In a time where most young adult literature delves into heavy messaging or darker directions, this is a refreshing twist. The characters come across with a sense of reality…as if they live right down the block. The dialogue flows smoothly and lets each personality come across clearly. Emma carries just enough of the ‘outsider’ feel to garner sympathy but not so much that it falls into the victim or bullying zone. Instead, she’s pretty based with just enough uncertainty to fit right into the age group and make her relateable. She is a little young at 11 for the young adult audience, so I would mark this one more as a tween read. Her concerns are understandable, and while some of the science does push beyond reality, it does so with finesse to weave in imagination and possibility. It’s a read which warms like a hug, yet adds enough tension, humor, and surprises to keep the pages turning. It makes an enjoyable, summer tale for readers who simply want to be entertained, feel good, and smile.
