The following fictional characters contend with school, family, friendship, and more, in ways both realistic and relatable. See also Five Questions for Linda Sue Park about The One Thing You’d Save and (for slightly younger readers) author Jordan Sonnenblick’s memoir The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell.

Being Clem [Finding Langston]
by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Intermediate, Middle School    Holiday    256 pp.    g
8/21    978-0-8234-4604-9    $17.99
e-book ed.  978-0-8234-4896-8    $10.99

In the final installment of the trilogy (Finding Langston, rev. 9/18; Leaving Lymon, rev. 3/20), we are (re)introduced to Chicago-born Clemson Thurber Junior. Too young to remember his father, Clem has heard all the stories about him, the brave Navy man and amazing swimmer who, as the book opens, becomes a tragic casualty of the 1944 Port Chicago Disaster. As one of the smallest kids in his fourth-grade class and deathly afraid of water, Clem knows he’s not a worthy namesake. Not that there’s much opportunity to prove his courage and independence — problems with a bully are solved when Clem finds himself on the good side of Lymon, the toughest kid in school. But when, in seventh grade, new student Langston arrives and is bullied by Lymon for his “country” ways, Clem finally asserts himself, with welcome results. His friendship with Langston leads him to attend a high-school swim meet, providing the opportunity to decide if he can overcome his fears — and just what kind of brave he can be. Cline-Ransome’s mastery of first-person narration and her gift for dialogue present a close-up look at Chicago’s African American community in the 1940s. An author’s note provides additional information about the Port Chicago Disaster, the Chicago Defender newspaper, the Bud Billiken Parade, and the winning DuSable High School swim team. While readers will miss this group of Cline-Ransome’s memorable characters, Clem’s story is a satisfying end to the series. EBONI NJOKU

Serena Says
by Tanita S. Davis
Intermediate, Middle School    Tegen/HarperCollins    272 pp.    g
11/20    978-0-06-293697-4    $16.99

Serena St. John is her sixth-grade class ambassador and an aspiring vlogger, under the moniker Serena Says. Although she’s never actually posted any of the videos she makes, Serena is sure it’s great practice for her to finally become a classroom reporter. Through vlogging, she’s able to speak her mind about anything, including her excitement to see and reconnect with her best friend JC, who has been recovering from a kidney transplant. However, thanks to their (perfect) classmate Leilani Camacho, the reunion is chillier than expected — and Serena is left to question the future of the friendship. As if that weren’t enough, her position as class ambassador is jeopardized, and she reluctantly joins the student senate. Throughout the story, Serena develops an earnest and sincere voice the world needs to hear — both virtually and in real life. The dialogue is well paced, with Serena’s anxious and questioning internal thoughts juxtaposed with witty and reflective vlog posts (represented in bold font). Davis intersperses day-to-day occurrences with heavier topics such as physical and mental illness and cultural representation. An appealing cast of family, friends, and classmates helps point Serena to the conclusion, regarding being herself: “It might be terrible. It might be a disaster…But it might not.” EBONI NJOKU

Pity Party
by Kathleen Lane
Middle School    Little, Brown    208 pp.    g
1/21    978-0-316-41736-5    $16.99
e-book ed.  978-0-316-41735-8    $9.99

Katya is a nervous middle schooler whose fertile imagination defaults to disaster. The voice in her head warns of poisoned Halloween candy, looming social ostracism, imminent acne, and rabid raccoons. In six short entries we cheer her on as she breaks free of her fears and banishes the voice. Interleaved with this unifying story are portraits of Katya’s classmates at Bridger Middle School: Julian with his phobia about odd numbers, Kiera with her imposter syndrome, Gio who gets a new personality delivered in a box, Alice who feels so invisible she fears she’s a ghost. The tone shifts from naturalistic to surreal, jokey to strange, goofy to mordant, poetic to unabashedly therapeutic. Added to the mix are a recurring faux-interactive “Choose Your Own Catastrophe” game; teen-magazine-style quizzes; the minimalist saga of Marta, who wished for a different life and gets stuck being a tree; an invitation to a gathering for Elena, who died of embarrassment. All the varied moods and textures of these pieces come together into an original, convincing, spot-on, and weirdly moving collage portrait of middle-school-age insecurities, anxieties, awkwardness, and interpersonal dynamics. SARAH ELLIS

