Review by Booklist Review
Kylie does not want to go into the seventh grade as the girl who cries, stands out from her friends, and makes things awkward, but she doesn't know how to be anyone but herself. She decides to spend the summer before middle school conducting an experiment: testing the hypothesis that doing everything her friends do (without risking her own safety) will result in her being the "mature" person she wants to become. From dressing a certain way to sitting through a horror movie, from talking to boys to lying to parents, Kylie quickly learns that doing what her friends do doesn't always make her feel like her best self. A coming-of-age novel full of social anxieties, tween introspection and concerns, and realistic friendships and family experiences, Ramée's middle-grade novel is well paced, traversing Kylie's summer with ease and dipping the reader into pivotal moments, breaking them down scene by scene to help the reader live in Kylie's feelings. For fans of Judy Blume, Janae Marks, and Lisa Fipps.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Kylie fears she's too babyish to make the leap from elementary school to middle school with her friends Mara, Nikila, and Naomi. She can't seem to wear the right clothes or say the right thing, she'd rather play with her little sister than watch the scary movies her friends like, and she cries way too much. So scientifically minded Kylie devises an experiment to make herself more mature. The criteria? Not crying, plus doing everything that everyone else is doing. The experiment ultimately leads Kylie into a series of "yeses" she doesn't want to give. Agreeing to a lunch out with her friends means giving up sushi with her mom, and going on an adult-free trip to the mall puts her into some uncomfortable situations. Through parties, beach days, and sleepovers, Kylie navigates her changing friendships as her familiar formulas no longer compute. In particular, Naomi, who becomes quick to tease, lie, and keep secrets, makes Kylie wonder what kind of maturity she really wants. Throughout, Kylie's self-reflection and steady growth convey her abiding belief in honesty toward oneself and others, building a convincing and earnest arc for this endearing narrator. A meaningful and methodological story of friendship, family, and finding one's own voice. Grace McKinney BeermannNovember/December 2024 p.96 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young scientist in the Seattle area designs an experiment to prove she's just as mature as her friends. Kylie Stanton, who's Black, has always been different from her best friends as a budding scientist, a karate brown belt--and an unintentional crybaby. Black and Filipino Naomi, Indian American Nikila, and white Mara never used to mind Kylie's sensitive nature, but everything's changing as they prepare for middle school. Kylie worries they'll decide she's "too babyish to hang out with." Desperate to keep her friends, Kylie designs an experiment for the summer before seventh grade to prove she's mature by not crying and doing everything her friends do. It seems like a foolproof plan, until she finds herself agreeing to things she doesn't want to do and giving up things she does. She's further confused by Naomi, who's been lying, keeping secrets, and being uncharacteristically mean and moody. Is that what it means to be mature? Is that really who she wants to be? Kylie is an endearing, relatable protagonist readers will root for. She wrestles with moral conundrums and situations that cause confusing emotions in ways that are never didactic; this balance keeps readers interested while encouraging them to think independently. Kylie's incremental growth is realistic and well developed, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The strong representation of a loving Black family and the accessible demonstration of the scientific method in action are added bonuses. Heartwarming and empowering. (Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
