July 1, 2021
Gr 3-7-Elfie strives for excellence. But for a girl with no friends, fifth grade is chock-full of challenges. First, Elfie is expelled from her dream school. Second, Elfie's babysitter and confidant becomes ill. And finally, Elfie's aunt and uncle's impending divorce and her return to the dreaded Cottonwood Elementary bring Elfie face-to-face with Jenna, her nemesis cousin. So how does a smart girl sans chums survive? In this well-plotted, realistic read, Mahoney shows readers that when presented the impossible, people can change for the best. Expertly honing in on the social skills that grow with friendship, Mahoney gently reminds tweens that others' perspectives, expectations, and intentions often differ from their own-and that other's intentions can be good. VERDICT A sure pick for booksmart readers who might need a boost making friends, and an excellent candidate for illustrating social-emotional learning skills.-Jennifer Strattman, Cambridge, NY
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2021
Can a perfect student find a way to belong in the "unperfect" world around her? Studious Elfie yearns for a place where her academic devotion and drive for perfection are appreciated. So she's thrilled when she earns a scholarship and a place as a fifth grader at a fancy private school. Unfortunately, on the very first day Elfie's good intentions get her in trouble with a legacy student, and she finds herself back at her old public school. Elfie is crushed, but as time passes, she begins to realize she's not the only one experiencing hardship and unfairness. Ultimately, Elfie learns that finding community and supporting your friends and family are much more important than perfect grades. Elfie's specific ways of observing and navigating the world are brought to vivid life in the first-person narration of this realistic story. The tension between living up to your principles while also trying to be a good friend rings true. Elfie also explores new emotional territory as she processes loved ones' health and emotional crises. Through it all, there's just the right mix of gentle humor, unconditional love from her mother and father, and Elfie's own compelling brand of heart. The main cast is satisfyingly developed, which makes up for a few one-dimensional minor characters. Most characters seem to default to White; Elfie's teacher is Filipina American. A solid story about the importance of community rather than perfection. (Fiction. 8-12)
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July 1, 2021
Grades 4-6 An excellent student who takes her Student Lunch Monitor duties seriously, friendless Elfie has never really fit in at her local school, Cottonwood Elementary. In fifth grade, she enters prestigious Hampshire Academy as a scholarship student. Her high hopes are dashed on her first day, however, when she's suspended and faces possible expulsion for a supposed honor-code violation. Elfie is shaken by the accusation and, soon afterward, by the news that her beloved, long-term babysitter has cancer. After a series of uncomfortable truths jolt her into seeing herself from others' perspectives, she begins to realize that her exacting, unsympathetic attitude toward her peers may have something to do with her lack of friends. Still, shifting her mindset isn't easy. Initially, Elfie is very relatable yet somewhat unlikable as a character who gladly leaves her old classmates behind in hopes of finding better ones at the Academy. Santat's inviting jacket art, the many vivid characters, and Elfie's spot-on conversations with both kids and adults will draw readers into her involving story of turmoil, discovery, and change.
COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.