  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 07/01/2017 In the litany of indignities wrought by puberty, the unwelcome appearance of female facial hair gets short shrift in middle-grade fiction. Wientge candidly takes up this topic and others in her earnest debut about soon-to-be sixth-grader Karma Khullar. There’s a lot of upheaval in Karma’s life as summer draws to a close, and sprouting a mustache is just icing on the cake. Her father has recently become unemployed, and her mother’s time is being consumed by a new full-time job. Plus, something indefinable has shifted between Karma and her long-time best friend Sara. While floundering amid these changes, Karma, who is half Indian, latches on to the Sikh teaching of karma and tries to alter her seemingly cursed start to middle school. Karma’s mixed heritage keeps this book from becoming standard fare, and Wientge does a nice job of organically incorporating it into the plot. Though Karma’s agonizing can be excessive, it accurately reflects the tween state of mind. Funny and relatable, this is a solid pick for those transitioning to middle school. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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