Reading Metrics
Description
As sixth grade ends, Macy McMillan watches her world shift: her house goes up for sale, her mother remarries, and two six-year-old stepsisters join the family. To finish a genealogy project, she spends time with an elderly neighbor, whose tales of a mysterious "Rainbow Goddess" give her a new perspective on family and change. The story blends a realistic look at a pre-teen navigating loss and new beginnings with a gentle, intergenerational friendship. It won the 2018 ALA Schneider Family Middle School Books Award.
Quick Summary
Macy McMillan is about to start seventh grade, but first she has to say goodbye to the house where she grew up, because her mom is selling it and bringing a new stepdad and twin stepsisters into the mix. As she wrestles with the idea of moving and sharing her space, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the quirky older neighbor who paints rainbows on her fence and claims to be a goddess, and together they discover that sometimes the biggest changes can feel like a secret adventure. It's perfect for kids who love stories that mix everyday family drama with a dash of magic, especially those who have ever felt nervous about a new sibling or a new home. The tone is warm and often funny, with moments that hit hard enough to make you think about how it feels to let go, but never too heavy for the middle-grade crowd. Parents will be glad to know the story tackles change, step-family dynamics, and loss in a gentle, age-appropriate way, leaving readers with a hopeful outlook. If you enjoyed the heartfelt blend of humor and heart in *The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street*, you'll find a similar vibe here, plus a splash of whimsical wonder that makes the story stick with you long after the last page.