Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When her teacher assigns her class a project on how they would "change the world for the better," insect-loving Daisy Woodward, 13, is stumped about what to do. She's already dreading the oral presentation, knowing that her bully, who mocks her lisp and calls her "Woodworm," will heckle her. Meanwhile, her fashion-loving 17-year-old brother Sorrel, who has Down syndrome and goes by Squirrel, has been listless following a breakup and the cancellation of the local Special Olympics Summer Games. Resolving to cheer him up and seeing this endeavor as the perfect subject for her project, Daisy turns Squirrel into a fashion YouTuber. But the duo must keep it secret from their parents, who have banned Squirrel from using social media to protect him from online trolls, and further complications arise when Squirrel befriends Daisy's popular classmate, Miguel, who is trying to save the Special Olympics games. Hart (Avenging the Owl) highlights the importance of disability representation and self-advocacy with thoughtful realism, and explores Daisy and Squirrel's sibling bond with nuance. An author's note detailing Hart's inspiration concludes. Cover art portrays Daisy with brown skin; Miguel is Latinx-cued. Ages 8--12. Agent: Jennifer Unter, Unter Agency. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Thirteen-year-old Daisy Woodward is having a tough time in eighth grade. Her parents are struggling financially and have started a business picking up dog poop, she's competing in cross country with old and ill-fitting running shoes, and she is picked on at school for her lisp. When her social studies teacher Mr. Lipinsky tells the class that each student must work on a project to change the world for the better, Daisy panics. What can she do to make an impact? And how can she possibly give an oral report to the class, knowing that several boys will tease her? One of the boys, Miguel, decides to fundraise for the Special Olympics, which had been cancelled that year. Daisy is extremely invested in this, as her older brother Sorrel, nicknamed Squirrel, has Down syndrome and is an athlete. She decides to focus on making Squirrel a social media star as per his wishes for her project; her parents are absolutely against Squirrel doing anything to get attention, as it might be negative, and therefore devastating, for him. Hart successfully weaves a number of issues into the novel: disabilities, bullying, making a difference, allowing children to follow their dreams, differences in socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. Characters evolve and even the worst bully turns out to have depth by the end of the book. Readers will relate to Daisy's worries and triumphs. Portrayals of teens with Down syndrome are sympathetic and realistic. Hart provides social media resources at the end of the book. VERDICT This realistic fiction title skillfully discusses a number of topics relevant to today's young readers, and belongs in most collections.--B. Allison Gray
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An eighth grader grapples with a daunting project: changing the world. Ever since her mom lost her bookkeeping job, 13-year-old aspiring entomologist Daisy Woodward--dubbed Woodworm by Devon, the school bully who mocks her lisp--has felt unimportant. Her parents, now self-employed as dog walkers, can't spend much time with her anymore. And now Daisy has to look after her beloved older brother, Squirrel, who has Down syndrome, more often. So when Mr. Lipinsky, her social studies teacher, tasks her class with creating projects that will change the world, she panics. How can someone like her make a difference? How can she survive giving an oral report? Finally, inspiration strikes: She'll help Squirrel achieve his dream of becoming a famous YouTube fashion influencer. But their overprotective parents have forbidden Squirrel from using social media after a cyberbullying incident. To make Squirrel's dream a reality, Daisy will need help from an unlikely ally: Devon's best friend, Miguel. Hart, who has a lisp and a brother with Down syndrome herself, sensitively explores topics such as bullying, economic hardship, and forgiveness. Though Mr. Lipinsky heavily treads the inspirational teacher trope, kindhearted Squirrel is refreshingly multifaceted, and Daisy's loving but strained relationship with her parents is poignantly portrayed. Daisy and Miguel are cued Mexican American; Devon reads White. An uplifting story of family, community, and friendship. (author's note, research ideas, resources) (Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
