Bright
by Brigit Young (Author)
"Real, relatable, and fully dimensional, Marianne is a main character you will root for with all your heart." --Dan Gemeinhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight Children
In this poignant middle grade novel, a struggling student joins her school's celebrated quiz team in a bid to avoid failing eighth grade.
Marianne Blume has always known she's not smart. After years of trying and trying at school, she's mastered the art of getting by on a combination of luck, deflection, and her winning personality--that is, until she lands in the classroom of Mr. Garcia. Suddenly she's at risk of flunking his class, repeating the eighth grade, and getting left behind by her best friend, Skyla. To receive much-needed extra credit and get into high school, Marianne makes the desperate decision to join her school's Quiz Quest team, only to find out that her teammates have problems of their own--and that they need to win for her to get the credit.
Now Marianne will need to try--like, actually try--for the first time in her life, while also helping her teammates pull it together. Can Marianne learn to be smart? What does it mean to be "bright," anyway? And will she be left in eighth grade forever? Brigit Young (The Prettiest) has written an empowering story about bucking labels, overcoming preconceptions, and learning to hold your head--and hand--up high.
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Publishers Weekly
In a thoughtfully rendered novel that considers personal strengths amid societal labels, eighth grader Marianne Blume "didn't know a lot, but she knew she was stupid." Marianne has long struggled academically, but to get by in school and navigate her classmates' mockery, she cultivates a "bubbly and unbothered" persona that masks her drifting thoughts. When her principal shares the news that she may have to repeat a year, she commits to upping her grades. Being left behind by her class--including best friend Skya, who already seems to be making new friendships--is unthinkable. So, desperate to win extra credit from her strict math teacher, Marianne joins three of the school's smartest kids on Quiz Quest, a variously inclusive club that's as desperate for members as she is for a passing grade. Despite a rough start, the teammates make a number of important discoveries throughout the season, including observant Marianne's considerable empathy and social skills. Young (The Prettiest) organically explores concepts of what it means to work hard and be smart through Marianne's realistically bumpy arc, including apt portrayals of her internal frustrations and negative self-talk. Most characters cue as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong. (July)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
An absolute honor to record this REMARKABLE book, which is a true gift to everybody who has ever felt like they weren't smart enough or couldn't keep up in school. BRIGHT is a gem of a book that brought tears to my eyes! —Mara Wilson, actress, playwright, and author of Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame
Real, relatable, and fully dimensional, Marianne is a main character you will root for with all your heart. — Dan Gemeinhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Midnight ChildrenA winning story about persevering and being enough. I fell in love with Marianne - my heart broke for her even as I was cheering her on. I wanted to wrap her in a hug and tell her to believe in herself. Friendship and heart make Bright a touching and joyful read. -Debbi Michiko Florence, author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV014000 - Juvenile Fiction | Girls & Women
JUV039100 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Peer Pressure
Friendship
Schools
Self-esteem
Middle schools
