*Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This was such an engaging book; I finished it in one sitting. Alex moves to California with his family. He LOVES making slime, but he dad is not a fan of it. Even though slime is banned at school, Alex's friend encourages him to pursue his passions and challenge the market (which is currently dominated by one person - Meadow). A slime-making war ensues to see who can sell the most slime in a week without getting caught. There are even slime recipes throughout the book. Perfect for middle grade readers, especially those who love slime!

Alex is a future entrepreneur who has a lot going on. He and his dad have just moved to take over Lolo and Lola's Asian market. Alex loves to make slime and gets into a slime-selling war at school. His dad is not supportive of the slime hobby and pushes Alex to play soccer. A big theme of this book involves learning to speak up and advocate for yourself. Terrific message!

This is a fun, easy-to-read middle grade book that does a good job mixing in real science with the fun and also emotional stuff. There's good storylines there about friendship and being yourself, and also lots of slime! I have middle schoolers who are looking to graduate from Wimpy Kid and similar books but aren't sure what to read next, and I think this is a good match for that crew! The cover is soo fun and arresting that I think a lot of them will want to pick this up.

Filled with all the slimy fun and young feelings. Refreshing to see kid-entrepreneurs competing to sell more slime at their schools—reminds me of my own time at middle school, around fifteen years ago, when bracelet making was the trend and everyone was determined to get rich while selling cute jewellery made out of little beads. The comments on building new friendships, embracing one’s heritage, voicing out ideas, clearly conveying emotions, growth of a single dad, finding a passion, and cheering on dreams of doing business are worth appreciating.

This was a wonderful Middle Grade book by Mae Respicio, that I would definitely recommend! (And now I want to make some slime!)

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

How to Win a Slime War is definitely about slime, but it is about so much more.

It is about family. Alex and his dad have a lot of changes happening in their life and they are figuring out how to deal with it all. The kid characters aren’t the only characters that need to grow and change.

It is about friendship. Alex is starting at a new school, which means leaving his best friend, so he has to figure out how to fit into a new place. It is so much fun to meet all of his new friends with him and navigate the new environment.

It is about passion. And also about how passions of kids are not always what the parent wants it to be.

It is about entrepreneurship. Alex wants to be a business owner when he grows up and is already talking about it. He has been to conferences and has so many great ideas.

It is because of all of these different aspects that I found the book so engaging and a book that many people will find connection with Alex and his story.

My daughter is obsessed with slime, so I knew we had to check out this book. LOVED IT! In addition to including actual slime recipes at the start of many chapters, the story incorporates real STEM and business concepts as the "kidpreneur" main character Alex Manalo learns how to sell the most slime to win the slime war at his junior high. Kid readers will cheer Alex on as he pursues his passion for making slime while repeatedly trying and failing to be the soccer superstar his dad wants him to be. Don't miss this super fun read for kids ages 8-12!

How to Win a Slime War is a fun, heartwarming story about identity, family, Filipino culture, soccer, and entrepreneurship. Community and evolving friendships also play vital roles in this story. With a protagonist who loves making slime and is figuring out where he belongs, there are several funny and poignant moments throughout this story. I loved it and I think it's my favorite yet from the author.

A Filipino-American boy channels his entrepreneurial spirit into a slime-selling competition while resisting his dad's attempts to get him to join a soccer team.

A funny and heartwarming story that middle grade readers will all relate to. The protagonist struggles to find his place in his new school, his family, and the complex social dynamics of his neighborhood, but the message of the story is to understand those who have different perspectives, including his father, his slime rival, and the school tough kids. Ultimately, the protagonist figures out that much of the tension in his life can be resolved by sharing his feelings with the people in his life and he finds the courage to both expand his horizons and and be true to himself. I'd recommend this one to middle grade readers in grades 4-6.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I loved this book, although that should not surprise me as I'm a big Mae Respicio fan! Kids will like both the slime and soccer storylines, and the “kidpreneur” tips and slime recipes will be a fun bonus. I also think kids will relate to being the new kid, the bullying, racism, particularly because they're done in an engaging way that's not too heavy.

I loved this line in the book (even though it's not really about the main storyline!) - "My parents own a bookstore, so I have the world's knowledge at my fingertips! - Pepper

A book written FOR kids about being a kid. I am a huge fan of Alex’s story. Alex and Meadow are facing head to head to claim territory over the middle school slime turf. As the story goes on and we follow Alex’s plan to win this slime war, so much more is taught to him and his friends. Alex learns what it means to stand up for what you believe in, what true friends look like, and how having fun and being happy are two of the most important things in life. This story is so well written. Mae did a fantastic job writing for middle grade and sharing her Filipino culture with us.

I LOVE this book!!! Full of spirit and heart.

Readers will surely cheer Alex on as he pursues his passion for slime making and business, strengthen and build new friendships, voice his ideas and feelings, and conquer soccer.

Alex and his father move from Silicon Valley to Sacramento to take over his grandparent's Filipino market. Alex is happy to be closer to his family, but is still struggling with his mother's death and his father's expectations. His dad, who was raised in the area of Sacramento they returned to, was a star athlete and wants nothing more than for Alex to follow in his footsteps, Alex, however, is not interested in sports. He loves to make slime and is ready to share his slime-making skills with his new classmates. When his skills are realized, he is informed he is encroaching on the territory of Meadow, a girl who has mad slime-making skills herself. A Slime-War is declared challenging the two to outsell each other.

