Serena Says

Serena Says
Tanita Davis
HarperCollins/2020 272 pages
Grades 4-7
Realistic Fiction

Serena skipped a couple of grades, which can make the confusion of middle school that much more confusing. Her best friend, JC, is recovering from a kidney transplant and has also transplanted a new girl as her best friend. Serena is surprised and hurt. What can she do to displace the new girl and reclaim her rightful spot as JC's BF? Meanwhile, Serena has begun to Vlog, under her big sister's guidance, and is finding this format a great way to process her feelings. Being made team leader for a group project and making a new friend help Serena to gain some much needed confidence and begin to learn to stand on her own two feet, instead of in JC's shadow. Can Serena pull off an independent project for the Winter Festival, as well as lead her group to a perfect score? Can she navigate the world of friendship, making amends for past indiscretions and letting other relationships go? Find out, as Serena records it all on her vlog "Serena Says".

Friendships are so important and volatile in middle school and can be that much worse if you are the youngest sixth grader in your class. Serena certainly makes up for her immaturity with pizzazz and chutzpah. Clearly not perfect, readers will identify with Serena as she makes some fatal flaws, such as telling JC her new friend's secret, thus publicizing it to the whole sixth grade. Eventually she finds a healthier place for JC's friendship and pursues other healthier relationships, as well as becoming more comfortable being alone. Serena's single parent family is functional and supportive and her sister, though not perfect, is mostly helpful. Serena is a realistically flawed character who exhibits growth and maturity as the novel progresses. Readers will both identify with her and root for her. Other themes, beside friendship, include mental illness and how it affects the whole family, the courage to stand up for yourself, and how to successfully navigate teamwork. Vlogging chapters are in a different font and add a catchy dimension to the text that will attract future YouTubers. A book that will appeal to many readers and goes down like candy, though may not stick to your bones.