Greta’s life is changing in many ways. She’s starting middle school, preparing to move to a new neighborhood, and her body’s, well, not quite as advanced as some of her classmates, but oh well. When she attracts the attention of a boy at her first middle-grades party, she feels like she fits in. But then something happens that she can’t quite make sense of, let alone talk about. What follows is something I did not see coming.

I feel like this book would make for a powerful conversation starter for students on the topics of sexual harassment and consent. There are not many books on this topic, so this would be a perfect addition to any library.

I did struggle a bit with some of the symbolism in the book. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but while I enjoyed and found some of it really interesting and unique, the ending left me a little frustrated. While it may make for good conversation, it left me unsatisfied and I would be curious to hear what the author’s intentions were with how it wrapped up.

Thank you to J.S. Lemon, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book for an honest review.

I requested this because the premise sounded so interesting for a children's book and it was a good read. It's a simple yet interesting story with elements of magical realism that explores sexual assault in a way that's age-appropriate and can spark conversations about consent and trauma. The story is enjoyable, so I see the intended audience engaging with this very easily and then getting even more out of it through guided discussion in the classroom.

I wanted to cradle Greta so many times, and I wish someone had held her safely. I wish she’d talked to an adult, I wish she’d tried to get justice, but victims don’t always speak up or can’t always speak up, so Greta grew and evolved. She became someone who loved the body she was in and who could no longer be harmed. And I love that for her.

Some of the writing didn’t hit quite right for me, mostly in certain word choices, and it’s hard to explain it. Just like they didn’t sound quite thirteen? It’s such a hit or miss around that age, idk why

But on the other hand, some writing punched me in the face, especially the mother. Obsessed with her appearances and therefore her daughter’s appearance as an extension of herself. Lotti considering Greta beautiful at all stages. This line: “God forbid I was an angry girl; there’s even a word for girls who show their anger. And no one wants to be called one of those.”

This book was kinda exactly what I expected and also not at all what I was expecting. I’m not sure if it actually works as middle grade fiction, but I really did enjoy it.

This feels like such a difficult book to review. On the one hand, middle grade books about sexual assault are RARE and are definitely needed more, because this kind of stuff does happen to kids around this age, and I think GRETA handles that topic well. On the other…I don’t know, something was just missing for me. Overall it was well-written, Lemon captures the middle-school girl angst remarkably well, and the topic was well-handled. But SOMETHING was missing and I’m not sure what. Maybe it could’ve benefited from being longer? More fleshed out with the metamorphosis stuff? Because it almost felt like the first half of the book was well-developed and drawn out, and then the second half was way too rushed, like someone put a cap on the word count or something.

I don’t know, I liked it well enough, but overall it just fell flat for me.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend it, though—fans of Pixar’s TURNING RED who want a heavier theme will love this.

The book started out well but felt really undeveloped at the end. At first, it felt reminiscent of "Are You There God..." in the body shaming and rumors and then "Speak" in the assault at the party. Once her transformation started, the plot needed more development so that the message was clearer to the readers. At the end I was left wondering what happened next for her parents and friends and what was the reasoning behind her change.

A sweet coming-of-age story about a young girl who experiences some of the things we all do growing up, and some very unusual things indeed. Greta and her best friend Lotti share a deep bond of friendship, and are joined by their creative friend Astrid in navigating some of the trials and tribulations of middle school - social events, homework, and boys. They feel the thrills of being noticed by someone they like, and then the disappointment and stress when things may not go the way they hoped. One of them is even sexually assaulted by the person she thought was a nice admirer, which coincides with changes that start inside her body but are soon noticeable to everyone.

The theme of the story is growth and change, sometimes painful, and in a small way, loss of innocence and becoming more aware of the dangers that can beset young girls. Greta feels herself growing stronger and more able to deal with teasing and ostracizing, and even defends - loudly - her friend Lotti when she is called names by some cruel peers. While in some ways Greta is finding change hard to deal with, especially the prospect and preparations for the upcoming family move to a larger house, the ways that she adapts and even embraces the visible and invisible changes happening to her body and personality are admirable and engaging.

The language of the book is simple and relatable, and I think middle grade readers will really enjoy the story. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher MacMillan for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable and unexpecting read. But some of the changes that Greta goes through were so unexpected that I didn't see how they related to the plot or inciting incident.

A 6th grader experiences the transformation of a lifetime.

Greta is about to start 6th grade, which is plenty of change on its own, but her mom is also moving the family to a new home. Greta is more than apprehensive, but at least she has her best friend Lotti to help her get through it all.

Greta experiences something traumatic at an unsupervised party, and between that and all the other changes around her, she finds herself changing inside and outside (well beyond what puberty entails).

The author really captured the voice of a 6th grade girl in this novel. I loved Greta's perspective and it really reminded me of my own middle school experiences. Greta was so funny! The friendship between Greta and Lotti is truly one for the ages. Their friendship was my favorite part of the book.

The magical realism of this book was delightful and quite effective. Although I was confused at first, I think the author reallt brought it home. "Greta" is like a 6th grade girl's "Metamorphosis."

I really enjoyed this book. It was snappy in its pacing, funny, sad, relatable, and bittersweet right at the end.

"This new skin of mine felt protective and proud and although it wasn’t hard like bones, I felt safe underneath. Now when boys looked at me, or didn’t look at me, I felt powerful. I wasn’t just a collection of body parts waiting for inspection."

