Shine!

By J.J. Grabenstein, Chris Grabenstein

Can Piper find her own light in a world where everyone else shines?

5.5/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,691 ratings

224 pages

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Piper feels out of place at Chumley Prep, where everyone excels. Inspired by her hero, astronaut Nellie Dumont Frisse, Piper must discover if she can shine in her own way. As she navigates this new world, Piper faces big questions about identity and belonging. Will she find her place in the universe, or will she always feel overshadowed? Join Piper on a journey filled with humor, heart, and the quest to uncover who she truly wants to be.

From the publisher

Inspirational, commonsensical, and a whole lot of fun. –James Patterson Everyone deserves to shine in this sparkling new book from the New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, Chris Grabenstein, and coauthor J.J. Grabenstein–just right for fans of Word of Mouse and The Fourteenth Goldfish. Who do you want to be? asks Mr. Van Deusen. And not when you grow up. Right here, right now. Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper’s hero–astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse–but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she’s just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad’s new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn’t fit in. Bursting with humor, heart, science, possibilities, and big questions, Shine! is a story about finding your place in the universe–a story about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 650L

Themes & topics

Books about school Books about self-esteem Books about social themes Books about middle school Books about new experiences

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Serious Subject Matter

This book contains a main character who strongly states that Santa Claus does not exist.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.5

out of 7

5.5

“The fantastic STEM tie in, inspiring female role model (astronaut), character development, and a great message about helping others unselfishly are all things to love about this book. Highly recommend, though there is one important real-life spoiler to check before having your child read this book, make sure to check the info guide on this page first.”

B is for Bookworm

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one