Galstanberry #2

In this second installment of the Galstanberry Girlz series, all of the girls are at the academy together. I was excited about this as a reader, because they all come from different walks of life. I was really wondering how they would all interact when they were put under the same roof. Let's just say, I wasn't disappointed! Drama abounds, and these girls learn more about themselves and others than they could have imagined.

I greatly enjoyed the interactions that G.S. Wolff allowed the girls to have in this book. These ladies aren't perfect. They have flaws, worries, shyness, and all of that comes out when they are presented with new challenges. Yes, there are times when they might seem a bit catty. However that's the way that life really does go. I just kept thinking about my experiences as a young girl at summer camp. When you put girls from different backgrounds in the same location, you're bound to see them have much different attitudes and experiences. We learned to get along, and so do the girls after a few trials and tribulations.

The one thing that made this installment a bit harder for me to read, and I think that younger readers might notice too, is the use of special spellings to indicate accents and speech patterns. For instance spelling the word “store” and “stawre” to indicate the accent of the girl from New York. While I liked the authenticity, after a while it just became a bit overbearing and was hard to read. I think younger readers (if not familiar with it) might find these spellings offputting or just confusing since they aren't necessarily correct. I could be wrong, I admit. I just know it bothered me. I'm a bit of a stickler when it comes to grammar I'll be honest.

Overall though this is a lovely addition to the series! I don't know what's coming next but I do know that I am eager to find out! If you have a young reader at home and you are looking for something to empower them and help them connect, this is it. G.S. Wolff really should be commended on her ability to write such varied and vivid characters. These girls are amazingly realistic, and I am happy to have been introduced to them.