Language: G (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (non-physical, but repetitive bullying)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL; HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
8th grader Sydney Vicious Talcott and her mother have moved back to Beaver Dam to live with her grandmother while Mom goes back to school. Her punk rock style doesn’t actually sit well with the school’s mean girl Bethany Winter, who takes delight in bullying Sydney whenever she can - since her daddy basically owns the town, Bethany doesn’t fear any repercussions. Sydney finds a couple of other outcasts in the school library at lunch and when she finds out that Winters are backing an asphalt plant to be built down the street from the school, she decides that she cannot let that happen. Even though it means pushing back at the Powers That Be. She has an idea - and involves the up and coming indie band that her college-going brother introduced her to and a zine exposing all that is shady about her new town.
Nice to see a book centering 8th grade - even if the characters read a little older. If your HS kids don’t pay close attention, you might be able to slip this one into the collection. Plus the cover helps that feeling or being about an older student. I like everything about Sydney - a bit angry without being destructive. Street smart, but knows when she needs help. And fighting for the environment!
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
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