As Berry, protagonist of Tanita Davis's Berry Parker Doesn't Catch Crushes, enters seventh grade other people's crushes are the bane of her existence. Feeling personally immune to them, she can't understand the powerful effects they have on her nearest and dearest.
To start with there's her long time bestie. After attending a late summer camp, Lia comes back all starry eyed over Miguel. When she changes from Latin to French to be with him she and Berry have no classes together. And otherwise she seems to have little time for or interest in her life.
Then there's her solid, reliable primary custodian father. All of a sudden he's becoming a bit too interested in a new middle school gym teacher.
Perhaps most heartbreaking is her mother. Although she is away most of the year Berry lives for the August Invasion when Ivy comes to spend a month with her. This year she makes an additional trip to sort through the belongings she still has stored in the garage. She is accompanied by her boyfriend who plans on marriage and moving across the pond to England.
This engaging and insightful narrative should be very appealing to preteens, especially those who are experiencing confusing and unsettling changes in their own lives.
On a purrrsonal note, as you know, I participated in the No Kings Bangor rally. It was inspiring and exciting to see so many people and dogs braving the cold to stand in solidarity. I'll be sharing more pictures. And it was thrilling to see pictures of rallies around the nation and the world. I guess the two big questions are How do we keep building the movement? and What can we do with our individual talents in our daily lives to make a difference?
A great big shout out goes out to all who are fighting for peace and justice through rallies and through utilizing their talents and passions in everyday life.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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