartfelt middle grade debut series that sees Korean American Gigi forming a tutoring club with her friends to help pay for the artist summer camp her parents can't afford and don't support. Great lessons in friendship and honesty, this is perfect for fans of The babysitter club books with a modern twist. Good on audio and highly recommended. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series as they come out!
May 28, 2024
If you love the Babysitters� Club series like me, and your favorite character was Claudia, I highly recommend that book
March 24, 2024
“Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd� by Lyla Lee takes readers into the world of Gigi, a middle school girl with high aspirations to be an artist. Growing up in a Korean-American family doesn’t make it easy for her, though, as she finds that there are expectations put on her to be good at math and science, and to plan for a career that follows from those subjects. She doesn’t know quite what to do to make her parents understand her profound love of art.
When she finds out about Starscape, a top-of-the-line summer art program in New York, she desperately wants to attend. Her parents can’t even wrap their heads around the idea, and she feels like she’ll never get their approval. She and her friends decide that the only chance any of them have of attending the prestigious Starscape program is to raise money on their own to prove that they are capable, responsible, and truly deserving of attending. So, they start a tutoring program, a la the Babysitter’s Club, so that they can raise funds and help people all at the same time.
All is going well until Gigi has some academic problems of her own on a science quiz, and her parents start to question her ability to handle everything she has taken on. She is determined to make it clear that she is perfectly able to handle everything, they just have to let her prove it.
Aside from academics and tutoring, crushes and friend drama fill the pages of this first book in a new series. Readers will be eager to learn what happens next to Gigi and her friends as they embark on more tutoring, art, and middle school adventures.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
When she finds out about Starscape, a top-of-the-line summer art program in New York, she desperately wants to attend. Her parents can’t even wrap their heads around the idea, and she feels like she’ll never get their approval. She and her friends decide that the only chance any of them have of attending the prestigious Starscape program is to raise money on their own to prove that they are capable, responsible, and truly deserving of attending. So, they start a tutoring program, a la the Babysitter’s Club, so that they can raise funds and help people all at the same time.
All is going well until Gigi has some academic problems of her own on a science quiz, and her parents start to question her ability to handle everything she has taken on. She is determined to make it clear that she is perfectly able to handle everything, they just have to let her prove it.
Aside from academics and tutoring, crushes and friend drama fill the pages of this first book in a new series. Readers will be eager to learn what happens next to Gigi and her friends as they embark on more tutoring, art, and middle school adventures.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
May 24, 2024
Cute story, but not exactly what I want in a Sequoyah book. I know a lot of young girls will like Gigi and her friends.
March 5, 2024
The story follows a young Korean American girl who dreams of becoming an artist but faces resistance from her working-class immigrant parents, who want her to focus on her studies.
Ji-Young Shin, also known as Gigi, is an aspiring artist who dreams of attending an art program called Starscape. Her art teacher, Mrs. William, informs Gigi and her friends Carolina and Zeina about a college hosting the program. However, Gigi cannot afford the program, so she starts a tutoring group to help kids with homework and raise money. The club is doing well until a boy named Paul Kim Wiley enters the picture, and the drama begins to unfold.
The book strongly resembles the popular Baby Sitter's Club series, which is great for fans of that series, and I enjoyed reading it.
As the four friends have to work together to make their business successful, they face challenges and setbacks, but their determination and friendship keep them going. What I loved about this book was the relatable characters and the themes of following your dreams and pursuing your passions, even in the face of adversity. The diverse representation of the characters was also a highlight, with Gigi's Korean American background and her friends' different ethnicities adding depth to the story.
The author has done an excellent job crafting well-rounded and distinct characters, each with unique personality traits and quirks. Gigi, in particular, is a cute, determined character who is also great with kids. And her love for her made-up superheroes is endearing.
The other characters in the book are equally likable. Mrs. William is kind and caring, and Carolina is the group's math and science whiz. Zeina is loyal, and Paul Kim Wiley is a lovely boy who adds an extra layer of sweetness to the story. Emma, one of the friends, is humorous and provides some much-needed comic relief.
Overall, it's a great book to recommend to fans of the Baby Sitter's Club series or anyone who enjoys well-crafted characters and a fun, heartwarming read with a strong message of empowerment and friendship.
