  | Be real, Macy Weaver Author: Wilson, Lakita | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Determined to find a new best friend in Brynn, who's smart, kind, and beautiful, eleven-year-old Macy turns one small lie into a whole new life to win her over until everything falls apart.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/22)
School Library Journal (07/08/22)
Booklist (06/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/08/2022 Gr 3–7—Sixth grader Macy Weaver will do anything to have a best friend. She'll tailor her personality to match anyone she thinks has best friend potential. After this strategy leaves her with a bout of loneliness, she jumps at the chance to move to Bowie, MD, for a fresh start when her mother makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to go back to college. When Macy finds she is more alone than ever in her new home, she decides to craft a new fashion-forward persona far from her reality. As she struggles to keep up with the lies, Macy continues to feel unwanted as her true self, even when genuine friendships form. Readers will enjoy Macy's authentic voice as she reflects on her feelings and the nuanced secondary characters, all of whom are Black. The story's pacing may be slow for some readers, though it allows for tension to build around Macy. The main character's mother's absence and irresponsible spending habits are highlighted in the book, but Wilson does resolve these by the end. VERDICT This is a solid realistic fiction choice for fans of Renée Watson, Jamie Sumner, or Janae Marks. Recommended for purchase for all collections.—Monisha Blair - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2022 Macy Weaver has a tough time keeping friends. She makes sure to learn everything about them, going so far as to pretend to like the things they like, even when she really doesn’t. All of Macy’s effort is wasted, however, because she always seems to lose her best friends. Things seem to look up for her when her family moves to Maryland, but she soon finds out that making friends isn't going to be easier just because she gets to start over with a fresh slate. Before long, Macy has to grapple with the consequences of lying and the dynamics of her changing family as she tries on yet another set of interests. Wilson’s middle-grade novel is the perfect blend of humor, introspection, and authenticity. The major characters are both realistic and likable, and she creates a fully formed, three-dimensional world that integrates serious topics with knee-slapping humor and heartfelt growth. This is a must-read for children who are working through the process of developing their own identities. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
