With a mother who reads tarot cards, 2-year-old triplet half sisters and an embarrassing stepfather, Margot longs for a more mundane life.
On the eve of seventh grade, Margot has a lot to contend with, including a humiliating new nickname following a disastrous attempt to impress the popular crowd. Now that her BFF Erika is attending private school, Margot agonizes over how to capture the attention of her crush, Gorgeous George, while avoiding her arch nemesis, Sarah. In her haste to reinvent herself, Margot befriends edgy, cool new girl Em, entranced by Em’s defiant attitude toward Sarah. The constant barrage of Sarah’s subtle cruelty takes a toll on Margot, pushing her toward increasingly reckless behavior. Spurred on by Em, the situation between Margot and Sarah escalates and the stakes become dangerous as events spiral out of control. Ultimately, Margot must decide if being popular is worth sacrificing everything she knows to be right. Through Margot’s transformation from quiet girl to troublemaker, Humphrey thoughtfully explores the repercussions of bullying. Preteen readers will relate to Margot’s insecurities about her looks and her longing to fit in.
Margot’s cautionary tale offers an insightful look at a young girl’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance. (Fiction. 11-14)
