STARTING FROM SCRATCH

A middle schooler is unsettled by her new blended family.

Janie relies on a rigid color-coded schedule to feel in control of her life, both at home and at school. She’s OK with her mom’s marriage to firefighter Keisha, but when Keisha’s daughter, Makayla, moves in with her cat, Pumpkin, Janie is alarmed. After a bad experience, Janie hates cats, and she tries to avoid Pumpkin. On top of that, Janie’s mom pushes her to include Makayla in her activities. Before long, Makayla connects with Janie’s friends, and Janie feels excluded. All these changes disrupt her careful plans, causing a rift between Janie and her mom. Eventually, readers realize that Janie’s dependence on schedules is connected to a difficult time in her family’s past as well as her desire to keep the peace within her circle of friends. Ultimately, Janie must confront the changes her new family configuration has brought and learn to accept some uncertainty in her life. In this novel centering Black characters, Janie is a sympathetic protagonist coping with both tween growing pains and a mother who has faced some challenges. Members of the diverse supporting cast of characters are engaging, particularly new stepmom Keisha; Janie’s friend Dani, who is nonbinary; and Lula, an elderly friend from a local nursing home. The drama within family and friendships is realistically handled.

A comforting read with both serious and lighter coming-of-age issues.