Happy Reading, Paige! ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ji-Young Shin, also known as Gigi, is an aspiring artist who dreams of attending an art program called Starscape. Her art teacher, Mrs. William, informs Gigi and her friends Carolina and Zeina about a college hosting the program. However, Gigi cannot afford the program, so she starts a tutoring group to help kids with homework and raise money. The club is doing well until a boy named Paul Kim Wiley enters the picture, and the drama begins to unfold.
The book strongly resembles the popular Baby Sitter's Club series, which is great for fans of that series, and I enjoyed reading it.
As the four friends have to work together to make their business successful, they face challenges and setbacks, but their determination and friendship keep them going. What I loved about this book was the relatable characters and the themes of following your dreams and pursuing your passions, even in the face of adversity. The diverse representation of the characters was also a highlight, with Gigi's Korean American background and her friends' different ethnicities adding depth to the story.
The author has done an excellent job crafting well-rounded and distinct characters, each with unique personality traits and quirks. Gigi, in particular, is a cute, determined character who is also great with kids. And her love for her made-up superheroes is endearing.
The other characters in the book are equally likable. Mrs. William is kind and caring, and Carolina is the group's math and science whiz. Zeina is loyal, and Paul Kim Wiley is a lovely boy who adds an extra layer of sweetness to the story. Emma, one of the friends, is humorous and provides some much-needed comic relief.
Overall, it's a great book to recommend to fans of the Baby Sitter's Club series or anyone who enjoys well-crafted characters and a fun, heartwarming read with a strong message of empowerment and friendship.
Happy Reading, Paige! ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
August 2, 2024I found this book really frustrating. First of all, what is that title about? There is nothing wrong with being a nerd. And there is literally no mention of the word nerd in the book aside from the title -- so it's not even a book about embracing your inner nerdiness or pushing back on nerd-based bullying -- it's just a really bad title. Perhaps something that reflects what the book is actually about? Ace Squad to the Rescue! Gigi Shin and the Tutoring challenge. Tutoring Club Comeback. Four Friends Find a Way. I don't know.
Second: I think comparisons to Babysitter's Club and Kelly Yang are fair and are a really accurate representation of the demographic that will love this book. I appreciated that it was short and pretty peppy -- good girl friendships, problem-solving, tween passions and goal setting. All of those are great. However. There's also a whole lot of intrinsic people pleasing baked into the book -- there's a tiny bit of subversion (it's ok to like art) but there's also a whole lot of "you are selfish for not consulting the group first".
I can't really articulate why this book bothered me, but I hated it. From the saccharine perfect tutoring solutions to the praise of bratty younger brother, it just wasn't for me. I know there intended audience will enjoy this, but it is definitely not my cup of tea.
Second: I think comparisons to Babysitter's Club and Kelly Yang are fair and are a really accurate representation of the demographic that will love this book. I appreciated that it was short and pretty peppy -- good girl friendships, problem-solving, tween passions and goal setting. All of those are great. However. There's also a whole lot of intrinsic people pleasing baked into the book -- there's a tiny bit of subversion (it's ok to like art) but there's also a whole lot of "you are selfish for not consulting the group first".
I can't really articulate why this book bothered me, but I hated it. From the saccharine perfect tutoring solutions to the praise of bratty younger brother, it just wasn't for me. I know there intended audience will enjoy this, but it is definitely not my cup of tea.
December 17, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Gigi loves art and would love to go to somewhere like RISD or Tisch for college, but first she has to get through middle school. When she finds out about a summer art school, Starscape, she hopes that her parents will let her apply. It's expensive, and they work hard running a Korean grocery store, so would rather see her go into a different field. Gigi and her friends decide that they will try to raise money for the school by tutoring other students. Gigi keeps this secret from her parents, but they know about it anyway. They are concerned when she isn't doing well on her own school work because of the time she spends tutoring. When she gets into the summer program, she finally shows her parents her artwork. They feel she is very talented, and support her more than she expected. This was a fun, quick book, and would be a good choice for middle grade students who want to pursue art as a career. I wish, however, that there were more books with students who want to pursue math, science, or health careers. (Remember, I'm a bitter ex-Latin teacher who couldn't get a job in the field, so I'm all about useful, realistic career expectations.)
