ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NATTY

A girl uses positivity to block out painful truths.

Seventh grader Natty and her dad have moved to Miller Creek to live with her paternal grandparents. Her mom remains behind in a deep depression that has fractured their family, perhaps irrevocably. Natty is determined to put forth only good vibes and enthusiastically maintain a positive attitude, hoping to convince her mom that she should join them. When anything negative crosses her consciousness, she experiences severe stomach pains. Natty, who comes from a financially privileged background, initially is insensitive about economic hardships in her new community. Instead, she screams her good vibes, creates a pep squad for a community that is decidedly un-peppy, makes a new friend in a girl named Mack, and, surprisingly, actually makes things a little better. But her refusal to deal with reality causes an estrangement with her best friend back home, whose pleas for help receive only cheerful platitudes. She follows the same path with Mack. There is no pat ending, but Natty finally allows herself to face things as they are, mend her relationships, and accept that some things are out of her control. Natty tells her own story, revealing only what she understands about her complicated situation. Readers may by turns feel annoyed and exasperated with her, but they will commiserate with her pain and root for her all the way. Characters present White; Natty’s family is Jewish.

A sad but hopeful coming-of-age tale.