Susie B. Won't Back Down by Margaret Finnegan. 272 p. Atheneum/ Simon & Schuster, October, 2021. 9781534496361. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)
Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Middle Grade Monday features Susie B. Won't Back Down by Margaret Finnegan. Susie B. is a fifth grader with definite opinions about her classmates. First off, she's upset to be Susie B. because there are two Susans in her class. Second, "the usual geniuses" are so annoying because they get all the advantages and attention, just because they're perfect. They do things like raising their hand instead of shouting out, studying and handing in assignments in on time. These are some of the things Susie struggles with.
The class has started the Fifth Grade Hero Project and Susie has chosen Susan B. Anthony as her hero. Part of the project involves writing a journal/ letters to the hero, which makes this novel epistolery - told through letters. Fifth grade drama and dynamics are accurately portrayed as Susie navigates best friendship struggles with her campaign to be president of the student council. Additionally, readers learn a bit about Susan B. Anthony, the suffragist who tirelessly campaigned for the right for women to vote, but who also held racist beliefs. The idea of flawed heroes is seamlessly woven in, making this a perfect read aloud/ discussion book.
Susie is equal parts endearing and annoying, but oh-so-familiar. Readers will groan over her impulsive decisions, laugh at her wry observations and ultimately cheer for this irrepressible fifth grader.
Thanks so much for reviewing. No one would be more delighted by that than Susie herself.
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