Figure It Out, Henri Weldon

 Skillfully realized, this is an affirming and inspiring tale for readers who are only ever told what they can't accomplish. Uplifting and amusing, this book will leave readers with valuable lessons.

Seventh grader Henri Weldon is determined to start the new school year on a high note, though she wishes her older sister Katherine were more supportive. As the two start classes, Katherine refuses to answer Henri's questions about what to expect, won't sit with her at lunch, and treats her as a "problem to be solved." Henri's unnamed learning disability, which reads as similar to dyscalculia, often leaves her feeling disconnected from her classmates, so she's heartened when she meets friendly Vinnie Morgan, a foster kid who later becomes her peer tutor. The support Henri receives from her committed teachers and Vinnie allow Henri to flourish, but when she tells her parents she wants to try out for soccer, her mother worries about whether Henri can juggle everything at once. Henri's struggles with her learning disability, her feeling overwhelmed with her increasingly busy life, and her contentious relationship with Katherine are matter-of-factly portrayed via a complex character who is not singularly defined by her personal challenges. In this hopeful, well-paced volume, Davis (Partly Cloudy) centers accommodation, community, and understanding. The Weldons are Black; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)

PRAISE FOR PARTLY CLOUDY: Davis captures the often glossed over tenderness of preadolescence, the space between blossoming independence and a lingering desire for the comfort and support of caregivers. As feel-good realistic fiction, this title reminds young readers that families and friendships alike require honesty, compromise, and understanding—especially when the forecast is partly cloudy.— Booklist (starred review)

Young readers will grapple with different interpretations and come to their own conclusions about how not to let the bad actions of others allow one to compromise one's core principles, and the sticky question of whether any part of the burden for making peace rests with those who are the victims of discrimination. The California setting, amid the reality of the state's wildfires, will resonate with readers who live with climate-related threats. A timely novel full of thought-provoking questions. — Kirkus Reviews

In this gentle multigenerational narrative, Davis (Serena Says) explores race, tough conversations, and climate change as her endearing protagonist learns to face conflict and embrace community. — Publishers Weekly

Praise for SERENA SAYS: Middle school energy forms a bustling backdrop for this clever story of navigating changing relationships and developing a sense of personal identity. At the center is spirited, smart Serena, someone readers will appreciate and cheer. A delightful multicultural narrative that spotlights friendship and self-awareness. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Serena is a smart, intuitive Black girl with relatable fears and insecurities; as the book progresses, she decides she's ready to step into the spotlight all on her own. Davis capably touches on matters of chronic illness, mental health, and friendship growing pains in this quiet but impactful slice-of-life novel. — Publishers Weekly

Being the new kid in seventh grade isn't easy, and [neither is] being Black in a sea of white and brown faces. Davis suggests alternate paths for her protagonist—and by extension, readers—through Madalyn's challenge: assess whether the friendship is worth pursuing and, if so, insist on the difficult and honest conversations necessary to lay its foundation; or accept the permanence of disaffection, while acting with dignity and respect. Madalyn and Natalie's . . . mutual courage in reaching for reconciliation offers readers much to ponder. — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books