Tina Wells
Author of Honest June
About the Author
Image credit: Photo by Melissa Hope
Series
Works by Tina Wells
The Elevation Approach: Harness the Power of Work-Life Harmony to Unlock Your Creativity, Cultivate Joy, and Reach Your Biggest Goals (2023) 23 copies
Chasing youth culture and getting it right how your business can profit by tapping into today's most powerful trendsetters and tastemakers (2011) 5 copies
Speaking for Communication 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- founder of RLVNT Media
- Short biography
- Tina Wells is the founder of RLVNT Media, a multimedia content venture that brings culture-shifting storytelling and beloved products to market through innovative partnerships. Tina has been recognized by Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business, Essence's 40 Under 40, Cosmopolitan's Fun Fearless Phenom, and more. She is the author of ten books, including the middle-grade novel Honest June; the bestselling tween fiction series Mackenzie Blue; its spinoff series, The Zee Files; and the marketing handbook Chasing Youth Culture and Getting It Right.
Members
Reviews
First sentence: I don't know everything about life yet, but I know at least one thing is true--life's easier when you make people happy.
Premise/plot: June may be starting sixth grade, but, her mother treats her like a toddler and her father treats her like an extension of himself. Since June is 100% a people pleaser, she only lives to make her parents happy--at some cost to her own happiness. Her father dictates her hobbies, her after school activities, her future career, etc. Her mother show more doesn't dictate the future so much as live in the past. (Like what kind of mom would pick out teddy bears eating pasta in a matching shirt/skirt combo for their kid to wear? Like I can't imagine it. As if that wasn't enough, we're supposed to believe the ensemble continues with ruffled socks. I just can't see this exaggeration helicopter mom existing.) June has her own friends....or does she?
June is "blessed" with a fairy godmother (of sorts) who uses her magical powers to make it so that June cannot lie. She has to tell the truth. (But does she really?) June's get-around in parts is to become evasive, disappear in tough situations, avoid and sidestep, and keep a BLOG (a blog seriously????) of her private confessions.
Her friendships may not survive the honesty treatment. And her relationship with her clueless parents may not either. Especially her father who has a rigid, my way or no way, zero tolerance level. Like speaking up and saying you don't want to play field hockey results in him throwing a temper tantrum for days, weeks, where he's too mad to talk to her and he reluctantly says I love you but I'm still mad at you. Like REALLY? SERIOUSLY???
My thoughts: There is very little emotional maturity in this middle grade fantasy. I don't expect the protagonist, the actual middle grader, to be emotionally mature and super-stable or extremely wise. But the parents in this one--especially the Dad--is RIDICULOUS.
I liked this one enough to keep reading. But I wasn't really sure if I was liking or loving what I was reading. show less
Premise/plot: June may be starting sixth grade, but, her mother treats her like a toddler and her father treats her like an extension of himself. Since June is 100% a people pleaser, she only lives to make her parents happy--at some cost to her own happiness. Her father dictates her hobbies, her after school activities, her future career, etc. Her mother show more doesn't dictate the future so much as live in the past. (Like what kind of mom would pick out teddy bears eating pasta in a matching shirt/skirt combo for their kid to wear? Like I can't imagine it. As if that wasn't enough, we're supposed to believe the ensemble continues with ruffled socks. I just can't see this exaggeration helicopter mom existing.) June has her own friends....or does she?
June is "blessed" with a fairy godmother (of sorts) who uses her magical powers to make it so that June cannot lie. She has to tell the truth. (But does she really?) June's get-around in parts is to become evasive, disappear in tough situations, avoid and sidestep, and keep a BLOG (a blog seriously????) of her private confessions.
Her friendships may not survive the honesty treatment. And her relationship with her clueless parents may not either. Especially her father who has a rigid, my way or no way, zero tolerance level. Like speaking up and saying you don't want to play field hockey results in him throwing a temper tantrum for days, weeks, where he's too mad to talk to her and he reluctantly says I love you but I'm still mad at you. Like REALLY? SERIOUSLY???
My thoughts: There is very little emotional maturity in this middle grade fantasy. I don't expect the protagonist, the actual middle grader, to be emotionally mature and super-stable or extremely wise. But the parents in this one--especially the Dad--is RIDICULOUS.
I liked this one enough to keep reading. But I wasn't really sure if I was liking or loving what I was reading. show less
Adding humor, life's rollercoaster, and a good amount of heart, this is a cute beginning to what promises to be a soon loved series.
Mackenzie (Zee) is on her way to London thanks to her father's new job. She's really not ready for any of it, especially since it means leaving the last of her two best friends behind (the other already being in Paris). Upon arrival, her mother announces that Zee is staying at a boarding school, but luckily, an old friend of hers happens to attend the same show more school. Already feeling shoved around, Zee not only faces a roommate, who doesn't talk much, but is suddenly battling classes, has a best friend ignoring her, and a guy, who doesn't make friends with anyone, claiming she's his muse. And things get crazier from there.
Zee is a lively girl, who is caught up in a whirlwind, which she's not really sure she wants. Her energy radiates from every page, but she's by no means overly bubbly or silly. Her decisions are thought out, she tries not to break any rules, and she's always thinking of others. She's the kind of girl everyone like and gets along with. Even the situations she faces, while being in London and, therefore, a bit more 'exotic', are the type many middle graders will be able to relate to and understand.
