Dear Student
by Elly Swartz (Author)
When Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper she is faced with a dilemma--can she give fair advice to everyone, including her friends, while keeping her identity a secret?
Starting Middle School is rough for Autumn after her one and only BFF moves to California. Uncertain and anxious, she struggles to connect with her new classmates. The two potential friends she meets could not be more different: bold Logan who has big ideas and quiet Cooper who's a bit mysterious. But Autumn has a dilemma: what do you do when the new friends you make don't like each other?
When Autumn is picked to be the secret voice of the Dear Student letters in the Hillview newspaper, she finds herself smack in the middle of a problem with Logan and Cooper on opposite sides. But before Autumn can figure out what to do, the unthinkable happens. Her secret identity as Dear Student is threatened. Now, it's time for Autumn to find her voice, her courage, and follow her heart, even when it's divided.
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Publishers Weekly
Sixth grade at Hillview Middle School is off to a rocky start for budding writer and earnest narrator Autumn Blake, who is Jewish and cued white. Her father's idealism led him to abruptly join the Peace Corps in Ecuador "six postcards ago," and he now wants her to "get involved in one thing at school." Her best friend Prisha, who reads as of Indian descent, has relocated across the country. And with finances tight, Autumn, along with little sister Pickle and guinea pig Spud, move from a house in to a small apartment above her mom's Cape Cod veterinary clinic. But Autumn opens herself up to her dad's advice to "seize the day," and despite her anxiety tries to cope with the new circumstances. Soon, she's chosen for the coveted role of writing "Dear Student"--an anonymous advice column that's the school newspaper's most popular feature. It's apparent early on that sensitive Autumn is far more competent than she gives herself credit for, and even as Swartz (Give and Take) gracefully builds further incident into the protagonist's life--giving advice while retaining anonymity, navigating social anxiety and battling friends, finding a way forward when she discovers a local cosmetics company tests on animals--there's little doubt that she'll end the book in a good place, one that celebrates her newfound faith in others and herself. Ages 10-up. Agent: Andrea Cascardi, Transatlantic Agency. (Feb.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
A story that shines with honesty and heart.—PADMA VENKATRAMAN, Walter Award-winning author of The Bridge Dear Student will resonate with readers who know that feelings and friendships can be complicated, and they will root for Autumn as she searches for her true superpower. —DIANE DEBROVNER, deputy editor of Parents magazine
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Schools
Middle schools
Advice columns
Anxiety
