Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski (Jo Dabrowski, Affirm)

Life doesn’t feel easy for Doris Kozlowski. Her family is Polish, and they’re not like almost all the other families nearby. Her babcia makes all kinds of foods that smell funny (even if they taste good!), and her mum loves singing, dancing and acting but recently has been playing singing vegetables in TV commercials. That’s already embarrassing enough, but there’s also the disaster from the last school talent show causing Doris worry. It would have been alright if her best friend Felicity had stuck around as they went into Year Six, but not only does she seem to have lost her friend, she’s lost her to the popular girls! Doris figures that if she can just win the talent show, she might have a shot at getting Felicity back, but there are plenty of obstacles in the way. Jo Dabrowski has written a touching middle-grade novel that will make readers laugh and cry alongside Doris Kozlowski. The story is well paced, and although sometimes you groan as Doris decides on another scheme you know won’t end well, you’re always right there with her, hoping that she’ll figure it out. A fantastic story about family, friendship and focusing on the people who are important to you, Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski is a must-read. Perfect for fans of Aimee Lucido and Oliver Phommavanh.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anneliese Gates is a writer and works in a primary school library. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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Category: Reviews