Operation Sisterhood

Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola. Operation Sisterhood 
January 4th 2022 by Crown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Bo and her mother have always made a great team, and while Bo doesn't mind her mother's boyfriend, Bill, it's still a big change to move to Harlem to live with Bill and his daughter, Sunday.  It's an even bigger adjustment because the two live in a shared house where there are lots of pets and two other girls, twins Lili and Lee. It's also a different neighborhood, and she misses some people from her old stomping grounds. Bo is a drummer, and Sunday plays the keyboard, so along with the twins, they put together a band. They have a lot of big plans, but have trouble getting along, and finding the right songs to play. Bo, whose mother is from Nigeria, embraces her cultural heritage and tries to recreate some family recipes, and is also looking forward to visiting Lagos. Bill, who is in a wheelchair, runs a bookshop that is struggling, and the girls try to use their skills to help his business. Bill, as well as the people in the house, are trying to better their neighborhood in a variety of ways, including reopening a garden and keeping the area clean. With so much going on, will Bo be able to settle in to her new life with her mother?

Strengths: There was a note at the beginning that the author was a big family of Elizabeth Enright and Sydney Taylor, and their books about big, bustling families in different locations. This updates that type of story, setting it in New York City and utilizing a nicely diverse cast. Bo has her own interests, but also has typical tween issues with friends and family. I love the cover!
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters, and a lot of activities going on in a variety of locations, so keeping everything straight was a bit of a challenge. 
What I really think: This was on the younger end of middle grade, but definitely captured Enright's Melendy Family vibe. Hand this one to fans of Glaser's The Vanderbeekers series.