She definitely met that goal and I ended up becoming immersed in the book and I can see it being a popular choice at my library and schools.
Madalyn has had a rough transition to middle school. Her dog died, her best friend moved, her father lost his job, her mom works long hours, and finally a kid brought a gun to school. But her mom has a plan for 7th grade - have Madalyn transferred to a smaller, better school where she’ll feel safe.
There’s just one problem: That school doesn’t exist in their district. Madalyn will have to spend most of the week with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo, and go to a school where she’s the only Black girl in her class.
Madalyn deals with loneliness and microaggressions, struggling to navigate new friendships with other girls. She watches how Papa Lobo interacts with his racist elderly neighbor and makes some tough decisions about her own choices and friendships.
The events of the story, culminating in evacuation due to wildfires and a confrontation with the girl Madalyn had hoped would be her friend, are realistic and readers will feel Madalyn’s fear and discomfort at having hard conversations. However, the book keeps its innocent, middle grade feel. Madalyn isn’t really interested in romance, she’s more concerned with friendship worries, navigating a new school, and what will happen with her dad’s job. I have a lot of readers who can handle the length of a longer chapter book, but are more sensitive and not ready for more mature content.
Verdict: This would make a great classroom read and is just the book I want to hand to my middle grade readers whose parents don’t want more intense content. The setting of Southern CA and the crossover of New Orleans culture will be an added interest for my Midwest audience.
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