Madalyn, who is Black, moves in with her great-uncle, Louisiana native Papa Lobo, to attend seventh grade in a small community two hours from her home in California. Her parents’ busy work schedules mean the plan for Madalyn to come home every weekend soon falls through. Luckily, Madalyn likes Papa Lobo and his lively friends, and helping him renovate his outdated front room keeps her busy outside of school. Although there are far fewer Black students at Madalyn’s new school than she’s used to, she connects with a few kids. She isn’t sure about white classmate Natalie, though. At school, Natalie is fun to talk with. But in encounters outside of school Madalyn is shocked that Natalie seems to have decided that Papa Lobo’s godson Jean is scary simply because, like Natalie’s former bully, he is Black. Natalie’s behavior—nice at school, racist outside of school—leaves Madalyn increasingly angry and uncertain about what to say or do. When wildfires prevent both Madalyn’s mom and Natalie’s older sister, with whom Natalie lives, from getting to them, Papa Lobo insists Natalie stay with them despite the upsetting things she has said. This emotionally honest story examines the hurt and disconnect caused by microaggressions and racism while illuminating the sense of caring and compassion among individuals and a community during a disaster.
(Ages 8-11)