BE REAL, MACY WEAVER

A tween struggles to navigate friendship and family in a new community.

For 11-year-old Macy Weaver, finding and keeping a best friend is a tough task. She thinks she has it all worked out with Josie, but their connection ends abruptly, and Macy is facing spending summer vacation alone. The news that her mom wants to move them from South Carolina to Maryland so she can attend college seems like a fresh start for Macy’s friend search despite the strain it places on her dad. Their family dynamic is further complicated by Macy’s mom’s decision to live on campus during the week while Macy and her dad stay in a small apartment. Once school begins, Macy is on a friendship mission, but, convinced she is not enough as she is, she makes up stories that she thinks will make her more attractive. When that does not work, she plants a wedge between two friends that backfires. Macy is an entertaining character whose desperate need shows the importance of friendship as young people develop. The portrayal of Macy’s immature mom will resonate with readers as they come to understand that not everyone has perfect parents. The appealing cast of characters, pop-culture references, and lively pacing make this an engaging read. Macy and most of the cast are Black; one of her friends is Chinese and Black, and one uses they/them pronouns.

A nice blend of life’s joys and challenges for today’s middle-grade readers.