Review: Chirp

Chirp Chirp by Kate Messner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so grateful to have received an ARC of Chirp by Kate Messner from Netgalley. Kate Messner is one of the gurus of teaching ELA that I respect, follow, and incorporate her ideas into my lessons. Her summer writing camp for teachers encourages us as educators to explore our own writing and try new techniques.

Chirp is an amazing and touching story of Mia, who is struggling with secrets and hurt. Mia spends the summer in Vermont at her Gram’s cricket farm. She hopes to rest and snack her summer away, but soon changes directions as she joins Warrior Camp and Launch Camp. Launch Camp is similar to Shark Tank and Warrior Camp is a gymnastics camp. Mia loved gymnastics, until she suffered an injury to her arm, but also her mindset. At Warrior Camp, Mia makes friends and becomes detective when Gram’s cricket farm is suffering from surprising controversial events happening.

Launch Camp is an amazing opportunity for the girls to support the success of Gram’s cricket farm, as Gram is not ready to sell her dream and retire. The girls work together to create a sales pitch that will better serve the cricket farm and keep Gram doing what she loves. Mia takes on leadership roles and the team works together seamlessly, until...

Throughout the novel, the reader learns more about crickets and reasons we should try them as a protein source. I found it interesting that female crickets are silent and the males actually make the sounds we hear. Although, throughout the read, I wanted to tell the females to speak up just as Mia does.

Chirp should be included in every middle school classroom, as young people find their voice, make a difference, and overcome challenges with confidence once their voice is heard. I will definitely add Chirp to my 7th grade classroom. Chirp brings young people together standing up for one another, guiding as they find their voice, and overcoming obstacles to be the best self they can be!


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