Gigi loves art and would love to go to somewhere like RISD or Tisch for college, but first she has to get through middle school. When she finds out about a summer art school, Starscape, she hopes that her parents will let her apply. It's expensive, and they work hard running a Korean grocery store, so would rather see her go into a different field. Gigi and her friends decide that they will try to raise money for the school by tutoring other students. Gigi keeps this secret from her parents, but they know about it anyway. They are concerned when she isn't doing well on her own school work because of the time she spends tutoring. When she gets into the summer program, she finally shows her parents her artwork. They feel she is very talented, and support her more than she expected. This was a fun, quick book, and would be a good choice for middle grade students who want to pursue art as a career. I wish, however, that there were more books with students who want to pursue math, science, or health careers. (Remember, I'm a bitter ex-Latin teacher who couldn't get a job in the field, so I'm all about useful, realistic career expectations.)
January 3, 2025
This book was really interesting because it had a really good story. Unlike the other books I read where it goes from one thing to another really quickly, this story doesn't do that. Instead it goes pretty slow but also made me read the pages faster. This book also made me a little nervous because of how the main character hid stuff from her parents which made me kinda excited to see what happens on the next page. This book also gave me a little laugh because it relates to my life. Gigi ( the main character ) loves art and has problems with her parents. so when I read this it was quite relaxing cause I knew what her feelings were whenever she fought with her parents. What's really good about this book is it didn't make me bored. Well I take that back there were a few boring moments but I've never been this interested in a chapter book. I usually hate chapter books and whenever I have to read it I have a melt down cause books aren't my thing. But this book was a really good book. If you are really Interested in a book that has a Korean American or any Asian really, I recommend this story.
March 1, 2025
When Gigi Shin hears about a prestigeous art camp, she is thrilled, especially when she finds out that some of her favorite artists will be instructors! So she starts a tutoring business with her best friends, plus Carolina's friend Emma, to raise the money to go. There's just a few problems. Her parents aren't exactly supportive of her dreams, and she doesn't know much about tutoring kids. But surely it's not THAT hard, right?
While I did think this was a very enjoyable story with a good friendship-themed message, I have a few complaints. First of all, I don't think the title really makes sense because Gigi is never called a nerd in this book at all. Also, I felt that the expectations that were placed on her and her friends were a bit much considering they are onltwelve, but to be fair, I don't have Korean parents so maybe that's just something I'm not very informed about. Overall though, I liked it and it was fun and entertaining. And I kind of liked that not every problem gets solved by the end, because it leaves the reader feeling hopeful. Overall, definitely I would say this is a good pick for middle school girls looking for another book like the BSC.
While I did think this was a very enjoyable story with a good friendship-themed message, I have a few complaints. First of all, I don't think the title really makes sense because Gigi is never called a nerd in this book at all. Also, I felt that the expectations that were placed on her and her friends were a bit much considering they are onltwelve, but to be fair, I don't have Korean parents so maybe that's just something I'm not very informed about. Overall though, I liked it and it was fun and entertaining. And I kind of liked that not every problem gets solved by the end, because it leaves the reader feeling hopeful. Overall, definitely I would say this is a good pick for middle school girls looking for another book like the BSC.
May 7, 2024
3.5/5
This was a cute and quick middle grade read about an industrious Asian American girl who starts a tutoring club to fund her dreams of attending an art camp.
What I enjoyed:
- I always love seeing Asian American representation in middle grade books (and I appreciated that the love interest was half-Asian and half-white).
- The story was fast paced and easy to consume.
- I would probably read the next book(s) in the series to find out what happens next for Gigi.
What didn't quite work for me:
- The story didn't have quite as much depth as I would have liked to see. The stakes didn't feel particularly high, and the barriers that Gigi faced throughout the book were easily overcome. I don't mind a positive, bubbly middle grade read, but I do think the author could have dug a little deeper with some of her themes.
- The protagonist is supposed to be in 7th grade, but the writing and themes felt quite a bit younger. I imagine my 5th and 6th grade students would probably find the book to be a little young for them.
Thank you to Net Galley for my advanced reader copy!
This was a cute and quick middle grade read about an industrious Asian American girl who starts a tutoring club to fund her dreams of attending an art camp.
