Illustrated by Laura Freeman
3 stars
A cute series for young readers. Deja is excited for her upcoming birthday party. But when her class rival decides to have a party the same day, she worries whether her party will be so great after all.
This is the first book in the series that I’ve read. There were a few references that were likely introduced in the first book, but for the most part this one still worked as a standalone story without having read the previous one.
Overall, it was a sweet story. Some elements felt a bit dated such as Deja’s rivalry with Antonia, a girl in her class. The two are constantly competing, both academically and socially. This worked fine in the book, but it seems like a storyline that has faded with more modern literature.
An interesting story that touches on disappointment, responsibility, friendship, and doing the right thing.