About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like a 'fish out of water' because of their academic abilities or when they are struggling to navigate the messy transition into middle school social dynamics. Millicent Min is an eleven-year-old genius who has already completed high school courses but finds herself profoundly lonely. Over the course of one summer, she attempts to reinvent herself as a 'normal' kid to win her first real friend, Emily. This humorous, epistolary novel explores the heavy weight of expectations and the fear that our true selves might not be enough to earn love and friendship. It is an ideal choice for gifted children who feel isolated by their intelligence or any child who has ever felt the pressure to hide their true interests just to fit in. Parents will appreciate the story's emphasis on authenticity, the nuanced depiction of a multigenerational Chinese-American family, and the realistic portrayal of how lies, even well-intentioned ones, can complicate our most cherished relationships.
