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The Beach Dilemma: The Beach Dilemma (Emma Just Medium) Hardcover – August 1, 2023

by Laura Wiltse Prior (Author), Marta Kissi (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6 ratings
See all formats and editions
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Middle-kid Emma is stuck between her two brothers, again.

She has to ride in the middle seat as her family heads out on a weeklong beach vacation with friends, where Emma knows that being just medium will only get worse! Then she has an idea. What if she could get out of being in the middle by taking on a new role? What if she acted BIG? Will Emma's plan work, or will she have another huge dilEmma?

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    7 - 11 years
  2. Print length
    72 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    2 - 5
  5. Lexile measure
    580
  6. Dimensions
    6.2 x 0.5 x 8.1 inches
  7. Publisher
    One Elm Books
  8. Publication date
    August 1, 2023
  9. ISBN-10
    1947159607
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1947159600
  11. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this family-driven chapter book The Beach Dilemma, a young girl learns that being in-between can be a gift -- and the right place to be." --Foreword Reviews

" Emma's dilemmas are Big and Little and they are her brothers! Finding a way to feel just as important as the child born between the two is what makes this story relatable, funny, and touching.
Sometimes, when you're the middle child, you just don't feel as special as the cream in an Oreo cookie. That's how Emma feels, but when she tries to fix her dilemma, she makes some surprising discoveries. Readable, funny, and relatable - especially for middles."
--
Gigi Priebe Author, The Adventures of Henry Whiskers series
Founder, Stepping Stones Museum for Children

"This is one of the best children's chapter books I have read in a long time. Not only as an adult, but from what I can remember reading as a child as well. Each character is incredibly relatable and the real-life scenarios they find themselves in are relevant to kids today. I can see this book being part of a Scholastic book fair or one of those books children often checkout from the school library.
The illustrations perfectly fit the story. They allowed me to place scenes in my head and keep it continuing in a cinematic way as I read the story. This could be an entire book, T.V., or movie series that I would enjoy as an adult as well as share with my children. Emma Just Medium: The Beach Dilemma is a fun children's book with charismatic characters that kids will enjoy following."
--Literary Titan Reviews 2023

"Emma is at a loss for what she should do next when assistance with her 'dilEmma' comes from an unexpected corner. ...It teaches a valuable lesson about embracing one's personality and learning to appreciate what makes each of us unique..."
--Kirkus Reviews

From the Author

Laura Wiltse Prior is a middle grade author who loves cookie dough, reading and tennis. When she isn't writing, she is driving her children around, hiking with Cody, her Portuguese Water Dog or hanging with Casper, the nicest cat in town. She lives and writes in Connecticut with her husband and three kids, the inspiration for her stories. This is her debut juvenile chapter book.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ One Elm Books (August 1, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 72 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1947159607
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1947159600
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 11 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 580
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 0.5 x 8.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6 ratings

About the author

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Laura Wiltse Prior

Laura Wiltse Prior

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Laura Wiltse Prior went from creating tales starring "Laura the Great" in her dad's studio office, to crafting short stories when she was supposed to be working in a business office, to writing books for kids in her very own office (well, one she shares with her son's Xbox). She loves reading anything and everything, sneaking cookie dough from the mixing bowl and playing tennis. When she isn't writing, Laura's ferrying her kids around, hiking with her dog Cody, or hanging with Casper the cat. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three kids, the inspiration for her stories.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
6 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kara A Gilliam
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
We love Emma and her family. We enjoyed going with them on their little beach vacation and being with them while they navigate family dynamics. It was a fun, silly, and heartwarming read.
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Shellie
4.0 out of 5 stars Just Be Yourself
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023
Emma is the middle child. Her younger brother, Little, is 3, and her older brother, Big, is 10. Emma is coming to terms with the fact that Big is growing more into his own person, and this includes getting his own friends. He doesn't play with her as much anymore, and Little is too small to understand her games to play with her either. There's a certain kind of loneliness that comes with this realization.

We follow Emma as she is packed into the back seat of the car--in the middle, of course--on her family's way to a summer vacation at the beach with their family friends, the Farbers. She decides that she is going to act like she was born in a different birth order, so she starts thinking about how she should speak and act as someone bigger. The Farbers just so happen to be her best friend, Wes the Best's parents, and her new plans include not hanging out with him anymore just because he is also a middle child and she can't associate with other middles if this plan is to work out.

Let's just say that trying to be too grown up doesn't end up working out for her, so she decides maybe she should go back to being little again. After all, Little's bad behavior isn't scolded the same hers is. However, in the end, being little doesn't work either. She has a heart to heart with her dad, and realizes that there are advantages to being in the middle after all.
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Brett Hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars Even an 'only-child' can relate
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023
While this story centers around middle-child Emma and her two relatable brothers, the story is really one about finding and embracing your place in a family. Young readers will delight in Emma's struggle to be heard and seen. Highly recommended for family bookshelves!
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Elana H Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and authentic
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2023
The situations that Emma, the middle child, finds herself in are universal. (What kid doesn't fuss over their position in the backseat?)
Young readers will be hooked immediately.
The author cleverly reveals the benefits of being a middle child - or different than their siblings/others. Everyone needs to be reminded of the importance of looking for positives in uncomfortable situations and leaning into their uniqueness. Very effective messaging.
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Library Jen
4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story for early readers
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
Emma is the middle child, caught between her two brothers, whom everyone calls "Big" and "Little." Emma knows she's just medium, which is nothing special. On their annual summer trip to the beach, Emma comes up with a plan to change her status by changing her actions. Will this just cause more dilEmma's? Or, will is change Emma's life the way she wants it to?

This is a sweet story about self-acceptance and finding a place to fit in. The illustrations are gorgeous (though they sometimes ignore little details from the story - like Emma sitting in a booster seat in the car). I highly recommend this book for readers ages 5-9 and those with new siblings trying to adjust.
One person found this helpful
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MJones
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute & Enjoyable REad
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2023
Emma is ‘stuck in the middle’ in that she is one of three children and is the second child. Her oldest brother is ‘big’ and gets to do everything while her younger brother is ‘little’ and is forgiven for all that he does because of his age. That leaves Emma, who considers herself to be medium. She’s beginning to think that she just can’t win, but then Emma comes up with an idea to try acting big. Sometimes what seems like a good idea is not really a good idea. Emma makes this discovery plus a few more. This is a cute story with fun illustrations making it an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
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