Meet Me at Sunset by Lee Heart (Simon Spotlight, 145 pages, grades 3-7). Julie’s told all her friends at school about James, the cute boy she knows from her summer vacations. Although she’s only talked to him once, she may have led the other kids believe he’s her boyfriend, which is why it’s incredibly awkward when her mom invites Sophia to join them for this year’s vacation. Sophia proves understanding, though, and is on board to help Julie with her Love Plan. Sophia confides in Julie about the boy from her old school in California whom she’s been texting, and before long the two girls are on their way to becoming BFF’s. But when Sophia starts to gently point out that James is kind of a jerk, and that his friend Liam is a lot nicer, Julie is sure there’s something going on between Sophia and James. A little communication goes a long way, though, and by the last page, both Sophia and Julie have dumped James and each has found the beginnings of a kinder, gentler summer romance.
This is a perfect beach read for tweens who are starting to be curious about romances but who may not be quite ready for YA. The steamiest action is exchanging phone numbers and making plans to get together during the school year, and the insane sixth-grade insecurity-fueled drama that it takes to get there is spot on. I love the short length, which should really be more common with books for this demographic. Enthusiastic readers can look for other titles in this new Spotlight Sprinkles series.
The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Scholastic Press, 224 pages, grades 3-7). Esme’s ready to chill out at the local pool after another disappointing year of unsuccessfully competing with her three accomplished older sisters for their mother’s attention. Swim team has been a fun part of Esme’s summer for years, but this year she discovers that her growth spurt has made her a real contender, particularly in freestyle. She still enjoys the social aspect of the team, though, particularly a new friendship with Kaya, a girl whom Esme enjoys helping with her flip turns. When Esme’s mom gets wind of Esme’s successes at the pool, she starts showing up for meets. At first, Esme is thrilled, but when Mom starts making derogatory–and in the case of Kaya, racist–comments about her teammates, Esme’s not sure what to think. She enjoys winning and would love to set a pool record, but she also likes being part of a team and helping her friends succeed. Slowly, Esme starts to realize that being the best doesn’t always bring happiness and begins to seek out her own way of competing.
This book drew me in right away, and anyone who has spent time at the pool in the summer will find a sense of familiarity in the descriptions. Esme’s struggles with finding a balance between personal success and cheering on teammates are also very relatable, and I liked how the ending was ambiguous, leaving those questions still somewhat open. Although there were some hints to explain her mom’s behavior (her Chinese culture, her husband deserting her), she was a bit too much of a tiger mom stereotype and just came off as mean. I wish that portrayal had been softened a bit, but it’s also perhaps somewhat accurate coming from a 12-year-old narrator.