Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Imprisonment of a father
Score: Four points out of ten.
I own this book.

This novel was part of a library giveaway since it was too old, few people read it, or both. Initially, it looked promising, so I got it and left it until I ran out of reading material. That is until I checked the ratings and reviews, and according to them, it looked like I would be disappointed. I picked it up and read it, and that sentiment happened. It could've been much better, but it underwhelmed me instead. It's not clear whether the author's other fictional works are better than Poppy's Hero. Maybe?

It starts with the first character I see, Poppy (which explains the title), whose last name I forgot living as a child of a Polish immigrant in England. Here's the central point: Poppy's father is in prison. Why? I don't know; the book never explained it to me. The tension builds as Poppy, alongside another character, Angel, devise a plan to break Poppy's father out of prison, but only a few pages in, it was unsuccessful. Here's where the flaws surface: like other works of fiction, the characters aren't relatable nor can I connect to them. I couldn't feel anything for them. The first half is where Poppy's Hero shines, since it has some action involving the prison break, but the second half had nothing much happening. I'm sure I'm not the target audience, so perhaps a younger reader would enjoy this one. Did I mention the cover is dated, and so is the content inside? I should expect that from now with all early 2010s novels. ( )

The story of a feisty girl, and how she deals with the pain of her dad's downfall, has much to say about the harsh realities faced by the unlucky children of prisoners. I think we forget about the children and how they deal with one of the parents in jail. A must read! I was given this book thru LibraryThing.com ( )

I have to say I didn't finish this book. I found it very hard to get into. I'm going to pass it on and see if it was just me. ( )

This is a quality book for young adults that is written by someone who clearly has done her research regarding the prison system. Poppy is a very likable and real character, and I think there should be more novels like this one that take the lesser-heard perspective of a child with parents who are in jail or otherwise troubled. As a librarian, I would definitely recommend this to middle grade readers, particularly if they are struggling themselves. Good writing, good plot pace, and well-rounded characterization of all the characters. ( )

I received this book as an early reviewer. I enjoyed reading this novel, and immediately fell in love with Poppy, and her plight to break her father out of jail. Like Poppy, I struggled with trying to understand why no one would tell her what her father did, and hoped till the very end that he was truly innocent. A nicely written story, and one that fits a subject that has very few quality titles: that of preteen girls whom may have an immediate family member in jail.