Confessions of a So-called Middle Child

Gr 5–7—Twelve-year-old Charlie is starting over at a new school after an incident involving, of all things, laxatives. Entering the seventh grade, she is torn between wanting to be friends with the popular crowd and trying to be a better person. As part of her rehabilitation plan, her therapist, Dr. Scales, gives her a task: "to find the most bullied girl in your class and take her under your wing." The object of Charlie's focus is Marta, whom she describes as looking like a "homeless Disney princess." What begins as an obligatory project designed to turn Charlie into a kinder, more empathetic friend becomes a laugh-out-loud adventure as the two classmates confront truly mean girls and face challenges that allow Charlie's genuine good nature to shine through-especially when she learns a secret about Marta's life outside school. The snappy dialogue sounds like the script of a witty TV tween comedy, but Charlie is a far more likable and entertaining character than many of the girls portrayed there. As the title implies, Charlie has two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother, both of whom are excellent foils for her growing apprecation for her family. Charlie regularly inserts "True Facts" into her narative. Confessions is a funny story with a fresh and sassy, winning heroine who develops into a loyal and resourceful friend, daughter, and sister.—Shelley Sommer, Inly School, Scituate, MA