Code Red

Eden was an elite gymnast, but a torn labrum ends her career. When an encounter with a school bully leads to a new friendship with a girl who jumped in to help, Eden discovers Casa Esperanza, a food bank with other resources like ELL classes. Eden learns about period poverty, and decides to help by sewing reusable pads. But Eden's mom - who started the successful company My Secret, which sells period products - isn't on board with Eden's new interest and activism, and forbids her to see her new friends. But it's too late: Eden's idea for a ballot initiative has become Soledad's senior project, and with both high school and middle school students (including theater kids) on board, their effort goes viral.

Eden's mom seems rigid and show more unreasonable for most of the book; her grandma and her dad, a pilot, are supportive, but not always available. Ultimately, after serious conflict, Eden brings her mom around, and they figure out how to work together.

See also: Go With the Flow, Revenge of the Red Club, The Sea in Winter

Quotes

"But you don't have to be the best at something to enjoy doing it." (5)

But gymnastics was my life for as long as I can remember, and now I have no idea what my life is. (30)

"Sometimes who we are inside doesn't match who we are outside." (30)

"Eden, of course you're going to mess up. That's why I invited you - so you can learn. But you learn by messing up. So try again." (81)

...those things are not who I am. (98)

But the fact is, the one thing I was an expert on is no longer my thing. So I had to be a beginner at something eventually. It might as well be this thing that makes me feel like I want to go out and slay some dragons. (126)

"Something doesn't have to directly benefit you to be worth doing." (165)

But too many things were out of my control....The dream didn't die, it changed. (228) show less