Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 7, 2026
Rating:
Goodreads Synopsis:
A heartfelt, gorgeously written debut middle grade novel about best friends, first crushes, and coming out—perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Jake Maia Arlow.Before she moved from Austin to Rhode Island, everybody knew Lacey as one half of an inseparable duo: Lacey-and-Grace, best friends since they were toddlers. Grace and her moms were practically family. But at school, being lumped together with overeager, worm-obsessed, crushes-on-everyone Grace meant Lacey never quite fit in—and that’s why at her new middle school, Lacey plans to reinvent herself. This time, she’s going to be cool. She’s going to be normal.At first, everything seems to go as planned. Lacey makes new friends right away, she finds a rabbi to help her prepare for the bat mitzvah that got deprioritized by her parents in the chaos of the move, and she even gets cast in the lead role of the eighth-grade musical. Which is when things start to get stressful, because it turns out the students at her new school have a long-standing, unofficial tradition: No matter what the show is, in the final performance, the leads always kiss for real.Lacey’s never kissed anyone before—she’s not even sure she’s ever had a crush. And in Bye, Bye, Birdie, there are a few different co-lead kiss possibilities for Lacey to choose from. There’s confident, cocky Andre. There’s sweet, friendly Jaden. And then there’s the other new girl at school: dryly funny, impossibly cool Violet.But while her new friends and older sister create whiteboard wall charts and botched field trip schemes to help her decide, suddenly Lacey can’t stop thinking about Grace, who she was so sure she wanted to leave behind. When Grace comes back into her life, Lacey needs to decide if she's brave enough to be who she really is, in front of the person who matters most.
Review:
This was such a beautiful, thoughtful book about growing up, understanding yourself, navigating religious identity, and dealing with the pressures of middle school.
Lacey is a fantastic main character. She feels incredibly real. She’s in that in-between space so many kids experience: trying to fit in at a new school, with an eagerness but nervousness, while still holding onto pieces of who she truly is. I loved how her self-awareness is always present, through her thoughtful reflections of her interactions and her afterthoughts when emailing Grace. Even when she’s caught up in social dynamics and uncertainty, there is still that underlying expression of self-discovery. There’s this sense throughout the story that she could rise above the drama and pressure and she just has to figure out how.
The pacing works really well. Starting with the move and new school gives the story immediate momentum, and everything that follows feels natural and well-developed. The school’s theater culture adds so much personality to the setting, and Lacey’s excitement about it, mixed with her anxiety about its traditions, creates a interesting internal conflict.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is how it draws parallels between different kinds of traditions. The pressure-filled expectation of kissing someone in the school musical contrasts so meaningfully with Lacey’s desire to reconnect with her Jewish identity and prepare for her bat mitzvah. Both are rites of passage in very different ways, but also in the ways of getting older. The way they intertwine adds such emotional depth to her journey.
Overall, this is a heartfelt and nuanced story about identity, friendship, and finding the courage to be honest about who you are. I loved Lacey and her self-discovery and without spoilers ... it make me happy sob in the end. Such a lovely story of self-discovery and getting older.
About the Author
Rebecca Bendheim is an author and middle school teacher. She holds her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and types poems across the country with the Typewriter Rodeo poetry troupe. She lives in Austin with her partner, an orange cat, and a chorgi (chihuahua-corgi) puppy. Rebecca has bungee jumped, skydived, and swam with sharks, but the bravest thing she’s ever done is put all her deepest and gayest emotions into books. Rebecca can be found online at RebeccaBendheim.com and on social media @RebeccaBendheim.
Find the Author
No comments:
Post a Comment