Max has a lot of challenges. Her parents have always struggled financially, and she no longer gets along with her younger sister - especially now that they're both in middle school and her sister has joined the bullies in tormenting her because of her extensive braces. She tries to stick it out, but things just get worse and worse, from misunderstandings with her friends to her parents' increasing arguments to struggling in school because she doesn't have the same tech access as the other kids. When her sister joins the other bullies in publicly tormenting her, it seems like things can't get any worse - but maybe it's better for everything to be out in the open. With a lot of courage, support from her friends and some difficult conversations with her parents, Max starts a lot of positive changes in the school and her family.
This story is based on the author's own experiences growing up and there, I think, are where most of the inconsistencies come from. I'm guessing she grew up in the 80s, possibly 90s, so a lot of the behavior and portrayals of school are outdated. On the other hand, not all of the contemporary references ring true either - I don't know of any schools that actively encourage kids to use their cell phones in class! - but ultimately I think these things are outweighed by the honest portrayal of Max's family. Her parents aren't vilified, despite their own struggles - Max feels safe enough with them to honestly tell her mom not to hit her ever again, after she slaps her. Their father ends up going to get help for his alcoholism and at the end of the story they talk about maybe getting family therapy, although the cost may be prohibitive. It's the blunt realities of living paycheck-to-paycheck that are almost never portrayed in middle grade fiction that make the book feel real - the disappointment of not being able to afford small things, the extra costs at school that others don't think anything of, the strains it puts on family relationships. The portrayal of Max's friendships, sometimes rocky but always solid, keep the book from devolving into a misery memoir and readers will laugh, cry, and relate to Max and her world while seeing hope for the future.
Verdict: A strong choice for any library's middle grade fiction section. Pair this with Jamie Sumner's Roll With It for realistic depictions of families that struggle but come out on top and kids dealing with physical challenges. This was released in both hardcover and paperback, so it's an easy buy for book clubs or class sets. Recommended.
ISBN: 9781250331021; Published October 2023 by Square Fish/Farrar Straus Giroux; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to my order list.
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