Review by Booklist Review
Twelve-year-old Mimi, whose family recently relocated from Massachusetts to a Florida island, has spent her life working to be a classical pianist, with her sights set on Carnegie Hall's Young Artists competition. It's an ambition she shared with her best friend, Lee, but in her new home a new interest emerges. After seeing an inspirational TED Talk, Mimi becomes deeply involved in the movement to ban the use of plastic bags on the island. It means navigating new acquaintances and making decisions about her passions, politics, and priorities. Her parents are immersed in opening a new restaurant and not always available to help her through this transition, but she navigates the life lessons thrown her way with growing maturity. Written in verse, this eco-conscious novel also features a foreword by Melati Wijsen, who cofounded Bye Bye Plastic Bags with her sister as a young teen in Bali, and back matter on plastics pollution. An inspirational success story for young activists and those who just need a nudge.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--When 12-year-old Mimi and her family move from Massachusetts to Wilford Island, FL, Mimi faces the awkwardness of making friends at a new school, finding time to practice piano, and watching her parents stress over their restaurant opening. After becoming inspired by young environmental activists who got plastic bags banned in Bali, Mimi works to bring awareness of plastic pollution and minimize plastic bag use in her new hometown--but not without a few bumps along the way. Everything wraps up nicely in this interesting novel in verse about how one person can make a difference when they get help from others. Typical tween conflicts are depicted and handled in realistic ways. For instance, young readers will be able to relate to Mimi's sense of being overwhelmed by her first passion, piano, and her new passion, fighting plastic. There is plenty of white space, and the verse flows nicely overall into a fast-paced read. The book also contains a foreword by the cofounder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags and extensive back matter, including a time line of plastic origins, distribution, and activism; tips for readers who want to learn more about how to make change in their own communities; and more. VERDICT A worthy purchase for collections with a need for more climate activism fiction and novels in verse.--Molly Dettmann
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Can middle schoolers save the environment and the world? When 12-year-old Mimi Laskaris moves to a small island in Florida with her family, she is immediately taken with the beach and shells. But she quickly notices problems: plastic bags caught in trees and litter washed up on the beach. After learning about Melati and Isabel Wijsen, sisters who started a movement to ban single-use plastic bags in their home of Bali, Mimi decides to try to do the same in her new community. She becomes absorbed in organizing and gathering signatures for a petition, though she also worries about what her classmates might think. As Mimi's continued activism causes strain in her new friendships and affects her grades, her parents notice that her piano practice has been neglected. Mimi does want to focus on school and piano, but how can she when she can't get enough signatures for her petition? This novel in verse explores environmental concerns many young people today have and shows how change can be made close to home. Mimi is Greek American, and other students from her new and old schools are cued as ethnically diverse. Dimopoulos gives some examples of the international nature of the youth climate justice movement in the text and supplementary notes; a foreword by Melati Wijsen adds a special touch. A heartfelt story highlighting activism and showing how change does not come easily. (author's note, timeline, activist profiles, resources, scientist interview, bibliography) (Verse novel. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
