Sherri Winston

This was my second back-to-back mom abandons kids for partying and foster care is involved book back to back. Which was a tough start, but the heart of this book and the struggle, strength of Sharkita was touching. The writing was lyrical. I was listening and wondered at first if it was written in poetry. Kita is taking on adult responsibilities at a really young age for younger siblings, one with special needs. She's suffering with panic attacks. Through the book, people get involved in her show more life - friends, caring adults, social workers - who help her start to heal. She's faced with a hard dilemma try to keep her family together or be separated from her siblings day-to-day but have them be in healthier environments. show less

Twelve-year-old Sharkita carries the weight of her whole family on her shoulders: Mama had Kita as a teenager and resents her, treating her differently than her two younger siblings, Lilli and Lamar (Lamar has fetal alcohol syndrome), yet coercing Kita to be her "ride or die" to step in and parent her two younger siblings when Mama goes out - often all night, or even for days at a time. It was during one of these disappearances that Kita had to call emergency services, resulting in the three show more siblings being split up into foster care. Now they're back with Mama, who's on her last chance to keep custody, but Kita and Lilli don't trust her - and, unfortunately, they're right. Kita does everything she can to keep her siblings together, and feels guilty when she can't - but as caring adults in her life point out after another emergency, she's twelve, and her family is in crisis.

One of those caring adults is the new assistant principal, Dr. Kadejah Sapperstein, who encourages Kita and her best friend Niecy to try out for the dance/twirling team. Counselor Dr. Charles helps Kita, too, giving her breathing exercises to help with panic attacks and sleep paralysis. And kind social worker Mrs. Grieves looks out for Kita and her siblings, even though she can't find a foster home to take all three of them together. Ultimately, Kita has to go to court and speak for herself and her siblings.

See also: And Then...Boom! by Lisa Fipps, The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko

Quotes

I wanted to know if she was ready to be the mama so I could be the kid. (12)

Terrified I didn't know which was worse - a life with [Mama] or one without. (25)

We were learning how to judge each other to make us feel better or worse about ourselves. Some lessons didn't need a classroom. (42)

I wasn't even sure I had a goal - unless my goal was to keep our family together. But more than anything, I think, I wanted to be normal. (73)

I just don't want what Mama was doing to our family anymore. (230) show less

The character of Lotus exemplifies Black joy: She loves music and playing her violin, revels in the beauty and care of her natural hair, enjoys curating her retro outfits, and is excited to attend the new performing arts school where she can really focus on pursuing her music. In orchestra class, Maestro recognizes Lotus' exceptional talent and appoints her as concertmaster over Adolpho. Out of jealousy, Adolpho and his friends harass Lotus by throwing paper airplanes into her hair after show more classes. Then Adolpho's mother (and major funder of the school) complains to the school that Lotus' "unkempt" hair is disruptive to the school environment. Lotus has always been non-confrontational and about maintaining zen (she does yoga and plays her violin on the beach!), even as her best friend Rebel goads her into pursuing justice. But how much can Lotus endure before enough is enough? A heartfelt and eye-opening exploration of being young and Black in an oppressive society. As a book character, Lotus is all that and a bag of chips! show less

Brianna has her life exactly planned out; she’s going to follow in the footsteps of her heroine, celebrity chef Miss Delicious by being president of her fifth grade class, then she’s going to become a famous cupcake chef and make millions! She and her friends are already super at saving money and they’re all set for a winning campaign.

But everything goes wrong. First, the school changes the rules and now she’s not just running for president of her class against Todd the Toad, she’s show more running against everyone to be president of ALL the fifth grade classes! Next, a new girl shows up. Jasmine Moon is mysterious, fascinating, and she’s running for president too! Then Brianna’s best friend Becks gets put onto Jasmine’s campaign and things go downhill from there.

Now, instead of running a successful campaign with her three best friends, Brianna is paired up with Raymond “the Weasel” who is encouraging her to cheat and reveal Jasmine Moon’s darkest secret – after all, she tried to do the same thing to Brianna! Her friends aren’t talking to her, she accidentally dyed her hair blue, and she embarrassed herself in front of the entire school. The only bright spot is her new job making cupcakes for the Weasel’s mom.

In the end, Brianna has to decide what’s most important; her friends or winning – and what being president of the whole fifth grade really means.

This is a story that 4th and 5th graders will eat up with glee. Interesting and realistic characters and a plot they can identify with as well as funny incidents, a little drama, and a lot of cupcakes will make this a favorite. I did find the character of Weasel a little unbelievable – not his exaggerated behavior, which I can completely see a 5th grade boy doing, but his ability to keep it up throughout the story. However, kids will probably find that hilarious. I also wondered why we never really see Brianna’s parents – she seems to stay with her narcoleptic grandfather every day after school, she gets advice from her aunt, and when things finally fall apart completely she confides to Weasel’s mom, in whose bakery she works. Where were her parents during all of this?

These were my few minor quibbles though and on the whole this is a fun, interesting story. And bonus points for a story about an African American girl who doesn’t live in the inner city AND is pictured on the cover! Now if we can just see a few more similar books about Latina/Latino boys and girls…

Verdict: A well-written and fun story both boys and girls will enjoy. Good messages that aren’t hammered home with a pickax and a diverse cast of characters. Recommended for both school and public libraries.

ISBN: 9780316114325; Published October 2010 by Little Brown; ARC provided by publisher show less