The Other Side of Perfect
by Melanie Florence (Author)
Two kids from two different worlds form an unexpected friendship in this lens into the interworking of empathy. Told in alternating narratives, The Other Side of Perfect is infused with themes of identity, belonging, and compassion, reminding us that we are all more than our circumstances, and we are all more connected than we think.
Cody's home life is a messy, too-often terrifying story of neglect and abuse. Cody himself is a smart kid, a survivor with a great sense of humor that helps him see past his circumstances and begin to try to get himself out. Autumn is a wealthy girl from an indigenous family, who has found herself in with the popular crowd even though it's hard for her to want to keep up.
But one night, while returning home from a movie, Autumn comes across Cody, face down in the laneway behind her house. All Cody knows is that he can't take another encounter with his father like the one he just narrowly escaped. He can't go home. But he doesn't have anywhere else to go. When Autumn agrees to let him hide out in her dad's art studio, Cody's story begins to come out, and so does hers.
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Publishers Weekly
Dual perspectives illuminate cultural and class differences in this thought-provoking novel by Cree and Scottish author Florence (Legends of Funland) and Scrimger (Weerdest Day Ever!). Cody, who is white, lives with his physically abusive and racist father who's struggling to make ends meet; Cree classmate Autumn, meanwhile, runs with the popular crowd and enjoys a comfortable and stable household. The two Toronto middle schoolers' paths cross when Cody runs away from home and Autumn literally stumbles across him, finding him bruised and dirty near her house. She sneaks him into her family's backyard studio, and though his status as a secret stowaway doesn't last long, Autumn's parents promise to keep Cody safe after learning of his circumstances, especially once they realize his father has been evicted from their apartment. Tensions run high between Cody and Autumn, however, when Cody unknowingly parrots his father's racist language, and the tweens' new relationship threatens Autumn's place in the social hierarchy. While explanations of relevant social topics feel underdeveloped, accessible prose and recognizable middle school archetypes make this an approachable worlds-collide story. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV011040 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Native American
