THREE THINGS ABOUT EMMY CRAWFORD

A senator’s daughter struggles with perfectionism amid familial, academic, and romantic tensions.

For Emmy Crawford, “being mediocre isn’t an option.” With unscrupulous paparazzi on the prowl, 17-year-old Emmy and her sisters, 16-year-old Issy and 9-year-old Lucy, can’t risk any behavior that might jeopardize Mom’s presidential campaign. But Emmy’s got everything under control: She’s determined to protect her beloved Issy (who deals with anxiety from headlines such as “State Senator’s Daughter Mentally Ill: If Crawford Can’t Help Her Own Child, How Can We Expect Her to Help the Nation?”) and win nationals in debate, burnishing her family’s reputation. Emmy has no time for weakness—including her Crohn’s disease, which she stubbornly ignores, lying about not following her doctor’s treatment protocols. But when Gabriel Castillo, the handsome debate opponent who vanished after she shared a vulnerable moment, returns, Emmy’s defenses against romantic distractions weaken. Complicating matters, Issy appears to be crushing on Gabe. As misunderstandings mount and her health worsens, Emmy realizes that she’s losing control—and she risks losing her relationship with Issy, too. Bitz, who has Crohn’s and anxiety herself, sympathetically portrays both. Readers struggling with anxiety will find Issy’s growing self-confidence particularly empowering. Emmy’s gradual self-awareness is satisfying but hard-won; realistically, the consequences of her actions are not instantly resolved. Additionally, the author examines such issues as health care disparities and parental mental illness. Emmy and her family present white; Gabe is Mexican American.

An honest exploration of trust, family, and self-care.