TROUBLE FINDS EVIE LEFKOWITZ

Asher’s middle-grade novel offers a story of familial bonds, unexpected courage, and the remarkable possibilities that unfold when people lift each other up.

Things haven’t been going well for seventh grader Evie Lefkowitz. Ever since her father died two years ago, she’s successfully kept her mother away from every potential suitor—until now. Her mom is suddenly over the moon about an upcoming date with Mr. Mitchell, the assistant principal at Evie’s middle school. As if that weren’t awkward enough, her mother volunteers her to tutor Joey Ceraco, a boy to whom she hasn’t spoken since kindergarten. Joey, along with his best friend, Tommy Halliday, is notorious for making trouble. Evie’s life as the cantor’s daughter at Temple Shir Shalom has kept her far away from kids like Joey, and she usually sticks with her more responsible friends, Spencer and Rachel. A questionable science project and a classmate’s scheme to release the lab’s praying mantises sweeps Evie into a whirlwind of shifting friendships, unlikely alliances, and a daring after-school rescue. Amid the chaos, she begins to realize that sometimes, making a little trouble is necessary to stand up for what’s right—and to discover who one is meant to be. Over the course of this novel, Asher delivers a warm, sharply observed middle-grade tale that effectively captures the turbulence of early adolescence, as well as the power of unlikely connections. It’s a satisfying story that offers a clear message that it takes real courage to stand up for one’s beliefs: “That’s rare, you know,” says social studies teacher Mr. Fish at one point. “Hardly anyone is brave enough.” Evie’s first-person narration is relatable throughout, and the novel brims with authentic characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, and emotional truth, making it a story that young readers will want to revisit.

A lively tale about the unexpected magic that comes from helping one another.