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(2)
4-6
In their last summer before everything changes, Birdie and her best friends--star pitcher Ally and reluctant violinist Rose--investigate a decades-old murder mystery. Middleton displays the depths of preteen female friendships in the girls' dialogue and in Birdie's uncertainty about who she will be without her two best friends when they attend different middle schools. A bittersweet, empowering ode to growing up and embracing change.
Reviewer: Mariko Turk
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2018
(3)
4-6
This solid debut involves a four-year-long feud between Avalon and her classmate; Avalon's dad's imprisonment; a serious spelling bee; and Avalon's best friendship with Atticus, who shares her magical belief in the "Infinity Year," which grants ten-year-olds powers that just might resolve the aforementioned problems. Avalon's struggles to control her impulsiveness while dealing with imperfect adults and kids alike will resonate with many.