About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing the daunting transition to middle school or struggling with the 'queen bee' social dynamics of their peer group. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels the pressure to hide their true self in order to fit in or who is experiencing the sting of social competition for the first time. The story follows Haley, a girl with psychokinetic powers she tries to suppress to be normal, only to be challenged by a rival who uses similar powers to climb the social ladder through humiliation. It masterfully explores themes of jealousy, the desire for belonging, and the ethics of social power. While it features a fantasy element, the emotional core is rooted in the very real anxieties of being 12 or 13 years old. Parents will appreciate how it visualizes internal social pressures as literal psychic battles, making the abstract feelings of middle school hierarchies tangible and easier to discuss.
