Mango Delight

Gr 4–7—Mango and her BFF Brooklyn have many things in common: they love to run, they are on the track team together, neither girl is allowed to have a cell phone until she turns 13, and they have a shared dislike for the mean and shallow "Cell-Belles," led by Hailey Joanne. This all changes in the span of a day—as middle school life is apt to do—when Mango beats both Brooklyn and Hailey Joanne in a race and Brooklyn gets her cell phone before her 13th birthday. Brooklyn is immediately enfolded into the Cell-Belles, leaving Mango feeling a little left out. There is further drama when Mango intercepts a hurtful text Brooklyn has sent about Mango's mother, and she accidentally breaks Brooklyn's new phone. The rest of the story plays out in a rather predictable way: Mango must broaden her circle of friends and try new things. The writing is accessible without being trite, and Mango's inner struggle to be a better person is presented in an interesting and relatable fashion.