About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is struggling to navigate the intense social hierarchies of junior high or feels pressured to change who they are to fit in. Through the lives of four very different students at Danny Perea Middle School, the story explores the heavy weight of popularity, the complexity of peer pressure, and the courage it takes to remain loyal to oneself. It is particularly helpful for children experiencing the shift from elementary innocence to the more cynical, high-stakes environment of puberty and social cliques. While the book captures the raw and often messy realities of being twelve or thirteen, it ultimately reinforces the value of genuine friendship over social status. It provides a mirror for those who feel invisible and a window into the pressures faced by those who seem to have it all together.
