Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes

March 15, 2022
During the summer before eighth grade, Alex experiences challenging changes. One day at the pool, her longtime best friend, Will, suddenly becomes interested in Rebekah, a popular, well-off girl from school. Alex starts to wonder about body image and wearing a bikini, like Rebekah does. She rejects Rebekah's friendly overtures, not trusting that Rebekah might genuinely like her company, too. She resents Will's efforts to attract Rebekah but also worries that Rebekah may be toying with Will's affections. Alex is also upset about other aspects of her life. She feels that her mother, a busy therapist, expects too much in terms of household chores, caring for her younger brothers, and forcing her to take a babysitting class to get other jobs. Alex has a great relationship with her dad, however, and he helps her build a treehouse with Will, a project she hopes will keep Will away from Rebekah. Will and Alex must earn money to buy materials, industriously finding odd neighborhood jobs like painting and picking up dog poop. As the summer slips by, things improve on many fronts for Alex, from friendships to family relationships. Containing some limited dramatic tension, this realistic story about tween emotional swings reads easily and rings true. Characters in this suburban town are presumed White. An enjoyable read about changing friendships and responsibilities. (Fiction. 10-13)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2022
Grades 5-8 The summer before eighth grade is supposed to be full of the fun and interesting challenges that Alex and her best friend, Will, create together. But when popular girl Rebekah starts hanging out with Will and Alex at the pool, Alex notices things changing between herself and Will. As Will starts acting differently, their friendship feels like it's starting to fracture. Here, Wientge (Honeybees and Frenemies, 2019) masters the awkward in-between moments of growing up and the world changing around you without you being ready for it. Alex navigates not only her changing friendships but also her family dynamics, with her grandfather moving on after her beloved Nana's death. The characters are well developed, and nothing in Alex's journey is easily answered. Her inner voice and turmoil ring true as Alex moves from feeling like a kid to becoming a teen. A perfect choice about the emotional in-between experience for middle-schoolers.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.