A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2019
Barbara Dee explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade
audience in this heart-wrenching--and ultimately uplifting--novel about
experiencing harassment and unwanted attention from classmates.
For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted
hug on the school blacktop. A few days later, at recess, one of the boys
(and fellow trumpet player) Callum tells Mila it's his birthday, and
asks her for a "birthday hug." He's just being friendly, isn't he? And
how can she say no? But Callum's hug lasts a few seconds too long, and
feels...weird. According to her friend, Zara, Mila is being immature and
overreacting. Doesn't she know what flirting looks like?
But the boys don't leave Mila alone. On the bus. In the halls. During
band practice--the one place Mila could always escape.
It doesn't feel like flirting--so what is it? Thanks to a chance
meeting, Mila begins to find solace in a new place: karate class.
Slowly, with the help of a fellow classmate, Mila learns how to stand
her ground and how to respect others--and herself.
From the author of Everything I Know About You, Halfway Normal, and
Star-Crossed comes this timely story of a middle school girl standing
up and finding her voice."