The Unforgettable Leta “Lightning” Laurel

Gr 5 Up–“Junior high wasn’t supposed to be this hard. But it seems like there are so many unspoken rules for girls that I never knew about before.” Life is hard for Leta Laurel. Her dad left the family, her mom is trying to keep them afloat, and Leta must keep an eye on her little sister. Not to mention her struggle with navigating middle school, the horrible “lists” that she is on, and her desperate need for new track shoes. But when she is racing, she is Leta “Lightning” Laurel, fastest 400-dash runner in the school. When a girl shows up who could possibly take that title away from her, she wonders whether she should become “lighter” by not eating or push through an injury. And will winning bring her dad back? In the underwritten genre that is girl sports, Toalson has crafted a novel that can be handed to anyone. Leta is a character that every reader will connect with and root for. Add in an embarrassing grandpa, a pain-in-the-neck little sister, and a supportive cast of friends, coaches, and teachers, and it’s a story that will reach every reader.