MISS LIBERTY

A 12-year-old girl dreams of being the lead dancer in her small town’s Fourth of July parade, the future of which is under threat.

Savvy loves Glitter Season, when her town starts celebrating and counting down to the Fourth of July. She believes that if she can become Miss Liberty, everything will go well for her; anxious Savvy, who struggles with panic attacks, craves this reassurance. But her older sister, Levi, has other plans. Now in her third year as Miss Liberty, 17-year-old Levi, inspired by her honors civics class, is done being silent. She believes that Miss Liberty should stand for a cause, and hers is protesting a change that undermines voting access for the town’s citizens. Savvy is convinced that Levi’s planned protest will ruin the parade, which the town council decided will end after this year due to budget constraints. Will Savvy be able to fulfill her dream of someday being Miss Liberty? First-person narrator Savvy gives readers strong descriptions of her inner world, the weather forecast (“one less thing to worry about”), and her anxiety. The pacing is just right, and Savvy and her close friends, Seymour (who loves fashion) and Dulce (a student journalist activist), are likable as they support one another in what they each believe matters. Most main characters read white, and Dulce is cued Latine.

A fierce, sparkly debut that shows the importance of taking a stand and being yourself.