Do you need a motivational book written by an optimist? Then this is the story for you. Zaila is great at basketball, but she has also won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and has aspirations to sing and learn to play an instrument. She also has to do chores around the house and stay grounded, like any normal girl. Starbucks is her go-to drink and Zaila loves basketball.

Zaila is very honest about life, as well as her aspirations. She says that hard work doesn't always pay off, but failure isn't the end of the world. Sometimes adults in life will screw you over with your good intentions, setting you against friends and potential teammates. And occasionally, the computer will not load for intense study hours. Yet, you do your best and find other ways to solve your problems. But success never comes easily.

I do wish that Zaila were kinder to herself at times. She mentions that her parents ask her to babysit, and her little brothers love to distract her. I hope Zaila also remembers that she is a kid, and to have fun. She is a sweet girl, and I can't wait to read her next book.

Zaila Avant Garde was the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She won in 2021. Avant Garde definitely had some challenges along the way. In her book she talks about those and gives readers words of encouragement and strategies to use to achieve their own goals. Avant Garde talks about her other interests and other achievements, using these stories and tips as both inspiration and examples to show how readers should not give up and how they can turn their dreams into actuality. A positive self help book with an engaging voice.

A quick and inspiring story. It is more of an advice book than a biography. I think it is important for kids to have this advice come from someone young. Adults can benefit from the book as well.

In 2021, Zaila Avant-Garde become the first African American fourteen year old to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The book revolves around Zaila's life in academics and sports as she shares 9 things that helped her get to the place where she is now, from being yourself, asking for help, and finding your zen. It was a quick read with straightforward tips that vaguely reminded me of a positive self-improvement book, which is my favorite type of non-fiction.

This book was an enjoyable quick read from the ever-inspiring Zaila Avant-garde! Her advice to young readers is not necessarily groundbreaking, but I think it will ring truer to young readers than if the same advice was delivered by an adult. The combination of advice with evidence of how that advice has influenced her success was particularly effective, as was her conversational and funny writing style. Additionally, I think the length (57 digital pages) is perfect for young readers. I would recommend the book for ages 8+.

I was expecting it to be more of biography based on the description from the publisher, but it was more of an advice book. It definitely included true stories of Zaila, but the narrative was focused more on the advice for success and used those anecdotes to support those pieces of advice.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

For those who follow Ms. Avant-Garde they'll know she's a quiet and introspective person. In this book she shares more of herself, struggles and accomplishments. She has set goals and with hard work achieved great feats. She is a masterpiece and will continue to do great things. This book is great for kids and adults alike. Brava Ms. Avant-Garde, brava.

"If you haven't quit, you haven't lost. You just haven't won yet." Great philosophical reminder from the young author, but not very well executed. Although she certainly speaks WITH rather than AT the audience, the text registers as immature - and unfortunately straddles the fine boundary between "playful" and "shallow." Readers will benefit from the overall message of the book, but the text remains unexceptional.