About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their middle schooler is beginning to grapple with the awkwardness of dating, the shifting dynamics of friend groups, and the complex desire to see a single parent find happiness again. In this installment of the long-running series, thirteen-year-old Alice McKinley enters eighth grade determined to set life goals, from making her first serious relationship work to playing matchmaker for her father. The story explores themes of self-identity and the pressure to meet social expectations during puberty. While the book deals with the typical romantic curiosities of early adolescence, it remains a grounded and secular look at growing up. Parents might choose this book for its refreshing honesty and its ability to normalize the embarrassing or 'aching' moments of the teen years. It provides a safe space for children to see their own insecurities reflected in a character who is navigating a single-parent household with humor and heart.
