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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
It’s Amazing to Be Eight by Emma Meyer is a warm and funny chapter book that follows a girl named Mona as she navigates the ups and downs of being eight years old. It begins on her birthday as she is opening presents. Her excitement quickly fades at the sight of a blue tent from her uncle. She soon discovers her friends are excited about it, and they set it up in the backyard. Afterward, Mona decides it was actually great, teaching her that sometimes things deserve a second chance. She also packs too much into her days, leaving her tired and irritable, like during an incident with blueberry jelly and her homework. She worries about handing it in, her teacher’s reaction, and the other kids teasing her. She begins to feel down. But with the help of her friends and family—and a willingness to try again—Mona learns that even small challenges can become memorable. Throughout this story, Mona has good days and bad, but in the end, she realizes that’s how life is. She finally decides it’s great to be eight.
I truly enjoyed reading It’s Amazing to Be Eight by Emma Meyer. It evoked many childhood memories (and even one from being an adult). She heard three versions of the Happy Birthday song, reminding me of the summer my uncle told a German band in a restaurant that it was my special day, which caused them to sing to me in English and German (I was an adult then, and my real birthday is in February). She unwrapped a stuffed unicorn, which reminded me of the one I won at a fair. I think everyone can relate to the homework debacle on some level, but in the end, she learned she had nothing to worry about. This story shows children that while some moments can be trying, it’s best to look on the bright side. I also loved the artwork by Gabriella Shcherban; I could picture the scenes clearly. I closed the book with a smile, grateful for how it blended humor, honesty, and heart in a way that’s easy to connect with.
