Piper is transferred into a new private school where she definitely doesn't fit in, but to appease her dad she's going to give it her best shot. When the school announces a new contest, Piper knows she'll never be a star and goes about her days just trying to make it through. Little does she know that this contest is testing something the kids never even thought about...

I liked this quick story and felt it was perfect for younger middle grade readers. I guessed pretty quickly as to what the premise of the new contest was going to be all about, but I wonder if kids would get it as fast as I did. Even knowing the idea, I still enjoyed this story about making the right decision even when you think no one is watching.

Shine! was a delightful book with a fast paced story that will be perfect for 10-12 year olds. Piper Milly is a middle schooler that is placed in a new situation and must learn to find her inner star while navigating the twists and turns of early adolescence. She has a wonderful and supportive father and the memory of her mother remains strong in their family. Piper learns many lessons along the way and emerges as a confident and kind young lady.

The authors painted a realistic, albeit somewhat cheesy, picture of a single father trying to do his best for his daughter. There were a few over the top moments but kids won't see it that way. I love books that teach lessons and this one can help kids determine what being excellent really means. There are some parts that remind me of Wonder-in good ways. Kids can never hear enough about the importance of kindness and selflessness. I will recommend this to my almost 12 year old and I know she will love it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House, Children's for the ARC.

Twelve-year-old Piper's hero is astronaut Nellie Dumont. The astronaut's mantra is "shine on," and Piper tries to follow it, but she thinks she's not special enough to shine like other kids. On top of everything, Piper has just been enrolled in her new school, Chumley Prep, where she can't seem to find her niche. This book is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Holm and Wendy Mass.

I haven’t read a Chris Grabenstein book since ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY and I’ve kind of lost interest in that series. So, while I was lowkey anticipating this book, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t enjoy it.

I very much did enjoy it.

It was predictable, but I really enjoyed the overall message of it.

Perfect for fans of Nickelodeon’s VICTORIOUS and Beth Vrabel’s PACK OF DORKS.

Will I be purchasing in November? Yes.

A fun read about striving to excel in all areas, and discovering which skill is the most important of them all.

Piper has a cheerful attitude (most of the time. Life isn't just all fun and no bumps.) and a love for science. She even made a science fair seem like fun. (If I ever need to do one of those again, I might just steal her idea;) She also finds a great group of friends.

There's a magician, quacky teachers, and great jokes. The book is motivational in a fun way. I really enjoyed reading it.

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.