September 1, 2018
Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Georgiana, who prefers to go by Georgie or G-baby, is adjusting to life in her newly blended, African American family. She has moved to the suburbs with her mom and younger sister Peaches to live with her stepdad Frank and teenage stepsister Tangie, whose approval she is trying to earn. Meanwhile, she hasn't seen her dad much since he married Millicent. When Peaches gets sick, requiring a stay at the hospital, Georgie feels guilty for not being there because she snuck out to see a friend. This sweet story features themes of family relationships, friendship issues, testing boundaries, standing up for oneself, and first crushes. The story also touches briefly on difficult subjects including police brutality and racism as Tangie is planning to attend a peaceful protest with her college-age boyfriend. It's rare to find a middle grade novel that puts divorce and the complicated dynamics of blended families at the center of the story, a topic that is relatable to many readers. VERDICT Readers will fall in love with Georgie and her "blended-up" family as they navigate tough challenges and new family dynamics.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH
Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from October 1, 2018
In the face of a loved one's illness, Georgie struggles with blended-family growing pains and the ups and downs of friendship. It's summertime, and for 11-year-old Georgie and her 6-year-old sister, Peaches, doing the latest dances offers a respite from the changes that came with their parents' divorce. They have a new stepmom, Millicent, nicknamed "Millipede" by Georgie. Could she be the reason Georgie and Peaches don't see their dad as much as they used to? The girls have also moved from Atlanta to the suburbs with their mother to live with their new stepdad, Frank, and stepsister, Tangie. Tangie is still mourning the sudden death of her younger sister, Morgan, five years earlier, and she's less than thrilled about Georgie and Peaches' arrival in her life. When Georgie accidently makes things worse with Tangie, she reaches out to a "getting-out-of-a-jam" expert, her best friend, Nikki. But even Nikki can't solve the problem when someone close to Georgie falls seriously ill. Feisty, loyal Georgie is determined to make things right in her family and thwart a mean girl's scheme. A budding romance and a timely lesson about social justice round out Georgie's summer. Chock-full of cultural and historical references that reflect Georgie and her family's and friends' African-American heritage, Youngblood's debut is a celebration of intergenerational family bonds. Readers in co-parenting or blended families especially will relate to the conflicts between Georgie's loving but imperfect parents.An openhearted, endearing, and unforgettable debut about the challenges of friendship, growing up, and the boundless love of family. (Fiction. 8-12)
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October 15, 2018
Grades 4-7 Living in a blended family is not easy, especially for a girl whose parents have both remarried and moved on to build new families. G-Baby's world centers around her little sister, Peaches; however, since their mother remarried, G-Baby has become obsessed with having a relationship with her new teenage stepsister, Tangie. When Peaches' health takes a turn and she is hospitalized, G-Baby feels guilty and desperately tries to visit her, learning some hard lessons about doing the right thing and listening to adults in the process. Using beautiful prose, Youngblood's debut explores the expansive love only siblings can have for one another, while capturing the heart and soul of what it means to be a blended family. The multilayered characters and compelling story will resonate with readers, many of whom will find parallels to their own families, whether in terms of dealing with bullies, first crushes, friendships, or blended families. Young readers will fall in love with these characters and gain a new favorite author.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2019
Since both of her parents remarried, African American eleven-year-old Georgie ("G-baby") has lots to get used to, including older stepsister Tangie, who seems to hate her. While trying desperately to win Tangie over, G-baby's younger sister, Peaches, is hospitalized with meningitis. This brings the blended family together in slow but sure ways. G-baby's desires and insecurities feel painfully real, as does her journey toward loving her new family.
(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)