The Exceptional Maggie Chowder

Gr 4 Up--This is the story of Maggie Chowder, who longs to be just like her favorite superhero, the Exceptional Eagirl. When her best friend leaves for a month in the summer, Maggie assumes nothing new will happen to either of them and cannot wait for her friend to return. Little does she know that both of their worlds are about to shift. This novel is all about change. Readers will empathize with the upheaval of Maggie's life when her father loses his job and they have to move from their large home to an apartment. While this novel speaks to change, it also spotlights the power of platonic and familial relationships . Maggie must find a way to support her dad in his new job, her brother in his new learning environment, and her best friend in her new life as a professional football coach's daughter. She must also learn how to bring joy to her life amidst everything going on around her. The addition of the Eagirl comics at the start of each chapter is sure to attract readers of graphic novels, as well as introduce them to new readers. VERDICT A heartwarming, funny story about family and friends; a worthy addition to middle-grade collections.--Tegan Anclade, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL

In Renton, Wash., summer brings unexpected challenges to 12-year-old Maggie: her father loses his job and gets work acting on a low-budget web series, her mother takes a grocery store job, and the family sells their home to move to a "cozy" apartment near the grocer's, where Maggie shares a room with her four-year-old brother Aaron, who is autistic. The arrival of her opinionated, comics-hating grandmother only makes things worse, as does Maggie's best friend, LaTanya Richards, moving into a larger home courtesy of her father's new job coaching the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the upheaval, Maggie is determined to follow the example of her comic book idol, fearless superhero Eagirl, and to become a forest ranger, just like Eagirl. When opportunity arises to attend Seattle Comic Con and compete for a chance to attend Forest Ranger Camp, Maggie begins to see that maybe things aren't all bad. Lute's narrative sensitively portrays Aaron's autism, Maggie's mixed feelings about her new home, and her frustration with changes beyond her control, while interspersed Eagirl comics by Valentine bring readers a glimpse of the feminist ranger hero whom Maggie hopes to become. Ages 9-12. (Oct.)

"Empathetic, realistic, and very enjoyable."—Kirkus Reviews