April 14, 2026 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Ruby is not excited to leave Lincoln Middle School, where her best friend Ella attends, and go to Benton Academy. Since her twin brother Bryce is excited about the academic enrichment available at the charter school, and her parents don't have time to take the children to two different schools, she has agreed to go. Since Ruby has been diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and diysgraphia, she has an extensive 504 plan and several accomodations. She worries about being in Mrs. Taylor's language arts class when the teacher asks what books people read over the summer; Ruby has only read graphic novels, which her 5th grade teacher didn't count. The class is assigned Oliver Twist to read. Ruby does make a friend in the quiet Thea, who seems to try to be as average as possible, but is glad when her father takes her and Bryce to the pool so she can hand out with Ella. Bryce's anxiety decreases at school, since he is able to make friends like Kennedy, who installs an electronic keypad on his locker and shares a lot of the same interests. There's a lot of homework, at least two hours a night, which is very hard for Ruby despite her accomodations. Her parents offer to get her a tutor, and even Bryce offers to help. When she is overwhelmed with the work, Ruby creates an account on the ChatterCube app, and as @confessionsofamango (based on a meme her mother has shown her about a line up of mangos and a love bird that looks almost like on of the fruits), posts that the school is expecting too much and should be more accepting of failure. She writes her tag on the announcement white board, and her post goes viral. There are lots of comments from other students who also feel pressured to succeed, especially by their parents. The principal gets upset when many parents complain, and threatens to punish whoever is posting. The kids at the school, however, start bringing mangoes in their lunches in solidarity! Thea admits to Ruby that she is struggling with the transition from Montessori classes to Benton, even though Ruby won't admit to anyone that she is the poster. Ruby does benefit a lot from a tutor who makes her see her difficulties in learning in a different way, but when the truth comes out, the mango really hits the blender. With help from her parents, Ruby is able to forge a new way forward for herself.
Ruby is not excited to leave Lincoln Middle School, where her best friend Ella attends, and go to Benton Academy. Since her twin brother Bryce is excited about the academic enrichment available at the charter school, and her parents don't have time to take the children to two different schools, she has agreed to go. Since Ruby has been diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and diysgraphia, she has an extensive 504 plan and several accomodations. She worries about being in Mrs. Taylor's language arts class when the teacher asks what books people read over the summer; Ruby has only read graphic novels, which her 5th grade teacher didn't count. The class is assigned Oliver Twist to read. Ruby does make a friend in the quiet Thea, who seems to try to be as average as possible, but is glad when her father takes her and Bryce to the pool so she can hand out with Ella. Bryce's anxiety decreases at school, since he is able to make friends like Kennedy, who installs an electronic keypad on his locker and shares a lot of the same interests. There's a lot of homework, at least two hours a night, which is very hard for Ruby despite her accomodations. Her parents offer to get her a tutor, and even Bryce offers to help. When she is overwhelmed with the work, Ruby creates an account on the ChatterCube app, and as @confessionsofamango (based on a meme her mother has shown her about a line up of mangos and a love bird that looks almost like on of the fruits), posts that the school is expecting too much and should be more accepting of failure. She writes her tag on the announcement white board, and her post goes viral. There are lots of comments from other students who also feel pressured to succeed, especially by their parents. The principal gets upset when many parents complain, and threatens to punish whoever is posting. The kids at the school, however, start bringing mangoes in their lunches in solidarity! Thea admits to Ruby that she is struggling with the transition from Montessori classes to Benton, even though Ruby won't admit to anyone that she is the poster. Ruby does benefit a lot from a tutor who makes her see her difficulties in learning in a different way, but when the truth comes out, the mango really hits the blender. With help from her parents, Ruby is able to forge a new way forward for herself.
Strengths: Ruby has a great voice, and I loved that she wanted to try to change what she felt was a difficult situation. It was good to see her parents really trying to support her with tutoring, and they didn't seem to pressure either child with unrealistic expectations. Thea and Kennedy's parents were more problematic, so it was interesting to see a range of expectations. The social media aspect of this will appeal to middle grade readers, and the descriptions of accomodations, coping skills, and a really great tutor were good to see. This ends on a happy note, with Ruby setting up a Fruit Bowl support group.
Weaknesses: Would this have been different if Bryce had been enrolled in a school that was designed to meet Ruby's needs, but he complained about the lack of academic challenges? While there are good arguments for why Ruby was enrolled in the school, I felt bad that she struggled so much.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Garcia and Williams' Mixed-Up, Hunt's Fish in a Tree, Davis' Figure It Out, Henri Weldon, or Dilloway's Five Thing About Ava Andrews.
Weaknesses: Would this have been different if Bryce had been enrolled in a school that was designed to meet Ruby's needs, but he complained about the lack of academic challenges? While there are good arguments for why Ruby was enrolled in the school, I felt bad that she struggled so much.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Garcia and Williams' Mixed-Up, Hunt's Fish in a Tree, Davis' Figure It Out, Henri Weldon, or Dilloway's Five Thing About Ava Andrews.
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