When Greta experiences a sexual assault at a party, her relationship with her body changes. It doesn't feel like hers anymore and she doesn't feel safe in it. With a nod to Kafka's Metamorphosis, Greta experiences changes in her body that give her back control as she turns into a moth. I felt sad that she wasn't able to reclaim herself in her own body but the novel also makes it clear that female presenting bodies are always under attack by the male gaze. Her relationship with her friends and family show the contrast of healthy relationships with that of her abuser. A well written novel that will be an important addition to middle school libraries.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers for this ARC to review. Greta is a beautifully written, wildly different book for middle grades. It explores the transformation of a 7th grade girl, as she changes into a version of herself she loves more than ever — despite the perils of being different in middle school. Greta’s best friendship with Lotti beautifully captured the bond that can be shared with a “soulmate” of a friend, someone who loves you through all of your changes even when you can’t love yourself. All the “typical” teenage plights are here: mean kids, moving, changing relationships, unwanted attention, the blasé attitude kids have towards forced literature at school…with an added component of dealing with sexual assault and a kafkaesque twist. This book could be just the story some middle schoolers need in order to feel like the world will one day make sense again.

This book is definitely one I would recommend to the right reader in my Middle School. It was relatable and truly one I could see kids keeping off the shelves!

I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this book, but it far surpassed my expectations. I was really taken with Greta, her family situation and her going into middle school. I wanted to punch Derek as soon as his BS started up and I don't blame Greta for going into her spiral because of his actions.

Middle school is and can be hard and our society certainly has a double standard regarding the behavior of boys and girls and what is acceptable. This is a huge fault of the system and the lack of awareness and capability to make it better.

I have been teaching for 24 years and I have seen how this stuff can drive a wedge between kids, parents, and teachers. We need to be better about helping our young people see what is appropriate and inappropriate when dealing with one another. We need to teach them about respect and honor. Greta gets there in some ways. Seeing the true value of self is vital to all young people. We need to guide these kids to see that they all have value. We'll get there someday, I have faith, and books like Greta will help us get there. Way to go Lemon... you wrote a good one here.

Overall I liked the story well enough. I was kind of let down by the ending of the book.

I will probably purchase this for my school library, but I feel like the message of this book will be lost with a lot of my students.

Greta is a book about a girl named Greta......I know, you are surprised.

It starts with the main character packing up her bedroom to move. You think it is going to be a coming of age story about moving to a new school and having to make friends. It is, but it is so much more. Greta attends her first middle school party where she is given attention by a boy. She likes it at first until she doesn't.

Unfortunately, many girls experience this in middle school. This is a book that will age well. I will be adding it to my school library.

Greta is a very interesting, metaphorical, and poetic middle grade book that tackles the topic of sexual harassment. I can see this being a powerful conversation starter for middle schoolers (or earlier) on topics like consent and healthy relationships. There is some beautiful symbolism going on, though I will say I wasn’t expecting the magical realism!

However, I did find some of this symbolism… an interesting choice. I don’t want to get spoilery, but the ending left me unsatisfied for Greta, despite the hopefulness. I can see the ending prompting some good discussion in classrooms or book groups.

I also found some of the plot points rushed; I would’ve liked to see more development, like with Greta’s new friend Astrid.

My thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing an advance copy for review.

This book handled an all-too-familiar experience many girls are forced to endure with grace and the gravity it deserves. Greta's response is palpable and believable. The transformation she undergoes following this life-altering event delves into fantasy territory, and I honestly wasn't sure quite what to make of that. Was it meant to be a metaphor or taken at face value? Perhaps the author intends for the reader to decide. An interesting read with a very unusual - and, for me, a tad unsatisfying - conclusion.

If you like straightforward, predictable stories with familiar characters and beats to provide escapism and a quick laugh, Greta is absolutely not something you’ll want to read. But if you’re more like me—someone who enjoys deep, thoughtful, and fundamentally unexpected stories—I highly recommend this book.

I finished this book a week ago now, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve thought about Greta every day during that time period. I’ve read hundreds, maybe thousands, of middle-grade books, and I can think of few others that possess the same combination of incredible oddity and incredible humanity.

It took me several chapters to get into the story, as the uncanny, almost surreal aspects of it only begin appearing once Greta’s normal life is established. However, I was so interested in the premise that I didn’t even consider stopping reading, and it definitely lived up to that. The whole story has a dreamlike quality overlayed on a fundamentally realistic portrayal of middle school which gave it a truly unique atmosphere, and I particularly loved how the characters, including Greta, responded to the changes in her life.

Greta is the rare book that truly leaves you with more questions and answers, and yet imparts such a fundamental sense of peace and well-being that you can’t help but feel satisfied after finishing it.

What started as a cute book about the transitioning into middle school, also did a great job bringing the topic of peer pressure and even SA. I was unsure where this was headed. I truly loved Greta’s character and the fact that not many times you have a girl that stands up for herself! The friendship between Greta and Lotti is surely a breath of fresh air. Not many, keep the same friends in MS but these girls got through it together. Many can take the ending as a positive end of a characters growth and development. Others can take this as a sad ending where SA took a toll . In the end she is free, however you want to see it. It is a beautiful book and loved that it encourages readers to seek help if needed. As middle school mother and remembering what MS was like, I know MS can be brutal for kids. This was kept innocent and clean. I appreciated very much!

Honestly, this book was not my favorite. I was well written and everything, but I just didn't end up loving the concept or the story. I kind of thought it didn't make sense. The book also seemed rushed, like the author was just trying to get it over with instead of taking the time to explain everything. Overall, I think it was a good book, just not for me.

Greta is less than happy to be moving from the home she grew up in and leaving so many memories behind. She and her best friend Lotti take on middle school together and immediately discover the emotional roller coaster it is. At a house party, Greta and Lotti find time with their crushes, but Greta's experience quickly turns into unwanted advances. This book is a beautiful and surreal look at change, friendship, and what it means to respect one's body. Will definitely recommend this to girls at the library.