Engaging middle grade novel that will be a good fit for upper elementary age students. Alex is very likable character who is just a decent, kind, hard working kid who tries to do the right thing. Many students will be able to relate to him in various ways: being the new student, trying to meet parental expectations, death of a family member, dealing with a bully, dealing with racism and making new friends. Many other students will enjoy the great slime recipes scattered throughout the book!

HOW TO WIN A SLIME WAR by Mae Respicio will delight, excite, and ignite your young reader(s). I am planning on using it in my own classroom for students in grades 3-5. Every child has dreamt of creating their own business, but the lead character, Alex, actually does it! What's more exciting than a slime business? Nothing! My students will be so excited to read about their favorite past time, sliming! This slimy, gooey tale will surely ignite the passion for reading in every child. Once started, your child will "stick" to it until every page is read!

I loved this book! The “kidpreneur” tips, slime recipes, new kid angst, soccer worries, Filipino family... Engaging, authentic, relatable. Humorous yet serious, with a satisfying ending! Kids need books like this- not too heavy.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Alex Manalo and his father have moved into his Lola and Lolo's house, since his father is tired of his Silicon Valley job and will be taking over the family Filipino market now that his grandparents are retired. Alex isn't too concerned about his new school, and he even deals well with the fact that his mother died when he was young. What is hard for him is that, while he is generally supportive, his father really doesn't understand Alex and his interests. Alex has long hair, and would rather be making slime than doing anything else. He is interested in the store, because he wants to be an entrepreneur. His father, however, played soccer in school and wants Alex to play... and he'll even coach! At school, Alex makes a fast friend in Logan, who is on the outs with his own best friend, and who introduces Alex to the history of the school's Slime Wars. There is another girl, Meadow, who is the reigning Slime Queen, and she is NOT happy about Alex cutting into her market, even though the school has forbidden even having slime at school, much less buying and selling it. Alex and Meadow start the Slime War, and will compete to see who can sell the most slime in a week, without getting caught. Alex has a rocky start, and also struggles with being goalie on his dad's soccer team, but makes a valiant effort, even going door to door to try to sell slime! Meadow is very cut throat and mean to Alex, but he starts to wonder if there is something behind her meanness. Alex's father is making a lot of changes at the Manalo Market to update it and bring in new business, but Alex does not like how his father is stripping the store of its personality and Filipino culture. Will Alex be able to stay out of trouble at school, be able to follow his own interests, and convince his father to keep some aspects of the family business?
Strengths: Even though I hate slime (the science classes make it, and I've had to clean enough of it out of the library carpet!), I love books where children have a definite passion. I'm not quite sure how widespread the love of slime is (apparently there is a social media personality who touts it), but there are a lot of recipes for the substance at the beginning of each chapter. The ins and outs of having a family business, along with being close to family for a change, are fun to read about. The students are operating outside of the school rules, which specifically forbid slime, and this is done in a realistic way. Meadow is a great character; we don't see a lot of her at first, and she is quite mean, but when Alex gets to know her, he understands the pressures she is under, tries to help her, and the two end up coming up with a solution to the ongoing Slime Wars. The father's interest in soccer and insistence that Alex get involved in a sport is very realistic. I started coaching cross country in order to get my daughter to run, and while she didn't like the running part, she did have a good time and made some friends. This is exactly the sort of middle grade book that I wish made up the majority of my purchases, since it's what my students most often request: humorous, upbeat stories of children from a variety of backgrounds doing Interesting Things while having a bit of school drama. Perfect.
Weaknesses: Alex's hair doesn't look that long on the cover, and I had hoped he would enjoy soccer more. Also, slime doesn't seem particularly useful or environmentally friendly.
What I really think: This is exactly the sort of middle grade book that I wish made up the majority of my purchases, since it's what my students most often request: humorous, upbeat stories of children from a variety of backgrounds doing Interesting Things while having a bit of school drama. Perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Richards' Stu Truly, Acampora's Danny Constantino's First Date and Uhrig's Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini.

Students will be sold at slime and soccer, but this book is so much more than just slime and soccer.

Three things to love about How to Win a Slime War:
1. The business aspects: including the characters’ strategies for selling slime like hiring influencers, and creating advertising videos, along side the ins and outs of taking over the family’s Filipino market
2. The dynamics of middle school friendships that can sometimes be competitive, can sometimes be incredibly supportive, can stem from rivalries, and can foster teamwork
3. The idea that a key to life is following our own passions and not being forced to do what others want us to do.

I love that Mae shared this story with the middle grade world.
It is pure fun and full of inspiration!

This book is a slime-tastic story! You are going to love Alex and his kind heart. Cheer him on as he learns to voice his ideas and feelings! It’s a sticky, messy journey, just like life!

Mae Respicio is always reliable for excellent middle grade books featuring strong family relationships, explorations of friendship, and characters growing into themselves. How to Win a Slime War is no different. This is a perfect story of family traditions and expectations, the changing dynamics of friendship in middle school, and a main character finding his voice. Highly recommended.

Great book about family, community, a slime war, and learning to play soccer.. Alex and his dad take over his family’s Asian market while the relatives are away, Alex starts at a new school where Meadow sells her slime. Alex want to sell his slime as well so a war begins. While this is going on, Alex’s dad wants him to play soccer even though Alex does not, but he agrees to try it. Friend issues arise during the slime war when they want Alex to do things he doesn’t think he should . As Alex’s dad makes changes at the market that Alex doesn’t agree with, the soccer season is finally over. Alex finds his voice when it comes to the slime war, soccer, and changes his dad has made and speaks up.