Maya Chhabra

This was a Hi-Lo Novel in verse about a girl trying to understand why she has dark thoughts: about harming herself, her friends, people around her. With the help of a therapist and support from her family and best friend, Chiara is able to “control” these thoughts through ERP. She is diagnosed with OCD, which I learned doesn’t have to mean washing your hands, or doing repetitive actions over and over. I appreciate the way the author explains what is happening mentally with Chiara by using layman’s terms. A short novel in verse about mental health. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley.

TW: harmful thoughts against others/self… (more)

Eleven-year-old Margaret Singh believes that the war being raged in Europe will not affect her life. She is shocked when she learns her father has ties to a revolutionary group planning violence to end Britain's rule over India. Her father is arrested for those ties when America joins the war, and Margaret questions everything she thought she knew.

This was a charming read. it highlights a part of American history that I wasn't aware of before. It tells the story in a way a middle-grade reader (the intended audience) can understand. The protagonist, Margaret, shows the uncertainty of a girl, whose view of the world has changed. Things are not as black and white as she thought, and it shakes her confidence in her father.

My one criticism would be how information is shared in dialogue between characters. At times, it was stilted and sounded like it could be read from a text book. Not natural.

Overall, it was a quick and interesting read. I would recommend it to young readers who have an interest in history.

I received a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.… (more)