School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--8--Kyi tells the story of Emily, who is an average eighth grader with dreams of becoming an influencer. She runs a school podcast called Cedarview Speaks with three other students. Usually it's a quiet podcast, but the news of influencer Asha Jamil's visit to Cedarview Middle School has everyone excited. Emily does all she can to stay up to date with what is happening around her, including a climate march one of the high schoolers is planning. The excitement of the climate march and Asha Jamil's appearance is quickly extinguished when Emily realizes they are on the same day; the principal, Mr. Lau, purposely scheduled them for the same day so students wouldn't go to the march and mess up the school's corporate sponsorship. Emily is navigating all this plus new family members and her new friends interrupting old friendships. Kyi's writing brings all these elements together for a very crafty and exciting ending. This realistic fiction title is truly a middle grade read. Nothing in the content suggests anything too mature, with the exception of one reference to sexting. The story's complicated nature is pieced together by the end and the relationships between the characters are very well done. The ending is somewhat rushed and glances over plot holes, but things ultimately reach an intriguing and satisfying conclusion. Subtle plot elements like the bullying of a friend are handled quietly but efficiently. VERDICT Recommended for any ambitious middle schoolers who feel as if they are struggling to find their way.--Natalie Wallace
Publisher's Weekly Review
Light humor and erudite insight meld in this socially conscious novel by Kyi (Me and Banksy) that centers middle school activism. White-cued eighth grader Emily Laurence hopes that leading her school's podcast club "through the lens of environmental change" will secure her future as an eco-minded tastemaker and influencer journalist. Jealousy over a magnetic new classmate and frustrations with her newly blended family and her mother's rigid social media rules prompt Emily to distract herself by scripting a podcast story about an upcoming climate march. But when school administration forces the podcast club to cut the story to protect corporate sponsorships, Emily counters with bold action that jeopardizes her friendships and aspirations. As Emily makes amends, bonds with an autistic-cued classmate, and cares for her stepbrother and his wheelchair-using friend, she finds inspiration to develop her online blog Emily Posts, in which she distills her experiences into punchy, clickbait-y articles ("How my life was ruined by my rabid pseudo-sibling"). Kyi scratches the surface of wide-ranging topics such as capitalistic overreliance and greed, cultural appropriation, environmentalism, Indigenous peoples' rights, social media influence, and veganism via convenient plotting that culminates in a rosy resolution. Relevant themes, comedic family antics, and Emily's witty, intimate first-person narration make this a smart and timely read. Ages 10--up. (Feb.)
