The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom

March 15, 2023
Bridget Venus Bloom is a lot. In her first semester at Chicago's Richard James Academy boarding school as a high school junior, the rural Nebraska girl assumes that she is a gift to the universe. She has the unwavering support of her dads (who could barely afford the tuition), and she is immensely talented. Bridget can play piano, dance, and sing. But what she loves more than anything else is being at the center of everyone's attention. So when she bombs her music theory entrance exam and is denied entrance into the school's elite music program, Bridget is dumbfounded. How dare someone suggest that she is not up to par? Not only that, as a general education college-prep student, she is banned from performing. How can the universe revolve around her when she isn't even allowed the spotlight? While Bridget's self-absorbed behavior for the majority of the book may be difficult to stick with, readers who do make it to the end will be rewarded by her growth as a person and as a friend. While mostly engaging, the plot at times glosses over potential conflicts and secondary characters' stories in order to focus completely on Bridget's path to redemption with the result that some of the storylines appear forced. Bridget is White, fat, and queer; there is some racial diversity among the supporting characters. A cutesy, body-positive story of self-absorption, self-realization, and, ultimately, love. (sheet music, author's note) (Fiction. 13-17)

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June 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-Stardom is Bridget Bloom's destiny. The talented performer was born for the spotlight, and she wants everyone to know it. Bridget believes her talent is wasted in her tiny Nebraska town, so when she gets the opportunity to go to a prestigious boarding school in Chicago, she jumps at the chance-even though it's way more than her dads can afford. But it turns out that natural ability will only get you so far, which Bridget finds out when she fails her music theory exam. This means no entry to her chosen program, no sponsors to pay her tuition, and, worst of all, no performing. When Bridget tries to contest the decision, the dean of students challenges her to act more humbly. As she embarks on this journey toward humility, Bridget tries new musical activities, makes new friends, and learns that being the center of attention may not be the only path to success. Bridget's flaws, particularly her self-absorption, are some of the focal points of the story; while this feels authentic to the character and necessary in order to demonstrate her growth, it can be monotonous and difficult to read at times. The romantic arc of the story is enjoyable, if a bit predictable. Bridget is fat, a matter-of-fact aspect of the story, and weight is not a plot point. She is white, as are most secondary characters; the father of Bridget's friend Liza is of Filipino heritage, and other characters identify as queer. VERDICT Libraries with large communities of rom-com readers will want to add this to their collections; recommended for fans of Becky Albertalli's Kate in Waiting and Robin Talley's The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre.-Alison Glass

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 8, 2023
Grades 8-11 Bridget Bloom is a star, and she knows it. She has way too much musical talent to languish in her Nebraska farm town, and she's over the moon (but not at all surprised) when she's admitted to a prestigious boarding school with a renowned musical theater program. But, whoops, barely has Bridget arrived when she gets the bad news: she tanked her theory test, which means she's not in the musical theater program. Worse, the dean seems to think her humility needs work. And if she can't perform, she can't get a music scholarship, which means her dads may not be able to afford to send her back next semester. Bridget has a lot to prove (and a lot to learn), and she's soon cozying up to the YouTube-famous singer she's crushed on from a distance, getting tutored in theory from shy Max, and finding new ways to keep music in her life. Fat, dauntless Bridget has always known her worth--watching her find her place, even when she stumbles, is a joy.

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