Honestly, I just didn't really like this one. The writing wasn't my style, and I didn't really enjoy the story the way I thought I would. It was okay, nothing more, nothing less.

What a sweet book surrounded by friendship, community and nature! Perfect for teens who are going through transitions and are searching for those life long relationships. I loved the themes of preservation throughout the story. I also loved the way that the main character, Emma, navigates her way through the highs and lows of her journey.

"The Metamorphosis of Emma Murry" is an ideal novel for young readers seeking an adventure filled with love, determination, and unwavering companionship. This exceptional piece not only ignites the imagination but also instills a sense of direction, encouraging young minds to defend their principles while cherishing the ties of solidarity.
I thought the book was pretty good, especially for kids in middle school. It talks about some really important stuff like the environment and ecology. I think it's really cool to see books like this, especially since our planet is in such a bad state and older folks don't seem to care. Overall, I'd say it's a book that kids should definitely check out!

It was good for a middle grade. It introduces very necessary themes of environmentalism, ecology and stuff which is nice to see, specially as climate change is spiralling out of control and the older generations seem happy to be ignorant about it. The characters were pretty standard for a middle grade, annoying at times but nothing uncommon for a 12 year old. The resolution did feel a bit rushed, I think the paranormal element could've come into play earlier in the story so that it could be fully developed. There were some aspects of it that I got, but I don't think they were put there explicitly enough for the target audience to catch.

Literally every sentence in Spanish was written wrong, though. The author mentions in the acknowledgments that someone helped her with it, but I'm like 85% sure that that person doesn't speak Spanish because honestly. It was so bad.

This is a great read for a middle schooler. It is an engaging story, great characters, adventure, and civic duty / pride. I loved how the author used land development to show how the process works within a town. Getting signatures, talking to neighbors, and seeing that not everyone has the same needs and goals in mind was really effectively done in this book. The viewpoints of the characters were diverse with very strong opinions within the community,
The story also showed the main characters growing and changing as their friendships evolved. I appreciated the honesty of the struggles of growing up and dealing with adult issues while still being a tween.
The folk lore and ghost stories were really interesting and I was really wanted them to develop further but I felt like the author just left the reader hanging without concluding things one way or another.
I was extremely curious about how the author would end the book and I was very satisfied with the ending. Very smart.
I think any age person will enjoy this book.
Enjoy!

I enjoyed learning about the mountain setting and environmental issues in this book. I thought the premise was sound and a fun way to teach more about conserving locations for migrating monarchs as well as how to encourage their presence. The mystery was engaging as well.

The Metamorphosis of Emma Murry is a sweet, heart-forward story of a young girl discovering difficult truths for the first time. Deep friendships are put to the test, a crush on a cute boy turns out to be more complicated than she originally thought, and her community is divided between economic opportunity and the preservation of nature. It's a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone someone Emma's age, but she navigates it all with earnestness and openness. Though I'm not the target audience for this book, I can see how it would be a great resource for educators, artists, and nature enthusiasts alike.

Great book to use with my middle Grade Students. This book navigates teenage crushes, friends, and family issues in a way that is great for younger readers but also interesting for adults to read. We get themes of STEM, a bit of supernatural, and I highly recommend this great read. It is also a great read to Bring young readers a touch of YA while still being appropriate for young readers.

This book has everything a tween (or adult) would want in a book. Emma and her friends are spending their summer helping the butterflies by planting a pollination area with beautiful plants. When someone wants to tear down their area to put up a ski resort Emma and her friends know they have to do something. What follows is a story of fighting for what you believe in with a crush and a potential werewolf mixed in for added excitement.

The book also highlights nature and how important it is as the friends try to stop the ski resort from being built. This is exactly the type of book I would have wanted to read at this age and I enjoyed the book at my current age! One of the things I loved most about this book is the descriptions of Emma’s art. I could almost see the colors she was trying to match perfectly with the scene she was painting. The title is incredibility clever because butterflies play a large part in the book and Emma is growing and undergoing changes the same as a caterpillar does changing into a butterfly.

Don't miss this cute novel about friendship, community, and environmental awareness. As an educator, I'm constantly looking for novels that enhance our interdisciplinary program while also being appropriate for middle school students. This novel provides all of that without any foul language or sexual content. Two young girls fight to save their town's Monarch butterfly habitat from commercial development. In a wonderful combination of art theory and science, Laxton provides ample material to research and discuss with young readers.

The only part that I anticipate my sixth grade girls won't love is the ending. While it has a happy ending, it's a bit anti-climatic and fast. Even so, this will definitely be on the reading list!

Emma and her friends in the Black Mountain Middle School Environmental Club have worked hard to plant shrubs and flowers that will support monarch butterflies along the Greenway in town. She and her best friend Sophie even asked for plants instead of presents at their most recent birthday because they are so dedicated to preventing the extinction of the monarchs. So when they learn that a celebrity is planning to purchase land in the area and build a ski resort that will negatively impact the Greenway and the butterfly garden, they spring into action. Flyers, a petition, a presentation at the city council meeting…these teens are determined to protect the beauty of their town.

Middle school is a time of change - of metamorphosis - one might say. Emma and her companions are dealing with possible changes to their beloved butterfly garden and town, changes in their friendships, how to include new arrivals, disagreements on how to approach townsfolk to gain their support, whether to believe local legends or not, etc. The story captures that feeling of uncertainty, of worrying that friends are finding new interests or even new “besties,” and the flustered nature of first crushes.

I especially enjoyed the way that art terms were used to start off each chapter. Emma is keeping an art journal over the summer and must create an image to exemplify balance, line, contrast and other terms. Those same terms can be seen at work within the chapters. For instance, Emma associates a particular “color” with each person she knows, while the girls learn that their fathers have different ideas of the “value” of the ski resort being built. This is a great book for middle grade readers who enjoy stories of teamwork, environmental awareness, artistic projects, and the ins and outs of friendship.

A lovely middle grades story about friendship, trust, and finding your own voice. Emma and her friends from the middle school environmental club are on a mission to stop a ski resort development in their hometown of Black Mountain. The author does a good job of bringing the characters to life - they are relatable and authentic to today’s middle grades readers.