Bree Boyd is a legend!

This sequel to Ellie Engle Saves Herself (2023) features Ellie's friend Bree Boyd, who experiences SPA (Sudden Power Acquisition) after being electrocuted during a storm. Bree's family is known for being highly successful at everything they do, and Bree believes her talent for spelling is what truly makes her a Boyd. What she doesn't share with her family is that although she's an amazing speller, her heart isn't in it. When Bree's friends enter the school talent show, she must decide if she wants to continue on the path set by her father, who is emotionally distant and focused on his political career, or pursue her passions. Bree's new power of telekinesis complicates everything, and her efforts to learn to use her power parallel her personal journey toward standing up for herself. This is an empowering addition to the world of Ellie Engle that will remind readers to be true to themselves. An excellent addition to middle-grade collections.

A middle school girl struggles under pressure from her father in this follow-up toEllie Engle Saves Herself (2023). Thirteen-year-old Breonna "Bree" Boyd is stuck trying to live up to her dad's expectations of Boyd Black Excellence. That's her only option, considering her sister Christian is in law school, her sister Lex is the state debate champion, and her professor father is running for Senate. In the Boyd household, overachieving is the norm, whether you like it or not. Instead of spending most afternoons hanging with her closest friends, Sammy, Ellie, and Abby, Bree studies for spelling bees with her tutor. But when the power goes out at home and Bree flips a switch on the breaker, she gets a shock that gives her telekinetic powers. Using her new ability, Bree helps her friends out. She's finally having fun, but with the district spelling bee around the corner, her dad is putting even more pressure on her to be perfect and win. Stuck between loyalty to her dad and her friends, Bree has to decide whether to follow the family plan or chart her own path. Johnson accurately displays the inner turmoil of young people who are burdened by adult expectations. The gut-twisting anxiety and dread of disappointing others is balanced with the exhilarating freedom of choosing personal happiness and figuring out what "being the best" really entails, making the story wholly relatable. A charming tale of personal growth.(Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.