Review by Booklist Review
Not really a cautionary tale but agenda-driven nonetheless, this second episode in Babymouse's rocky middle-school experience (Lights, Camera, Middle School!, 2017) shoots her up a steep learning curve when she finally gets the cell phone she craves. In a series of mortifying tutorials, presented in a mix of narrative and punchline-laced cartoon drawings, she gets schooled on the actual costs of free phones, the addictive nature of social apps, the special language of texting, the predictable results of letting her brother post private videos, the hazards of using voice-to-text software to write a Shakespeare report (A Misnomer Right's Team, Bye Babymoose), and the results of following GPS travel directions. Having Babymouse, in her thirst for notice, stalkerishly photobomb the selfies of snotty A-lister Felicia Furrypaws and her sycophants seems a bit tone deaf, as otherwise the Holms steer clear of depicting less safe or savory cyber practices. But even if it's hard to tell how much Babymouse learns from her mishaps, readers once they finish ROFL will be left with plenty of food for thought. SRSLY.--Peters, John Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
You have NO followers?Thats like you dont even exist, Babymouse! Babymouse has a lot to learn when she gets her first smartphone, and her experiences serve as a cautionary tale for her middle-grade readers who, if they dont already have their own phones, are most likely jonesing for them. As in Lights, Camera, Middle School! (rev. 9/17), the first book in this spin-off series, black-and-white illustrations are integral to advancing the story. At the start of this second book, Babymouse notes how phones interfere with real connection: I wanted to catch up with my friends, but everywhere I looked, kids were zoned out on their phones Nevertheless, the smartphones siren song is impossible to resist, and Babymouse is soon the giddy owner of a Whiz BangTM Mini. Her forays into the quagmire of social media intensify her obsession with popularity and make her vulnerable to the middle schoolers nightmare: public humiliation. Recurring texts from an unknown number (the texter turns out to be a classmate) are a nod to the dangers of interacting with strangers online. Babymouses phone troubles are LOL funny, but her misguided attempts to reinvent herself (Why would I want to be my actual self when I can be a cooler, more popular version of myself?) will definitely resonate with fans. The engaging narrative successfully covers the hazards of smartphone ownership without sounding like someones killjoy parents. And dont worry, a list of texting abbreviations is included. SRSLY. kitty Flynn (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this sophomore chapter-book offering (Lights, Camera, Middle School!, 2017), Babymouse learns that owning a smartphone may be more trouble than she anticipated.Everyone in middle school has a phoneexcept Babymouse. She jealously watches her classmates download the newest apps, snap the best pics, and gain tons of followers on their social media accounts. When she finally gets her own, she quickly discovers it is more work than fun. Her new phone lands her squarely in the rat race (or, perhaps, mouse race) of pressure to own the newest model, endless social media demands, and weighing the importance of real-life friends over vacuous online followers. Babymouse's best frenemy, Felicia Furrypaws, has, of course, the latest phone, perfect pics, and thousands of social media followers; will Babymouse be able to emulate her flawlessly curated online presence? In an age when cellphone users skew ever younger, it is refreshing to see a beloved character grapple with the dichotomy between real life and a manufactured online existence. With a mix of accessible prose and charming sequential panels, Babymouse has aged up with her audience, offering fun storylines that are relevant to an upper-elementary audience. Engaging and contemporary, the Holms' second volume is able to touch upon such important issues as online stranger danger and smartphone burnout without resorting to preachiness.#readthisnow. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
