Ali Terese's Free Period is a joy to review. It combines elements irresistible to middle grade and early middle school readers--loyal besties, school and family drama, mean girls, crush worthy boys, outrageous pranks, and clueless/demonic adults in power--with a social justice issue highly relevant to their stage in life.
Co narrators Helen and Gracie are inseparable best friends whose middle school specialty has been creating chaos through carefully planned pranks. About to move on to high school, they try to pull off one grand finale prank that people will remember...
...only it doesn't go quite as planned. A pep rally has to be canceled and the cheerleaders and athletes are pretty pissed off. And the chums are (once again) summoned to Principal Varone's "dumpster fire of an office". Varone has given up on normal punishment. She gives them one month "to accomplish something that matters to the school." They're mandated to join the community action club.
Things don't look promising. The club is run dictator style by the chums' nemesis, Madison, who basically sees their achievements as material for her resume. She doesn't really want Gracie and Helen involved in their next project--getting middle school bathrooms supplied with menstrual products.
Only that's something they really care about, especially when Helen is embarrassed by an early period and bleeds through her pants.
The club tries to do things by the books. They speak at a school board meeting only to discover that the adults in charge are douchbags...
...The PTA is even worse...
...Our heroines know their usual style won't work. But traditional methods seem too easy to overlook. How do they devise a strategy that will unite their peers and achieve period equity?
"Helen and Gracie may be fictional, but real students around the country have been advocating for menstrual equity for years after experiencing a personal need or recognizing a need in their community." In her author's note Terese encourages readers to become involved in this very important social justice issue and offers them resources.
On a purrrsonal note, the end of the semester is coming up so fast. So much to do! So little time!
A great big shout out goes out to all of us preparing to graduate from University of Maine and other fine colleges and universities.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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