My Year in the Middle

(Paperback)

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A moving story about finding ones center in the midst of overwhelming external pressure. Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Sixth-grader Lu Olivera just wants to keep her head down and get along with everyone in her class. The trouble is, Lus old friends have been changing lately acting boy crazy and making snide remarks about Lus newfound talent for running track. Lus secret hope for a new friend is fellow runner Belinda Gresham. But in 1970 in Red Grove, Alabama, blacks and whites dont mix. As segregationist ex-governor George Wallace ramps up his campaign against the current governor, Albert Brewer, growing tensions in the state and in the classroom mean that Lu cant stay neutral about the racial divide at school. Will she find the gumption to stand up for whats right and to choose friends who do the same

Reviews

Based on true events in Lila Quintero Weaver's own 1970s childhood as an Argentinian immigrant in a small Alabama town, My Year in the Middle is a moving story about finding one's center in the midst of overwhelming external pressure. Lu is believable as a girl who is afraid to "stick [her] neck out too far."...Any reader who has struggled to find a safe and happy place between polarities will appreciate Weaver's deep understanding of just how difficultand rewardingthis can be.
Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)

It's not always easy standing up for what is right, but sometimes, you just can't stay in the middle...Young readers will relate to Lu as she navigates friendships, first love, and politics, cheering her on to the finish line. An important and relevant story that will make kids stop and take a look at the world around them.
Kirkus Reviews

Readers will be immediately transported to early 1970s Alabama in this story about Lu Olivera, a sixth- grader who finds herself drawn ever more deeply into the civil rights movement and politics at her school...This story is inspired by the authors experiences, and it shows in introspective Lus observations of people around her. An excellent read for any budding activist or history buff, as well as pretty much any kid who likes a story about kids finding their gumption.
Booklist

Readers will root for this spirited protagonist to find her moral footing in this solid, enjoyable work of historical fiction.
Publishers Weekly

Based on true events in Lila Quintero Weaver's own 1970s childhood as an Argentinian immigrant in a small Alabama town, My Year in the Middle is a moving story about finding one's center in the midst of overwhelming external pressure...Any reader who has struggled to find a safe and happy place between polarities will appreciate Weaver's deep understanding of just how difficultand rewardingthis can be.
Shelf Awareness Pro

Young first-generation immigrants will see themselves reflected in Lu when she translates for a Cuban neighbor, and again when she finds herself in the middle and must either stand with her friends Belinda and Spider or side against them with her silence...A well-drawn depiction of an immigrant experience with a social justice lens. A solid addition for public and school libraries.
School Library Journal

Inspired by the authors childhood, this work of historical fiction offers an insider voice and unique perspective on the era, reminding readers that race relations remained contentious long after the 1964 Civil Rights Act...This is a worthy choice for recreational reading and informing students about the civil rights era.
School Library Connection

My Year in the Middle is both powerful and sensitive, offering a unique view of important historical events through the eyes of an immigrant girl who longs for social justice, friendship, and romance.
Margarita Engle, Young Peoples Poet Laureate and Newbery Honorwinning author of The Surrender Tree

Wonderful! A heart-touching story with a spunky heroine who shows her grit and determination during troubling times. I was cheering for Lu from beginning to end!
Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of The Red Umbrella and the Moving Target series

A timely and powerful story, My Year in the Middle conjures an era of American racism and shows how a strong immigrant girl can make a difference in her community. This is a book that will resonate for young readers in these fraught times.
Ruth Behar, Pura Belpr Awardwinning author of Lucky Broken Girl

Author Bio