What I enjoyed:
- I always love seeing Asian American representation in middle grade books (and I appreciated that the love interest was half-Asian and half-white).
- The story was fast paced and easy to consume.
- I would probably read the next book(s) in the series to find out what happens next for Gigi.
What didn't quite work for me:
- The story didn't have quite as much depth as I would have liked to see. The stakes didn't feel particularly high, and the barriers that Gigi faced throughout the book were easily overcome. I don't mind a positive, bubbly middle grade read, but I do think the author could have dug a little deeper with some of her themes.
- The protagonist is supposed to be in 7th grade, but the writing and themes felt quite a bit younger. I imagine my 5th and 6th grade students would probably find the book to be a little young for them.
Thank you to Net Galley for my advanced reader copy!
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February 23, 2025I love when any book revolves around art, as an art lover myself. The cover is so fun and captures the book's voice well, with the swirly brush strokes and overall design.
This book showcases sweet friendships and though all the characters like art, they have different specialities (comics, fashion, etc.) and interests outside of art, too. It was neat to see each of their own styles and how the main character noticed this, too, in the macaroni art party scene.
I was impressed with their communication skills. When they were upset with their friend's actions, they talked it out and resolved them without letting things fester. They also solved issues with their students in tutoring sessions. Once Gigi did finally talk with parents, she calmly explained how she felt like her parents didn't value her passion for art while they prioritized her brother's interest in math and science.
I'm interested to see where the next book goes with the aunt storyline.
This book showcases sweet friendships and though all the characters like art, they have different specialities (comics, fashion, etc.) and interests outside of art, too. It was neat to see each of their own styles and how the main character noticed this, too, in the macaroni art party scene.
I was impressed with their communication skills. When they were upset with their friend's actions, they talked it out and resolved them without letting things fester. They also solved issues with their students in tutoring sessions. Once Gigi did finally talk with parents, she calmly explained how she felt like her parents didn't value her passion for art while they prioritized her brother's interest in math and science.
I'm interested to see where the next book goes with the aunt storyline.
February 7, 2024
I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Middle school brings both challenges and joy for Gigi Shin. She wants to be an artist but her parents prefer her to study science and math. Her art teacher shares about a special camp for artists. She knows her parents won't support this so comes up with a way to raise money to pay for it herself. Together with three friends, she forms a tutoring club. The four girls work out issues and help several students improve their understanding of different academic areas.
This is the first in this series that has been compared to The Babysitters Club series. It's a similar light writing style with undercurrents addressing more serious parts of friendship and families. Lee offers hints of possible situations in future books as she wraps this one with a happy conclusion.
Middle school brings both challenges and joy for Gigi Shin. She wants to be an artist but her parents prefer her to study science and math. Her art teacher shares about a special camp for artists. She knows her parents won't support this so comes up with a way to raise money to pay for it herself. Together with three friends, she forms a tutoring club. The four girls work out issues and help several students improve their understanding of different academic areas.
This is the first in this series that has been compared to The Babysitters Club series. It's a similar light writing style with undercurrents addressing more serious parts of friendship and families. Lee offers hints of possible situations in future books as she wraps this one with a happy conclusion.
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February 19, 2024
Gigi Shin is Not A Nerd by Lyla Lee is a well written middle grade novel about a group of friends who come together to form a tutoring club so they can earn enough money to go to an art summer camp in NYC. Like most middle grade students, the girls in Gigi Shin is Not a Nerd don't always make the right choices and the friend drama/resolutions felt very realistic.
The main character, Gigi, comes off more like a dictator but realizes the errors in her way when she's called out. The addition of Paul, a popular boy many girls are crushing on, also added a realism element that made the book relatable to me (even though I am far removed from my middle grade days) and young readers alike.
Overall a great addition to the middle grade genre!
Thank you to Simon Kids/Aladdin for gifting me an ARC to review.
The main character, Gigi, comes off more like a dictator but realizes the errors in her way when she's called out. The addition of Paul, a popular boy many girls are crushing on, also added a realism element that made the book relatable to me (even though I am far removed from my middle grade days) and young readers alike.
Overall a great addition to the middle grade genre!
Thank you to Simon Kids/Aladdin for gifting me an ARC to review.
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