Dear Student

December 15, 2021
Speaking for those who can't speak for themselves helps one girl find her fearlessness. The first day of sixth grade at Hillview Middle School is stressful enough for Autumn Blake without the added pressure from her dad to participate in just one thing. Not a fan of being noticed, finding her special thing feels daunting, especially without her best friend, Prisha, who has moved to California. The answer unexpectedly comes when Autumn is chosen by her teacher to be the anonymous voice behind "Dear Student," the school newspaper's advice column. Her excitement soon turns to worry, though, as she finds herself in the middle of a divisive community issue with new friends Cooper and Logan on opposing sides. Also confusing are Autumn's feelings about her dad, who left to work with the Peace Corps in Ecuador, leaving Autumn, her little sister, and her veterinarian mom behind in Cape Cod. Autumn's inner life will resonate with anyone who has experienced social anxiety, as will her feeling that she is the only one who can't figure out how to navigate the school cafeteria. Themes of animal rights and socio-economic diversity are handled thoughtfully and with nuance. Jewish Autumn and most main characters read as White; Prisha is cued as Indian, and close family friend and veterinary office manager Malcolm has brown skin. A heartfelt story about finding the courage to stand up for your beliefs even when you'd rather remain invisible. (Fiction. 8-12)

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January 31, 2022
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.