Category Archives: Contemporary

When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim

MMGM Review: When You’re Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim

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When You’re Brave Enough
Rebecca Bendheim
Viking Books for Young Readers
Published April 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About When You’re Brave Enough

A heartfelt, gorgeously written debut middle grade novel about best friends, first crushes, and coming out—perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Jake Maia Arlow.

Before she moved from Austin to Rhode Island, everybody knew Lacey as one half of an inseparable duo: Lacey-and-Grace, best friends since they were toddlers. Grace and her moms were practically family. But at school, being lumped together with overeager, worm-obsessed, crushes-on-everyone Grace meant Lacey never quite fit in—and that’s why at her new middle school, Lacey plans to reinvent herself. This time, she’s going to be cool. She’s going to be normal.

At first, everything seems to go as planned. Lacey makes new friends right away, she finds a rabbi to help her prepare for the bat mitzvah that got deprioritized by her parents in the chaos of the move, and she even gets cast in the lead role of the eighth-grade musical. Which is when things start to get stressful, because it turns out the students at her new school have a long-standing, unofficial tradition: No matter what the show is, in the final performance, the leads always kiss for real.

Lacey’s never kissed anyone before—she’s not even sure she’s ever had a crush. And in Bye, Bye, Birdie, there are a few different co-lead kiss possibilities for Lacey to choose from. There’s confident, cocky Andre. There’s sweet, friendly Jaden. And then there’s the other new girl at school: dryly funny, impossibly cool Violet.

But while her new friends and older sister create whiteboard wall charts and botched field trip schemes to help her decide, suddenly Lacey can’t stop thinking about Grace, who she was so sure she wanted to leave behind. When Grace comes back into her life, Lacey needs to decide if she’s brave enough to be who she really is, in front of the person who matters most.

My Review

I enjoyed so many things about this book. Lacey’s quest to reinvent herself was nicely done. I’ve seen a lot more middle grade books that focus on the friend who is being left behind instead of the friend who is plunging ahead, wanting to embrace a new middle school identity.

Bendheim allows readers to realize Lacey’s feelings gradually, almost as if we figure things out right along with Lacey. I also like that Lacey is at a different school, far from Grace. This creates a buffer between the girls and gives Lacey space to try out her new identity without hurting or rejecting Grace. I think it might have been harder to admire Lacey and root for her if she was unkind to Grace in order to fit in with new friends.

Lacey also has to navigate her feelings about her role in the family. Sometimes her family feels like too much. Sometimes what she wants gets pushed to the side. Part of reinventing herself involves figuring out how to support and celebrate her family while speaking up when they hurt her, too.

I also enjoyed that the story explores Lacey’s preparation for her bat mitzvah and what that means to her. Lacey reads Anne Frank’s diary as she tries to figure out what she believes and who she is. She lingers on certain passages and rereads sections that stand out to her. I liked the way that the author included this experience and related it to Lacey’s faith journey.

All in all, I absolutely agree with the comparison between this book and books by Kyle Lukoff. I also think readers who enjoy books by Claire Swinarski will enjoy this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Lacey prepares to celebrate her bat mitzvah. She memorizes a part of the Torah and writes a speech about what the passage means to her.

Violent Content
Brief homophobic comments. Some brief bullying or meanness.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Library or Lattes? by Lila Hazell

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Library or Lattes? (Love in Oak Falls #1)
Lila Hazell
Pixel + Ink
Published August 25, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Library or Lattes?

A cozy, swoony autumn romance with a Sliding Doors twist, perfect for readers of Jenny Han and Lynn Painter. Like Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice for this fall!

One season, two choices for love…

Willa’s small town is at its best in the fall. Think crisp air, golden leaves, bonfires, hayrides, and pumpkin spice. It’s cozy and comforting, pretty much perfect, but sometimes Willa wonders if she’s destined for more.

Then she’s left some money by a distant aunt, with one condition: It must be used to see the world. The rest of the book unfolds in alternating chapters where she makes one choice or another about this inheritance.

In one strand, Willa decides to study travel journalism, but she has to hit the books if she wants to be accepted into a program. That why she spends her weekends in the library, where Theo, a grumpy out-of-towner, also hangs out. He may think everything in this town is beneath him, but… there’s something irresistible about him when he smiles.

In the other strand, Willa begins planning a perfect round-the-world trip. Meanwhile, she’s working at her favorite coffee shop… where she suddenly gets a new boss, monosyllabic James, who’s back in his hometown to nurse a broken heart.

Each potential choice leads Willa to love, and the final chapter is classic happily ever after.

My Review

This sweet fall romance follows two possible paths that Willa’s life could take, leading her to two different romances. In effect, we get to watch her fall in love twice.

