About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle-schooler is navigating the dual anxieties of changing family dynamics and the awkward, high-stakes feelings of a first crush. It is particularly effective for children who feel 'too old' for a new baby in the house or who are struggling with the digital or long-distance nature of modern friendships. Bingo Brown is an endearing, overthinking protagonist who is trying to maintain a long-distance romance through letters while processing the news that his parents are expecting a child. Betsy Byars captures the precise internal monologue of a sixth grader, balancing humor with genuine vulnerability. The story normalizes the embarrassment of puberty and the fear of being replaced by a new sibling, offering a gentle, secular approach to growing up.
