CONFESSIONS OF A MANGO

Ruby Emmerson and her twin brother, Bryce, are entering sixth grade at a charter school for “the smartest kids in the district”—even though Ruby longs to do her own thing for a change.

Bryce, a shy robotics enthusiast, is thrilled. Ruby longs for her old friends and feels adrift at Benton Academy. She has dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, and even though the school provides accommodations in accordance with her 504 plan, she struggles with the high-pressure academics in a school of overachievers. She’s worried about her poor performance having consequences for Bryce’s being able to stay—their parents want them at the same school for convenience. In a moment of desperation, Ruby creates an anonymous social media account, confessionsofamango, to share her feelings of being an imposter. The account gains a following, and a new reality opens up in which her classmates reveal they’re struggling with challenges she’d never imagined. The space she makes for her peers changes the school culture, Ruby’s perception of herself, and her relationships. First-person narrator Ruby has a likable voice; she’s empathetic and socially adept. The debut co-authors portray her learning disabilities sensitively, making her experiences feel specific to who she is, and the sibling bond between the twins is realistically fraught, although the supporting cast has less depth. Characters largely present white.

Explores the power of connection and valuing difference with sincerity.