Emily Posts
by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Middle School    Tundra    264 pp.
2/24    9781774882047    $16.99
e-book ed.  9781774882054    $9.99

Eighth grader Emily Laurence aspires to be a social media influencer, if only her mom would let her post pictures of herself on her YouHappy account. For now, she’ll have to settle for producing the Cedarview Middle School podcast. Before she can gain internet fame, Emily has a lot to juggle in the real world. She and her mom have moved in with Mom’s new boyfriend and his obnoxious eight-year-old son; and a new classmate, Amelie, adds an unwelcome dynamic to Emily’s friendships. Emily channels her frustrations into producing a podcast story about an upcoming climate march, but the principal thinks the topic isn’t appropriate for middle school students and cancels the episode. When a school visit from (fictional) social media influencer (and Emily’s idol) Asha Jamil is rescheduled for the same day as the climate march, Emily can’t keep quiet about her suspicions of censorship. She tries to emulate her namesake, Emily Post—whom our protagonist sees as one of the world’s first influencers—to help her manage with tact and courtesy. With a relatable and thoughtful main character, the story offers timely reflections on social media, complicated friendships, climate activism, and what it really means to have influence.

From the May/June 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.