The Other Side of Imani

Gr 4-8–Thirteen-year-old Black girl Imani James, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles to find her footing after moving from California to Brooklyn for her father’s new food truck venture. Things look up when she befriends a well-connected classmate who shares her passion for design and earns the chance to compete for a coveted spot at the prestigious Dekalb Art and Design High School. But her dreams are derailed when her original design is stolen, and Imani is wrongly accused of plagiarism. Determined to reclaim her voice and call out the cultural appropriation embedded in the fashion world, Imani launches a secret online persona, Estelle. As Estelle’s influence grows, Imani must confront the risks of keeping secrets and the challenge of staying true to herself while fighting for her future. Springer crafts an engaging story that thoughtfully explores cultural appropriation in fashion while celebrating African and Caribbean heritage. The novel blends contemporary realism with digital-age drama, and the prose is warm and inviting. Imani’s Barbadian and Ghanaian roots are woven organically into the narrative through art, family traditions, and design inspiration. Her emotional journey feels authentic as she learns to advocate for herself and find her voice, both online and off. The author’s note adds meaningful context with references to kente cloth, adinkra symbols, and screen printing, grounding the cultural details in historical and artistic reality. While some secondary characters lean toward archetype and the resolution ties up quickly, Imani’s growth remains at the story’s center. The social media elements feel authentic to middle grade experiences, exploring both the empowerment and pitfalls of online personas. Themes of friendship, honesty, and finding one’s voice are handled with heart and a light touch.