Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper - ADVISABLE

Cooper, Abby Sticks & Stones, 280 pages.Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence; G.

Elyse was born with a rare disorder where the names others call her appear on her arms and legs. When she was younger she was called almost all good names, and had friends who accepted and protected her. But now she’s starting middle school, and her friends are drifting away and the mean girls are calling her bad names. On top of it all she receives an anonymous note saying, “I know who you are, and I know what you’re dealing with. I want to help.”

The story is sweet and heartfelt, the characters lifelike and true; it reflects on how hard it can be to accept yourself for who you are. The book has no swearing, violence, or mature content, so I could recommend this book to just about anyone.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: EIH 7th grade