Author: Gillian McDunn
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller
If This Were a Story by Beth Turley
Rating:
 |
| a bit more complex than the standard |
Summary (provided by publisher): Meg has always found comfort in her best friend Beatrix's shadow. Self-assured Beatrix is the one who makes decisions, and the girls have been a pair since kindergarten. But middle school has brought some changes in Beatrix, especially when Meg tries to step outside her role as sidekick.
A special science elective is Meg's first step away, but when she's paired with quirky new girl Hazel, Beatrix steps in to stake her claim on Meg. Meg is taken aback at how mean Beatrix can be--and how difficult it is to stand up to her friend. But as Meg gets to know Hazel while working on their backyard beehive project, she starts to wonder: Is being Beatrix's friend worth turning down the possibility of finding her own voice?
This pitch-perfect exploration of middle-school friendship dynamics brims with heart and hope, and will resonate with readers of all ages.
My opinion: We get a fair number of books about friendship trouble in the middle school years, especially between girls. McDunn takes a hard look at social dynamics among these girls. We see the manipulative "queen bee', the subservient friend who goes along and spreads gossip to appease the leader, and the outsider who lies to avoid things she doesn't want to talk about, who doesn't really know who to fit en even though she wants to. That's the difference with this book. The outsider wants friends but doesn't really know how to conform. She isn't Stargirl, a determined outsider, just a socially awkward kid. We see each girl learning to stand up for herself and the things she believes in. Each girl has lessons to learn, none of them completely villain or completely victim. It's socially complex and more reflective of real life than we typically see. A solid choice.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
No comments:
Post a Comment