A split second

It's the annual fall carnival, and Elise is happily celebrating her birthday with bffs Ivy and Melinda. Upon receiving a mysterious gift (a necklace), things take a turn for the strange. Elise awakens to discover that she has time-traveled into the future. To make matters worse, Ivy and Melinda are no longer her besties. With nowhere else to turn, Elise confides in her old acquaintance, Cora, hoping to learn what "Dream Elise" has been doing these past months and understand what happened with Ivy and Melinda. A worried Cora reveals that she has used magic to make their paths cross, with the intention of getting her old buddy back. Cora and Elise must learn to put their frustrations aside and decide whether they should go back in time or if salvaging their friendship is worth the effort. Marks (From the Desk of Zoe Washington, 2020) develops a middle-grade novel that encapsulates magic and camaraderie. The story's presentation of both protagonist's viewpoints highlights the difficulties common to many children grappling with increasing social anxieties in the wake of the pandemic quarantine. As a bonus, Cora and Elise's exploration of photography will provide great activities when used as a classroom read. A beautiful story about being brave and finding your people.

Two girls examine the shifting landscape of their friendship while trying to undo a magical spell. Elise is celebrating her 12th birthday at a fall carnival with her two best friends, Melinda and Ivy, when she sees Cora, someone she used to be close to. Cora tries to speak to her, but Melinda and Ivy pull Elise away. As the three girls settle in for a birthday sleepover, Elise's mom gives her a bag that was left on their porch. Inside is a box containing a beautiful necklace with a silver locket that reveals a tiny clock. When Elise wakes up, she finds that her friends are gone, six months have passed, and she can't remember anything since October. She arrives at school, only to find that Melinda and Ivy are mad at her but won't say why. She also learns that Cora gave her the locket and has an identical one--she missed Elise and used a magic spell that caused them both to time jump. Now the girls must work together to solve the mystery and put things right. Elise and Cora, who are cued Black, have a relationship that feels unevenly developed at times but ultimately solidifies as the plot unfurls and their characters are fleshed out. This story, which will appeal to fans of light magical tales, also thoughtfully delves into the consequences of the social isolation many young people experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. A nuanced look at middle school friendships.(Time travel mystery. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.