Easter Ann Peters' Operation Cool

Gr 5–7—Seventh grade is off to a rocky start for Easter Ann. She is being bullied by Horse Girl, the most popular girl in her class, and her only friends are Yoplait, her cat, and Amigo, her dog. Her father works all the time and is oblivious to Easter Ann's attempts at hiding her mother's drinking, so she implements Operation Cool, a plan to improve her life. When she becomes friends with Wreni, the new girl in her small lakeside town, Operation Cool doesn't seem so impossible. Tommy Hansen, the best-looking boy in her class, seems interested in her, and she develops a friendship with Connor, a student who encourages her to pursue her love of photography. As her mother descends deeper into alcoholism, Easter Ann begins to suffer the impact not only at home, but also at school and in her new friendships. It all comes to a head at the talent show when the adults finally realize what is going on and take steps toward positive change. Reveals at the end about Horse Girl and Connor seem a bit contrived, but the friendship between Wreni and Easter Ann hits all the right notes. The protagonist's struggles are well drawn and feel real. Unfortunately, the childish cover may deter the target audience from trying the book. Resources for children dealing with alcoholic loved ones are appended. This is a solid choice for its realistic portrayal of middle school and a child's struggle with an alcoholic parent.—Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, IL