Special

Gr 3--7--It's hard for any young person to start junior high school, but it's especially difficult for Madison. Her father was killed in a car accident earlier in the year, and everything reminds Madison of him, even her best friend Meg, who has Down Syndrome. Madison has always looked after Meg, and the pair does everything together. Still reeling from her father's sudden death, Madison just wants to start fresh and leave painful reminders behind. Junior high gives her the chance to meet new friends and start new activities; Madison finds it's a lot easier to start over when she doesn't have to take care of Meg. Her friend is understandably confused and heartbroken but makes new friends despite the challenges of a larger school. When Madison finally allows herself to properly grieve, it leads to reconciliation. This lovely book has alternating chapters penned in the voices of Madison and Meg, presenting different perspectives of the same events. The author, who has a daughter with Down Syndrome, explains that she conducted extensive research and interviewed many tweens with Down Syndrome to understand their challenges and rewards. The story includes current cultural references, and the characters represent diverse populations. VERDICT Fans of Sharon M. Draper's "Out of My Mind" series will love this new story. Highly recommended for all school and public libraries and K--12 children's literature collections in academic libraries.--Anne Jung-Matthews