**Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**

It's Boba Time for Pearl Li is an inspiring, adorable middle-grade novel about a young girl navigating changes in her friendships, family dynamics, and town. Pearl is hoping to have a great summer before her seventh-grade year begins, and she begins to dive more into her new-found art of amigurumi, something her family doesn't quite seem to understand. 

Pearl feels like the only adult to understand and encourage her artwork is the owner of the local boba tea shop, Boba Time. Once Pearl learns that Boba Time is struggling financially, however, she tries to brainstorm a plan in which she might just be able to save the tea shop. 

I really enjoyed the dynamic between the cast of characters and feel like they all work really well together. There were arguments and successes for which each character played important roles. 

I also really enjoyed the local, small business plot line. The book had a wholesome feeling watching the characters work so hard to support and save the small businesses within their community. 

And we can't forget about the growth of cultural appreciation. Pearl and her friends are challenged to understand and balance their own cultural identities while also leaving room to understand and appreciate the others around them. 

This book is definitely very middle-grade - I say it will probably appeal most to younger middle-grade readers.