Gradchanted

March 1, 2025
A teen's Disneyland graduation celebration leads to reliving the same experiences until she discovers how to change the path she's on. Cass Issac, a recent graduate of Harbor Cove High, has attended 16 schools, making her a pro at goodbyes. Three weeks before graduation, her dads (who run a house-flipping business) announced that they'll be moving to Oregon, making Disney Grad Nite her last in California. Cass has learned it's best to leave when things are "at their peak," so she doesn't tell her best friend, Bryony Tsai, the news, choosing instead to focus on making the party an epic final memory. But once they're inside Disney's California Adventure, nothing goes the way Cass planned. Despite a meet-cute and instant connection with cute British bass player Freddie Sharma from boy band Eton Mess, Cass tries to flee after coming face-to-face with angry friends she's ghosted. Cass' wish to have "a chance to do things over and make things right" thrusts her into a time loop. The Disney backdrop is as important as the characters, with each iteration of the time loop feeling like an ode to a restaurant, ride, or character. Despite some entertaining moments and the meaningful central message of appreciating the time we have and the people in our lives, Cass' slow growth makes the reading experience monotonous, impeding readers' connection with the characters. Cass presents white, and the supporting cast contains ethnic diversity. A plodding tale with some enjoyable highlights.(Romance. 12-18)

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March 1, 2025

Gr 9 Up-Cass is an expert at ghosting. Having been through 16 schools because of her dads' renovation business, she finds cutting ties easier than keeping in touch. As her parents get ready to move again, Cass plans to ghost once more after the Grad Nite celebration in Disneyland. However, the night soon turns disastrous, and Cass's escape plan sours when she's thrown into a time loop, forced to relive Grad Nite over and over. Can she find her way out, or will Cass be stuck perpetually facing her worst fears? Matson pens the second in her Disney Parks romance set with a teen stuck in her own personal Groundhog Day. While the initial build up through the first time loop can drag, once the loops begin, there are plenty of moments that are fun to read. Cass's relatability to some teens may waver as piecing together what may stop the loop, through her interactions with love interest Freddie, reveals that the central communication conflict was easily solvable. The creative way Cass helps those around her is well managed, if somewhat predictable, by the time the last loop is happening. Secondary characters, while interesting, lack development beyond their introductions. Cass reads white and Freddie is cued as South Asian. VERDICT A secondary purchase where Disney lovers of the communication breakdown trope abound.-Emily Walker

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