Ellie Collins

Obtained a free copy in exchange for an honest review by Booktasters on Twitter
Daisy, Bold & Beautiful is the story of D.J, A young girl who learns to overcome her fears and gain the confidence to stand up for herself.
D.J has recently transferred schools and is very nervous about her first day at the new school. She meets May, a bubbly girl in her bus, and instantly feels a sense of security with her. She then meets Payton and Lexi who will later become her friends for life!
As the story goes on, Persephone The Goddess of spring visits D.J and they both instantly bond as they share their common love for gardening. They talk about their life and how D.J picked up her love for gardening from her mom. D.J is sad to hear about the story of Persephone and how Hades tricked her into staying in the underworld where no plants grow.
Although D.J had made friends on her first day of school, she is nervous and feels like she doesn't belong with them. Mainly because of the video games that the girls love but D.J has no interest in. She is scared to express what she really feels and thus is made to play games with the girls.
So, one day Persephone and D.J make a promise that each one will stand up for themselves. And D.J overcomes her anxiety and fears and finally is able to communicate with her friends and also the cute guy Hudson she had a crush on! And Persephone on the other hand convinces Hades to let her plant the house plants that required less sunlight!
This is a pretty neat and straightforward story especially when it's from an eleven-year-old. The story was short as apparently, it is a part of the series. This was a good read and I liked it mainly because it had the greek mythology stuff which I love.… (mere)

What would you do if you peered into a mirror and saw something other than your reflection looking back at you?

What would you do if the captain of the football team invited you to watch him play in an upcoming game?

Then what would you do if both your mom and the goddess of love and beauty were beyond excited at your good fortune?

With help from Grammy Jean and Ty, Mylee does her best to wade through the fog of confusion. She wants her mom to be happy, but she wants to be happy, too. By finding a solution for her own problem, Mylee is able to offer a bit of helpful advice to her new friend on the other side of the mirror.

I love Ellie’s writing style - the first page alone is a work of terror. I love being able to feel her energy flowing over the pages. I love the steadfast morals expressed in each situation. And I love the appearance of D.J. and her gardening club from the first book.

I cannot wait to see what Ellie comes up with in book 3.… (mere)

This one short read consists of many layers.

This story tells of overcoming fears and anxiety, remaining true to one’s self, and the importance of ignoring assumptions. The unconditional love and understanding of a parent provides a solid base for his child to stand on.

As the new girl in town, D.J. would much rather climb back into bed than attend her first day of middle school. Making new friends is never easy. Asking those brand-new friends to try something completely different from the norm is frightening.

To the ancient Greeks, mythology was used to provide answers to unanswerable questions. Mythology was also used to explain social situations. After the loss of her mother, D.J. found Persephone to be the perfect Goddess to help guide her through her social fears. D.J. was able to use the trials experienced by Persephone to navigate through her own insecurities. As humans, we yearn to grow and expand our horizons. The difficult part, however, is accomplishing this without closing the door on an important part of your being. Through their talks, D.J. found the courage to power through her fears to remain true to herself.

Another pitfall of being the new kid is becoming the recipient of everyone’s well-meaning but misguided opinions. You never know what you’ll miss out on if you believe a teacher is unapproachable or a fellow student is singularly focused. View others with an open mind. Decide for yourself if you want to interact with them or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning the various lessons expressed through the imaginings of the author. I look forward to reading her future work.… (mere)