Noah Frye Gets Crushed

Gr 4-7–Seventh grader Noah had an epic time at summer camp. Even better, her camp friend, Jessa, will attend Noah’s school in the fall. Noah is also eager to reunite with her BFFs Zoey and Luna. However, something feels off about their dynamic. Suddenly Zoey and Luna are obsessed with discussing their crushes. Noah has never had romantic feelings for any boy, but she’s desperate not to feel left out. She invents a crush of her own, employing a scientifically informed process to locate a suitable target. She settles on her classmate Archie, who is nice but doesn’t make Noah light up the way Jessa does. After a series of embarrassing yet amusing mishaps, Noah eventually concludes what everyone else suspected all along: Jessa is the one for her. Noah is a wry narrator who shows emotional growth as the story progresses. The narrative has a light, breezy tone reminiscent of Lauren Myracle’s “IM” series. In particular, the dialogue rings true to the typical middle schooler. Gratifyingly, Noah is surrounded by supportive people who give her the time and space she needs to discover her true self. Most characters cue white; Zoey’s surname hints at East Asian heritage.