The chapters alternate between “Library” and “Lattes” timelines. The Library timeline shows what happens when she gives in to her feelings for the surly architect research student who shows up at the library just when Willa needs extra study time. The Lattes timeline follows Willa’s adventures when she winds up working with her boss’s son to save their coffee shop.

Some elements remain largely the same between the two timelines. Willa’s quirky best friend Lennie appears in both timelines, and both are set in the same small town over the same time period. Willa and Lennie’s friendship faces challenges in both versions of the story as well.

I was surprised that both stories take place in the same town. For some reason, I expected at least one to be about Willa traveling, since a letter from her aunt challenging her to travel beyond the small town she’s always known is what sets the whole story in motion. It might have been easier to differentiate between the two timelines if they were set in different places as well.

That said, I thought both romances were compelling. I liked the fact that the story treated both relationships as equal possibilities for Willa.

One thing that gave me pause is Willa’s reaction when she outs someone. She makes a comment in public about a relationship that’s not public because she got flustered and forgot for a moment. She really wants to pass this off as a mistake, which I found hard to stomach. Yes, it was absolutely a mistake, but she had been told that one person in the relationship did not feel safe coming out. The choice to remain closeted wasn’t about preference; it was about safety. I didn’t feel like Willa really grasped what she’d done. Late in the story, the person she outed confronts her about it, and I think she seemed to realize the gravity of her mistake then. So, eventually, she understands and apologizes to the person she hurt.

Overall, this is a sweet romance that will make a cozy read this fall.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Willa outs someone (accidentally).

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: The Leak by Kate Reed Petty

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The Leak
Kate Reed Petty
Illustrated by Andrea Bell
First Second
Published March 16, 2021

Amazon | Goodreads

About The Leak

In this middle-grade graphic novel, Ruth, a young journalist, is determined to uncover a secret that threatens her town.

Ruth Keller is brash and precocious; she argues with her dentist, her parents, and her teachers. So, when she discovers a strange black slime in the man-made lake of her suburban neighborhood, she decides to investigate. Fortified by the encouragement of those around her, Ruth seeks the truth at all costs, even if it means taking on the rich local country club owner, who she believes is responsible for the pollution.

Between the teasing of former friends, and a sudden viral spotlight, Ruth discovers how difficult it is for a journalist to take a stand for what’s right in the face of critique and controversy.

My Review

The fact that this book was inspired by the Flint water crisis intrigued me. My daughter picked up this book at the library and really wanted me to read it, so that also helped. Ha!

Ruth is a middle school student and an aspiring journalist. She writes her own newsletter, which had only a few friends and family members as subscribers at first. As she develops her skills as a journalist, her readership grows. An older journalist mentors her, encouraging Ruth to keep her personal biases out of her writing, to gather important research, and to ask questions rather than lob accusations.

In the midst of this adventure, the girls at school pressure Ruth about a boy she likes. They push her to define their relationship, to kiss him, and to prove that the two are dating. At first, Ruth is not interested in changing who she is or what she wants to gain the approval of these girls. She doesn’t always make the best choices in response to the pressure (which seems pretty realistic to me), but she ultimately strives to be true to herself and honor her values.

Give this book to aspiring journalists, young readers interested in ecology, or high achievers who march to the beat of their own drums.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 9 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Reference to a graffiti drawing of male anatomy.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. Some of Ruth’s friends pressure her to show more interest in a boy than she feels, so he doesn’t “lose interest” in her.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed this book from my public library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce

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Rolls and Rivalry (Gaming and Romance #3)
Kristy Boyce
Delacorte Romance
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Rolls and Rivalry

Roll the dice, strike up the band, and get ready for a swoon-worthy summer! A charming gaming romance that blends the magic of D&D with the camaraderie of band camp—from the bestselling author of Dating and Dragons!

Questing for love . . .

Hazel Buchanan has her senior year mapped out: Win respect as color guard captain, kick off her first D&D campaign, and steer clear of distractions. But her plan takes a critical hit when Max—her former best friend and longtime crush—returns to town with drumsticks in hand and an unexplained chip on his shoulder.

Hazel and Max can’t help bickering every time they’re together, and thanks to meddling parents, he’s invading her D&D game too. As Dungeon Master, she’s ready to shut him down, but D&D has a way of bringing people together like nothing else. Is this rivalry masking something more? With dice rolling and emotions spinning, Hazel might be in for more than she planned . . .

My Review

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I absolutely had to read this one. Each of the books in the series is pretty self-contained, so you could start with this one or go back to book one and enjoy them all in the order they were published. This one does have a brief cameo of a couple from book two.