Black Boy Joy
edited by Kwame Mbalia
Intermediate, Middle School    Delacorte    320 pp.    g
8/21    978-0-593-37993-6    $16.99
Library ed.  978-0-593-37994-3    $19.99
e-book ed.  978-0-593-37995-0    $9.99

This short story collection, edited by 2020 CSK honoree Mbalia (for Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, rev. 7/20), makes it clear that Black boyhood is something to celebrate, starting with Kadir Nelson’s beautiful cover portrait depicting a smiling Black boy, with the book’s title in glittering gold letters above him. The volume opens with a story by Mbalia, in which Fortitude (Fort) Jones is attending his aunt Netta’s funeral. Overwhelmed, Fort leaves the church and ­accidentally runs into the eccentric Gary the Griot (Mr. G). In the crash, Mr. G’s mysterious “joy jar” is broken. Fort agrees to help refill the jar—and finds himself on an intergalactic journey to find joy. The seventeen stories represent that joy as the authors and illustrators—all Black men, including Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, and Varian Johnson—present readers with a diverse representation of Black boyhood. The boys are from the United States, Nigeria, and the Caribbean. Their use of language is representative of where they are from. They are straight and gay. Some are cisgender, while others are gender nonconforming. They like to bake, rap, sew, and play football. The engaging stories are told through prose, verse, and the graphic novel format. No matter who the boys are, they are satisfyingly surrounded by loving extended family members who encourage them to be themselves. Short biographies of the contributors are appended. NICHOLL DENICE MONTGOMERY

Merci Suárez Can’t Dance
by Meg Medina
Intermediate, Middle School    Candlewick    384 pp.    g
4/21    978-0-7636-9050-2    $17.99

Merci navigates the troubles of home and seventh grade — and the gap between the two — with her irresistible combination of spirit and heart in this follow-up to the Newbery-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears (rev. 9/18). Though she seems more self-assured these days, Merci resents the many changes taking place around her: her brother Roli away at college, Lolo’s deteriorating condition, Hannah’s growing friendship with Merci’s archenemy, and the growing confusion surrounding new friend Wilson. At the annual “Heart Ball” school dance, Merci only wants to participate from the place she has the most confidence and control — behind the camera — but even that goes awry. Vibrant and insightful, the novel explores the complexities of friendship and family as well as first romance. All the while, Merci stays busy getting herself into trouble and finding her way out of it again. Her relationships at school strengthen, to mirror the bonds she has with her family at home, and when school and home lives merge, Merci discovers the best way to manage change is with a bit of bravery, a welcoming attitude, and people you trust. And by the end of this funny, heartwarming book, Merci does dance — with family and friends, on an intimidating stage at her exclusive private school in the first performance of the new Suárez School of Latin Dance. JULIE ROACH

Not Your All-American Girl
by Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Intermediate, Middle School    Scholastic    256 pp.    g
7/20    978-1-338-03776-0    $17.99
e-book ed.  978-1-338-03778-4    $10.99

This follow-up to This Is Just a Test stars Lauren Le Yuan Horowitz, sister of the previous book’s protagonist. In 1984 suburban Virginia, Lauren is starting sixth grade secure in the “Royal We” of herself and her best friend, Tara. Auditioning for the school musical, Lauren — a talented singer who nails her “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” rendition — is disappointed to be cast in the ensemble while Tara snags the lead. The show is about a 1950s “All-American Town,” and according to the drama teacher, Chinese and Jewish Lauren doesn’t fit the part. Casual racism and microaggressions abound through Lauren’s day-to-day interactions with friends, community members, and even ’80s pop culture (i.e., squirming her way through Sixteen Candles). Her growing love for country music (with an extended vignette about mistaking Patsy Cline for Jewish) helps boost her confidence, as do new friendships with her ensemble-mates. A side story about Lauren’s paralegal mom contemplating law school — and our protagonist’s bratty reaction — leads to support and understanding. Lauren’s two peppy grandmothers, in continual competition for matriarchal domination, are back, providing generational wisdom and snappy comic relief. A button-making business, a Sun In hair mishap, a Hula-Hooping janitor — all add levity and scene-setting detail to this entertaining and thoughtful coming-of-age story. ELISSA GERSHOWITZ

From the August 2021 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.