Maple's formula for victory

Sixth grade wannabe astronaut Maple McNutt explores athletics. In this second installment of Maple's confessional, doodle-filled journals, much remains the same: Maple continues to idolize astronaut Jackie Grand (a woman who ran a marathon "IN SPACE!"), Maple's mother still does PR for NASA, her father travels a lot for his job, and her sister, Juniper, displays a mean streak. Other things have changed, though: Lada and Maple are now not only research partners, but also best friends. The two of them have started to spend more time with Mahogany ("probably the smartest kid in our grade"), and they're newly obsessed with running a mile fast enough to rank at the sixth grade level. Maple's familiar cheeky tone, relatable vulnerability, and charmingly informal sketches pair well with the new storylines. Maple's favorite teacher is now also her coach on the cross-country team, and his affable equanimity is an enjoyable foil for the energetic intensity of Maple and Lada. In pursuit of Operation Victory, the girls brave the adolescent indignities of public locker rooms, a first period, and a first pimple, all the while sharing their deepest, purest fears: "IS LIFE JUST A CONSTANT PERIOD THAT NOBODY EVER WARNS YOU ABOUT?" STEM-oriented readers will appreciate the ways in which these subjects are woven into the story. Lada, Maple, and their families appear to be white; there's racial diversity among the supporting cast.(This review has been updated to reflect a change to the final version of the book.)Amusing and satisfying.(Fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.