Clumsily written. I was easily bored and couldn't get into the storyline no matter how hard I tried. This was a definite DNF for me.

The Sleeping Bug by M.J. Brolly is a children’s fiction/middle grade book. Molly becomes part of her new book being put in a little Texas town by magic by entering a book. She meets a cowboy and his dog learning about a sleepy sickness and the mystery that has left the adults asleep. How will Molly escape the book and escape this adventure? This is a fun story as well as a quick read. It is an interesting escape book featuring a heart warming story full of thrills and magic. It is great for middle grade readers, but older readers will enjoy it a well. The writing is well done and the characters are easy to like. Readers have compassion for the story and enjoy taking on the adventure with the characters. I recommend this book while there may be some things leaving the reader wondering why didn’t she focus more on the amazement of what has happened to her it is a good story overall.

This was a great read with a strong main character. As someone who is regularly completely engrossed in a book, to the point that I am living alongside the characters who fill the pages, I found that I had quite a connection with it.

One of the best things about "The Sleeping Bug" was the relatability of the characters, particularly the protagonist, Molly. This fantastic, creative story was well written and held my attention throughout. I enjoyed reading it and wanted to see what was going to happen next! It also had an intriguing mystery.

This book was definitely a worthwhile read that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from the publisher via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

The premise of this story is incredibly creative—a girl gets sucked into the world of the book she’s reading—though I found it difficult to connect with the main character as I didn’t understand her reactions. When she initially crossed over into the book world, I expected the story to focus around her adventure there from that point forward, but she didn’t spend much time reflecting on her experience. She just went to school the next day as if nothing had happened, and the further back-and-forth between her mundane school life and her book life made things feel a little less smooth to me. Still, this story is whimsical, gets a lot of points for originality, and is a solid addition to the MG genre.

11-year-old Molly is anxious about new school year and being separated from her best friend Angela who is assigned to a different class. School bullies are giving her hard time. And her grandfather has just had a heart attack. Her only escape is reading. Molly discovers that if she focuses hard enough and is at the right place, she can get transported to the fictional world of her latest book ‘The sleeping bug’. What is more, Molly’s brief visits to the little town in Texas where the story is set seem to have an effect on the way the events unfold. Molly’s real world and her valiant efforts to save the people from the story collide. Luckily, Molly has a strong and loyal personality, so she is going to do everything possible to find solutions and save the little town and her new friends.
What I liked the most about this book is its well-written, relatable characters and great world building (Molly’s home, school, hospital, Texas). Molly herself is aware of how the Texan world is limited to her expectations and assumptions based on books and TV shows.
This is a great book for middle school - the story is engaging, Molly’s life and problems have a very authentic feel for this age, while the style is both accessible and full of vivid detail.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oblong Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

The mystery of the book and its magic was interesting enough to keep one reading, but this didn't quite make up for the awkward writing, thin characterization, and well-trodden and perfunctorily dealt-with plotlines of school bullies, friends growing apart, and the fear over sick and aging relatives.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Molly is a young girl dealing with many changes in her life and she stumbles into the adventure of a lifetime with a book. I know I have dreamed many times of being able to jump into a book with all my favorite characters and wondered what I would do if I was there and how events may have gone differently had I been there. Molly gets that chance and I envied her at times.

This book was a quick read and I think anyone who has ever dreamed of being a character in a book or needed an escape from the real world, would enjoy this book.

I read this book with my 11-year old dyslexic daughter (in Texas). Molly’s adventures in the book strongly resonated with her. She was intrigued by absorption of the main character in the book, which resulted in a good dialog about being passionate about reading.

Great story for young readers. I was sucked in pretty quick and wanted to see what was happening next! Very creative.

My daughter (10yo) loved this book. She is an avid reader and read it in two sitting. Having recently changed school herself I think she really connected with Molly, and the challenges she was facing. She said she had lovely dreams after reading this book and I think this is a story that will stay with her long after she finished it.

This is a really good book for young readers. I feel like they could identify with Molly. It is well written and holds your attention. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you Oblong Books via NetGalley for the free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Molly is an 11-year-old girl who is struggling with the start of a new school year. She finds comfort in reading a new book titled "The Sleeping Bug". This is no ordinary book, however, and Molly learns to deal with her real world problems with help from the book in a very adventurous and fun way.
This is a really good book with an interesting main character. Children of a similar age can easily empathize with Molly's emotions and understand her actions. The mystery is also quite intriguing.