The writing is well done and flows smoothly. Zee's concerns fit well for her age group, and if nothing else, she acts a little young for her age. Being in the 9th grade, I'd normally say this was for a tween/YA audience, but it is solidly written with the middle grade audience in mind. While she is a little older, it's no problem for this age group to relate to her.
Zee faces all sorts of issues, none which are caused by her, but the drama around her is non-stop. It's a quick-paced read, lets some of the culture of London seep in, but really sticks more to the drama. I did smirk that her family's furniture was at the house the same time as they were (we've moved overseas and I promise it isn't that easy), but the author has done her research well. The emotions and troubles Zee encounters are all over the place and constant...she doesn't get to catch her breath...but this is what makes the read addicting and fun. Plus, with all the friends she has, her time is tight. I was disappointed to not have any sort of ending to this book. It leaves off as if at the end of a chapter with everything still open. Especially for middle graders, who don't have their own money flow, this makes it impossible to enjoy just one book, and even more so to pick up one somewhere in the series.
This is a very cute book with an adorable character, which I can see many middle graders enjoying.
I won a complimentary copy through Library Thing and enjoyed meeting Zee quite a bit. show less
Mackenzie (Zee) is on her way to London thanks to her father's new job. She's really not ready for any of it, especially since it means leaving the last of her two best friends behind (the other already being in Paris). Upon arrival, her mother announces that Zee is staying at a boarding school, but luckily, an old friend of hers happens to attend the same show more school. Already feeling shoved around, Zee not only faces a roommate, who doesn't talk much, but is suddenly battling classes, has a best friend ignoring her, and a guy, who doesn't make friends with anyone, claiming she's his muse. And things get crazier from there.
Zee is a lively girl, who is caught up in a whirlwind, which she's not really sure she wants. Her energy radiates from every page, but she's by no means overly bubbly or silly. Her decisions are thought out, she tries not to break any rules, and she's always thinking of others. She's the kind of girl everyone like and gets along with. Even the situations she faces, while being in London and, therefore, a bit more 'exotic', are the type many middle graders will be able to relate to and understand.
The writing is well done and flows smoothly. Zee's concerns fit well for her age group, and if nothing else, she acts a little young for her age. Being in the 9th grade, I'd normally say this was for a tween/YA audience, but it is solidly written with the middle grade audience in mind. While she is a little older, it's no problem for this age group to relate to her.
Zee faces all sorts of issues, none which are caused by her, but the drama around her is non-stop. It's a quick-paced read, lets some of the culture of London seep in, but really sticks more to the drama. I did smirk that her family's furniture was at the house the same time as they were (we've moved overseas and I promise it isn't that easy), but the author has done her research well. The emotions and troubles Zee encounters are all over the place and constant...she doesn't get to catch her breath...but this is what makes the read addicting and fun. Plus, with all the friends she has, her time is tight. I was disappointed to not have any sort of ending to this book. It leaves off as if at the end of a chapter with everything still open. Especially for middle graders, who don't have their own money flow, this makes it impossible to enjoy just one book, and even more so to pick up one somewhere in the series.
This is a very cute book with an adorable character, which I can see many middle graders enjoying.
I won a complimentary copy through Library Thing and enjoyed meeting Zee quite a bit. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Book 2 of the Zee Files series, this one follows Zee in a boarding school in England. I did like how the author wrote about Zee's anxiety about school and her parents' divorce and getting counseling by a therapist for her mental health. However, I'm not sure all readers would appreciate or empathize with her privileged lifestyle - for example, one of her friends lives in Paris!
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Girl/Friend continues the story of Zee as she grows in life, living abroad with changing family dynamics, new friendships, relationship issues, and confidence in herself. Zee is forced to grow up quickly in many areas she is not equipped for and she struggles with expectations from all areas of her life. Zee is dealing with a potential case of ADHD and learning techniques to focus and relax.
This book was a nice bounce-back from the 2nd in the series. Zee's insecurity and doubts are attached show more to much more relatable issues. There is some more time given to developing other characters, a much needed change from the other books in the series.
The sad reality of kids being forced to grow up to quickly is a subtle underlying theme, intentional or not. It is played well throughout the book. The sense of entitlement, privilege, and wealth is still downplayed and modern cultural-societal trends are inserted somewhat clumsily but make the book easier for young reader to identify with. Zee is far from a perfect character and her personality along is much stronger than the circumstances she is written into. The need to insert therapy, ADHD, etc. can be a bit much and is distracting from the strength of the characters that Wells has created. show less
This book was a nice bounce-back from the 2nd in the series. Zee's insecurity and doubts are attached show more to much more relatable issues. There is some more time given to developing other characters, a much needed change from the other books in the series.
The sad reality of kids being forced to grow up to quickly is a subtle underlying theme, intentional or not. It is played well throughout the book. The sense of entitlement, privilege, and wealth is still downplayed and modern cultural-societal trends are inserted somewhat clumsily but make the book easier for young reader to identify with. Zee is far from a perfect character and her personality along is much stronger than the circumstances she is written into. The need to insert therapy, ADHD, etc. can be a bit much and is distracting from the strength of the characters that Wells has created. show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 23
- Members
- 533
- Popularity
- #46,707
- Rating
- 4.2
- Reviews
- 83
- ISBNs
- 80
- Languages
- 3
