Review: Maybe It’s a Sign by E.L. Shen

I’m a big fan of E.L. Shen from her middle grade debut of The Comeback all the way to the last YA release, Queens of New York. And Maybe It’s a Sign is another winner. It’s another certifiable middle grade gem! Keep reading this book review of Maybe It’s a Sign for my full thoughts.

Summary

Seventh-grader Freya June Sun has always believed in the Chinese superstitions spoon-fed to her since birth. Ever since her dad’s death a year ago, she’s become obsessed with them, and believes that her father is sending her messages from beyond. Like how, on her way to an orchestra concert where she’s dreading her viola solo, a pair of lucky red birds appear―a sure indication that Dad wants Freya to stick with the instrument and make him proud.

Then Freya is partnered with Gus Choi, a goofy and super annoying classmate, for a home economics project. To her surprise, as they experiment with recipes and get to know each other, Freya finds that she may love baking more than music. It could be time for a big change in her life, even though her dad hasn’t sent a single sign. But with the help of her family, Gus (who might not be so annoying after all), and two maybe-magical birds, Freya learns that to be her own person, she might just have to make her own luck.

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Facing grief, Freya looks to the signs. She looks to the superstitions her dad taught her to figure out what she should do. Is her dad speaking to her through this language they shared? The superstitions, the ideas, that we think will keep us safe from the things that happen out of the blue. Like heart attacks and lost dads. Freya turns to the signs, even when she isn’t sure if they’re pointing her in the right direction. There’s something universal and relatable about Freya. About being unsure what we should do and seeing something and thinking, “maybe it’s a sign”.

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Lives shaped by good and bad luck. We can resonate with Freya’s desire to be sent a sign, to have a comforting knowledge our choices are the right ones. But life just sometimes doesn’t work like that. In Maybe It’s a Sign, Freya cultivates new hobbies which make her question what her dad would have wanted. Maybe It’s a Sign is a story about grief, about family, but also about seeing people for who they are, underneath our first impressions. Find Maybe It’s a Sign on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.

Discussion

What is your favorite middle grade sophomore book?

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