I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.



I read this book back in 2017 so I don't remember details but I do remember reading it.



Someone reached out and asked if I would be interested in participating in an author interview in preparation for the book's release. I'll post the relevant part of my response below:



To be honest, I was going to pass - but then I finished the book and went and looked up more about Johnson and the Code 7 project. In all fairness, I wouldn't say that the writing is the greatest in the world, but I love the idea behind the project. Code 7, while far-fetched and simplistic, does present key characteristics that, as a parent, educator and concerned citizen, I believe our youth need to develop. The compilation of stories makes it easy to understand those characteristics in a practical way and opens the door to honest conversations between kids and adults.
Two years on, I still believe this is an excellent book to open up conversations with young readers. And thinking about the simplistic language used in the book, I believe this can be beneficial as it will open the book to readers of all levels. And isn't that what we want from books: to have children connect with the characters and situations and then be inspired?

This is a collection of stories about 7 individuals and how they all fit together and how they are all going to work together to make things work for themselves and the people they are with.

Overall, it seemed a bit disjointed and I wished that the last chapter was a bit longer to really see the interaction and how each of the people that we'd already met worked with each other since the other stories weren't related at all.

Sadly, this book was not a good fit for me. I found parts of the stories hard to believe. I can't imagine any elementary school that would leave the children to generate ideas and execute them for a 50th anniversary celebration. Opening up a student to the public criticism of his peers or trusting a two-story mural to a 5th grader and a custodian is also irresponsible and improbable. The room cleaning story was over-the-top in gross details. Who would leave their new baby in a rat-infested room to teach their 10 year old a lesson? And the fact that the parents sprung this lesson in response to their 5th grader after coddling him by cleaning his room and doing his homework for him without taking responsibility for the problem is also unrealistic. I might have had some students who would read this and not catch these sorts of things, but those readers also would not understand vocabulary like "reprehensible." I liked how the 7 stories came together at the end, although I felt Kaitlyn's story was too short and not focused enough on her own material before pulling all the pieces together.

Unable to review because it turned out that the writing in the book was a little too simple for any of my students and for myself (even though I do love middle grade!).

Code 7 had me guessing from the very beginning, as I read each story I was trying to work just what each code was. When I got to the end of the book and realised what the concept of Code 7 was, it made me love the book so much.
So, let’s start from the beginning. There are 6 individual stories about different characters and they all come together with a new character in the end chapter, which is aptly titled Code 7. One of the stories is about Genevieve and her love for animals and how caring she is. The story shares her journey through a school egg project. This story brought back memories for me as I did a similar project when I was at school. I must admit, I didn’t work out what Genevieve’s code was…but can you?
The other stories follow on with a similar pattern, each a special story that is unique to each character. All have a code, none of them I guessed.
The letter that opens the book inviting you to crack the code made me determined to try and work it out. Each person in these stories have their own code, but across the world many of us have the same code.
The whole concept of your code is that it’s what you live by, for some it may creativity, or happiness, action or even friendship. For me my code would be FAITH because that is what I live by, my faith is very important to me.
Overall I think this is more than a book, it empowers children to believe in themselves and what they have to offer to those around them.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

So I was a bit surprised when I started this book, I was under the impression that it would be one book about 7 characters, but instead it is a book with 7 characters and their stories. Each story (but the last one, as that one connects everything (including the title)) can be read separately, you don't need to read them in order. Each story brings a new character, a new message.

I have written a small review for each story. In the end I will post an average rating for the total book.

Story 1: Jefferson: 4 stars. This was a really fun first story. The school is celebrating its anniversary and they need something awesome. I loved the idea of a mural and I also loved that people were so supportive of Jefferson doing it (plus it was cute that he didn't have a big ego, like so many others like him would have). I loved how he listened to everyone's ideas, students and teachers, but that, finally, he listened to himself. It was a good message. Yes, you can please everyone, but does that make YOU happy? And is that what YOU want to see for many years to come? The mural, well I was a bit disappointed, but it was a fun idea, and I can see why he picked it.

Story 2: Sebastian: 3.5 stars. Mm, on the one hand I wasn't happy with Sebastian, on the other hand I applauded his creativity. Plus it wasn't technically his fault that people got sick/broke out in hives.... it was his brother's. So I was a bit angry that Sebastian got the brunt of the anger. :| Of course I was agreeing with his parents: stealing is bad.
But I do sympathise with the kid, I know the feeling of wanting something that everyone else has. Back when I was a kid there were some new things that I couldn't afford, but almost everyone had. Sadly, even with chores I wouldn't have been able to buy those things.

Just like Jefferson's story, this one also has a message. Though I found it a bit too forced and also slightly awkward..

Story 3: Genevieve: 4 stars. Awww, this was just totally adorable! I had a feeling it would be that given the hints at the beginning, and how obsessed Theo was. I wouldn't have minded seeing her tell the teacher about this though, I wonder what grade she would get considering what happened. :P

I am also still amazed that this egg thing pops up in so many books, is this really a thing American kids have to do in school? Care for an egg? Get a grade for that? It seems kind of silly, but also quite fun. Though as you can see, most didn't take it seriously at all.

Still I enjoyed this story, Genevieve was a sweet and kind girl.

Story 4: Talmage: 3 stars. A bit boring (fish, fish, and oh yeah, more fish), plus I didn't quite like how it ended. Yay, another message, I would rather have seen some action and excitement. But instead it just ended like that. Like all their effort was for naught.

Plus I had hoped for the dad to be a bit more gung-ho about the fish. Now it seemed....

I did like Talmage's name, I never heard that one before.

Story 5: Samantha: 4 stars. Would have been higher rated, but I really didn't like Trista, she was just such a dramaqueen and so mean as well. Bleh. I don't like those type of characters, lording over everyone else, making sure they know they are lesser than them, and of course all the drama. :|

The musical did seem fun, and I do know I was cheering for Samantha to go out there and sing!

Story 6: Alec: 1 star.... what the hell did I just read for terribleness. This was just horrible. At first I quite liked the idea (go parents), but then it just got too weird (really, the place is a health hazard, rats are coming in and out, yet the parents don't do anything?). All the other stories were just down to earth, but this one just went into the magical realm, and I feel that it just doesn't fit this book. It is such a shame, it had potential to be a good story. But Alec is just disgusting, and I think he will never learn.

Story 7: Kaitlyn: 3.5 stars. And so everything comes together. We see all the characters from the previous stories (+often what they learned in their story) + a new girl. This time they have to make a project (which will earn them a pizza party, yum!) and we see how Kaitlyn is struggling with thinking of something, while all along she had something she was good in! I am happy with the ending. Plus the title is now also explained!

The book also has illustrations. They were quite fun, though I wish there were more of them.

All in all, a pretty good book, and I would recommend it!