Middletown

“I’d describe this book as a modern, darker (addressing a parent's addiction and a teen girl experiencing harassment) sibling of the classic From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenweiler, a childhood favorite of mine. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did - especially the portrayal of gender identity and coming into queerness as a young person and the nuanced understanding of family and community. I'd recommend this to anyone, but would encourage parents of kids in the younger range of middle grade to read it along with their children, and discuss the harder themes with them.”

“A beautiful tale of two sisters who despite their differences have to rely on each other to survive. Eli is thirteen and one of the only out people at her school. She likes baggy clothes, short hair, and secretly one of her best friends. Anna, her older sister, on the other hand, is more ‘girly,’ and they clash on a regular basis. Except when they have to take care of their alcoholic mom. When their mom gets her second DUI and has to go to court ordered rehab, Eli and Anna are left on their own to figure out how to pay rent, get food, and avoid pesky social workers who arrive unannounced at their door. This story shows the complex and difficult life of being the child of an alcoholic and the importance of finding out it’s okay to ask for help.”