SURELY SURELY MARISOL RAINEY

Marisol Rainey is back with more worries.

Gym class is Marisol’s least favorite thing. She’s not great at sports, but for once, she’d like to hear “Way to go, Marisol!” rather than “Nice try, Marisol!” or “Great effort, Marisol!” When their gym teacher announces that they’ll be doing a unit on kickball, Marisol and her best friend, Jada, get nervous. The Brain Train, Marisol’s term for her string of thoughts and worries, chugs along, making it hard for her to sleep and focus at school. Surely things would be easier if her dad were home to teach her kickball, but he’s on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. But with some helpful ideas and advice from her friends and family, Marisol eventually faces kickball with fewer worries and a little more confidence. This stand-alone companion novel to Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey (2021) is a charming, delightful story that readers, especially those with fears and strong emotions, will find relatable. Marisol and her friends all have their quirks, like Jada asking “Would you rather?” questions, adding to the fun. The black-and-white illustrations provide humor and help move the story along. Marisol is biracial; her mother is from the Philippines, and her dad presents White. Jada presents Black.

Surely surely a book readers will enjoy.