All the marching band content was a lot of fun in this book. I like the way that the D&D elements and band elements intertwined. For example, Hazel invites her team to create D&D characters as a team-building exercise. It ends up becoming a long-running experience for the team, which really showcases the power of inside jokes and shared memories.

Having both D&D and marching band could have proved too many elements to bring together, but I think that the author did a great job balancing those things with the romance.

This is another book that draws on the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope, too. I liked getting to see Hazel and Max reconnect. I was on the edge of my seat as we learned why their friendship frayed in the first place and watched them navigate the obstacles that drove them apart.

At the beginning, I worried that the pranking was going to be too much for me. The percussion section and the color guard have an ongoing rivalry that gets kind of ugly. Like, not thriller-level ugly, but the percussionists do some pretty mean stuff to Hazel’s team. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to like Max after some of that.

The story does address the meanness, and Max takes steps to repair his relationship with Hazel and earn back her trust. Ultimately, I felt good about that because it felt like there was course correction, not just shrugging and insisting the pranks were funny.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used very rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some brief instances of bullying and mean pranks.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: This Thing of Ours by Frederick Joseph

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This Thing of Ours
Frederick Joseph
Candlewick Press
Published May 12, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About This Thing of Ours

“Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school.

When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice.

This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.

My Review

I LOVE books that showcase how people are not only one thing. I feel like it’s one of those things that we intellectually know, but are often functionally quick to forget. Ossie’s identity as a basketball player and a writer invites readers to make space for both parts of who he is.

It’s also such a joy to read a book in which someone finds connection with peers in a deep, powerful way. I loved the way that Ossie’s relationships with Luis and Naima progress through the story. They encourage each other and validate one another’s experiences. I love that.

The story also includes essays and letters the characters wrote for creative writing assignments. I thought that was a neat aspect as well. I’ve seen poetry or short fiction included in other novels that include students in a creative writing program, so I thought it was really cool that Joseph chose to highlight the characters’ nonfiction assignments to show how powerful personal essays can be.

On the whole, this is a powerful, relevant story. It highlights the importance of seeing oneself on the page in the stories that make up the school curriculum, and the way that encountering those voices energizes students.

Readers who enjoy books by Renee Watson or Angie Thomas will want to check out this book.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some instances of racism and homophobia. A protest turns violent, and an adult hits a teen boy, injuring him severely enough to need hospitalization. Ossie recalls details about his father’s death, which some call a drug overdose. He experiences another personal loss in the story.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Listen to the Girls by Chrystal D. Giles

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Listen to the Girls
Chrystal D. Giles
Random House Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Listen to the Girls

When Calla finds out her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct, she decides to take action in this powerful story about growing up and speaking up, about listening to others and learning to listen to yourself. Because the more Calla listens . . . the more she realizes that maybe she has something to say too.

“Important and empowering—this story is a testament to the power of girls supporting one another.”—Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author

What if the truth really is as powerful as it feels?

Calla has always had smart-girl energy. She’s Josiah the track star’s practical younger sister. Charlee and Jacoby’s problem-solving best friend. Attorney Dionne Howard’s model daughter. So it’s nice when someone seems to see her for her, outside of all that. But what if that person is a grown-up who maybe isn’t as trustworthy as Calla thought? Calla’s mom likes to say “Always do what you know is right.” But what if you don’t know what the right thing is?

These are the questions Calla faces on the last day of seventh grade, when she finds out that her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct at his old school. Calla doesn’t know what really happened. She does know that people are saying mean things about the girls who have spoken out—and that can’t be right . . . can it? Inspired by her favorite newsblogger, EboniNews (whose motto is Amplify. Connect. Truth. ACT.), Calla has an idea. Can she find a way to ACT?

My Review

Though this topic can be uncomfortable to explore, it’s an unfortunately relevant one. Calla has a lot of questions and mixed feelings as she learns more about the allegations against her teacher. She works through those questions in an organic narrative that stays gentle and age-appropriate. It’s easy to imagine other readers having some of the same questions that Calla has had, both about individual experiences and rumors about a trusted adult.

I like that the story makes space for Calla to work through her thoughts in her own time. Others share their thoughts about the girls who spoke up about their teacher as well as their feelings about the teacher. Calla listens. She forms her own judgments. I love how that’s modeled in the text. I also love how Calla finds trusted adults to talk to when she’s ready.

The author pulls a lot of elements together here that will resonate with older elementary-aged readers who will be familiar with the way that rumors can spread like wildfire online, and how social media can be used both to tear others down and to forge community. Using your voice to speak the truth and support others speaking hard truths matters, and Giles illustrates that beautifully in the book.

This book reminded me a little bit of Chirp by Kate Messner, which came out in 2020, or The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski, which came out in 2021.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to grooming behavior.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to grooming behavior.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.