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Summary
Summary
How will Emma make her mark this school year? Will she...
a) Bring love to her fellow classmates
b) Become the most popular girl in school
c) Finally meet her crush, teen singing sensation Jake LaDrake
d) ALL OF THE ABOVE!
On the first day of school, Emma Emmets surveys her classmates and sees plenty of shared interests, crushes not being acted upon, and people too afraid of cooties to know what they're missing. Emma tries her hand at uniting lonely Leah and nerdy Otto . . . and a matchmaker is born.
After successfully matching bullies, dorks, athletes, and weirdos, she's ready for her most high-profile client yet: Isla, a fourth grader so popular she hangs out with the fifth graders. But when Emma's efforts go terribly awry, she finds herself with a powerful new enemy.
Suddenly life on the playground is horribly wrong. With all her classmates blissfully paired off, Emma's left with no one! Is the matchmaker destined to be alone?
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Emma Emmets hopes to make a name for herself in fourth grade, and on the first day of school, she discovers a talent she didn't know she had: matchmaking. When she paired up two friends to be leapfrog partners at day camp over the summer, she unknowingly created a perfect couple, Annie and Henry, who sing Emma's praises. Though that first match was a fluke, Emma quickly decides to launch EmMatchmaking from atop the new school jungle gym. After giving it some thought and creating a few quizzes, Emma discovers she does indeed have a flair for making matches "that... made people happier. Slowmances! Friendships! Whatever!" Though challenges arise, such as finding a match for her rival Isla and run-ins with new student Daniel, Emma comes out on top. With lively characters, a realistic portrayal of school life, and a main character with sharp observations and a natural effervescence, DeVillers's (the Liberty Porter First Daughter series) story should be a winning match for readers just starting to think about crushes, boyfriends, and dates. Ages 7-12. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris Endeavor. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Fourth grader Emma begins a matchmaking service at school, figuring her popularity will skyrocket thanks to a playground wedding and interest from the most popular girl in class. Given the characters' ages, the romance aspect is awkward--something Emma eventually realizes--and the dialogue is forced and conscientiously trendy. Compatibility quizzes are sprinkled throughout the text. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Emma has a gift for matchmaking and is determined to use it. Fourth-graders Emma and Claire are in different classes for the first time, and things promise to be interesting. When cool girl Annie enthusiastically credits Emma with finding her a boyfriend at summer camp, Emma is thrust into the role of matchmaker for the whole grade. Between the snarky comments of California transplant Daniel and the outright meanness of queen bee Isla, Emma struggles to find her way and build her new business. Emma hopes her new fame will allow her to be popular with her peers and leave behind some of the unfortunate nicknames of her earlier years. She commandeers the best playground spot and begins putting together romantic matches between the kids in her grade, inspired by the quizzes she reads in teen magazines and her own crush on teen heartthrob Jake LaDrake. Mercifully, the matches that Emma makes are, in the end, more platonic than romantic. Unfortunately, readers must put up with an overlong trip to get to the end. The journey is filled with uncomfortable crushes, one awkward playground marriage, dated language ("adorbs" and "obvi") and too many references to cellphone usage. Emma's quest for popularity makes her an unlikable fourth grader. Romance + fourth grade = ugh. (Fiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Opening with Emma Emmet's first day of fourth grade, DeVillers' latest middle-grade novel delves into elementary-school attention getting (and romance). Emma found herself embarrassed in earlier grades and wants to make a new, improved impression. Before the first class has even begun, she has found a way to gain popularity (matching up kids with each other) and given herself a new nickname (EmMatchmaker). Some storytellers might teach their heroine humility about getting involved in other people's relationships, but DeVillers seems charmed by Emma's chutzpah though, through the first-person narration, readers can track the doubts and second-guessing behind her boldness. DeVillers also makes gentle fun of Emma's obsession with pop-star Jake LaDrake, who shows up late in the novel and reveals himself to be unworthy of her devotion. By the end, Emma has made it clear to herself and others that her playground matchmaking was about promoting whatever made people happier. Slowmances! Friendships! Whatever! A worthy goal.--Nolan, Abby Copyright 2010 Booklist