Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Sir Fig Newton & the Science of Persistence by Sonja Thomas is a heartwarming story about twelve-year-old Mira who’s summer just keeps going downhill. Her best friend moved away, her phone broke, and now her cat, Sir Fig Newton, is sick. When she learns her family can’t afford his treatments, Mira sets out to raise money, but she’s worried she won’t find the funds in time. It’s a fabulous story about persistence, hope, and the power of friendship

Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence has everything my tween heart would have loved and my adult heart adores. From best friend moving away to enemies-to-friends to girl scientist saving the day, this book celebrates friendship, ingenuity, persistence and love, all surrounding a healthy dose of heartache.

Mira is a character who makes you want to root for her. She’s far from perfect and totally relatable. She’s and indefatigable, creative kid who is willing to stop at nothing to save her cat. She’s got big dreams and big problems, and nothing’s going to get in theway of her tackling both. What’s not to love?

This is the kind of book that middle-graders pass around. The very best kind!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved Mira's persistance, problem-solving skills and dedication to all that she loves, especially when it comes to science & her cat. I also appreciated that she had a little spice to her that I recall having myself as a preteen. Sonja did a great job weaving in various topics from financial insecurities/single income households, loss of friendships, competition, advocacy of self & others, animal illness, etc. As someone who has an animal who has a health condition, I completely understood Mira's need to make sure Sir Fig Newton as okay, that he had everything he needed and that she would always have him around. There is so much to learn from this story and I think kids everywhere would be able to appreciate it!

My bookstagram friend @bysonjathomas is releasing her debut novel Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence on March 22nd!

Here's my review because I was lucky enough to pecure an ARC through #netgalley

Mira is not going to go to let go of her ambitions even with the summer starting out with her best friends move, her Dad's lack of job prospects, and her arch-enemy spying on her for science fair Intel. But when Mira is hit with the hardest blow will her science know-how be enough to save that which she holds dear?

Mira reasons, researches, hypothesizes, and experiments throughout her mission. She's a great character for STEM minded girls to relate to and I especially appreciated the diverse cast of strong women that surrounded her. It's great for girls to see women who are in charge of their own identities as mothers and career women.

I loved how Mira reacted as a preteen would under stressful situations but always came around to her supportive family when she needed to apologize. There's also gems of lessons in Thomas's book about the dynamics of friendships that Mira, just like most of us, had to learn the hard way. I wouldn't hesitate to give this darling book to any middle grade kid- especially one who's into STEM, space, or needs a life model of persistence!

This such a sweet, smart book, full of science and heart. It’s definitely a new favorite of mine, one that I’ll be recommending to students for years to come.
Twelve-year-old Mira, a science whiz and devoted cat-lover, is not having the greatest summer. He best friend moved away, her dad’s struggling after being laid off, her arch-nemesis Tamika is popping up everywhere, and now her beloved cat, Sir Fig, is showing signs of failing health. Mira’s research shows that he may have diabetes, and a trip to the vet confirms her diagnosis. Unfortunately, that one visit was all Mira’s family can afford. There’s no way they’ll be able to cover the expensive medicine Fig needs, especially with Dad out of work. Her parents feel that the best way to help Fig is to find a home for him with someone who can afford to give him the treatment he needs. Mira can’t accept that and begs for time to raise the money herself. But how?
I really enjoyed reading Mira’s story. She’s such a great new heroine—interesting, fun, innovative, and persistent. I was rooting for her all the way. I also loved her relationship with her family, and I really liked the way her and Tamika’s relationship grew and changed. All in all, this was a really great read!

Young readers who love science and cats will adore Sonja Thomas’s middle-grade novel, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence. This heartfelt story follows Mira, a young science-loving Black girl and aspiring astronomer, and her rollercoaster summer of changing friendships, her beloved cat’s “silent cat killer” diagnosis, and the implications this has on her family.

Taking place during Mira’s summer before seventh grade, Sir Fig Newton paints a holistic and in-depth portrait of every part of Mira’s life. I particularly enjoyed how the story explored friendships and how they inevitably change – how best friends can move away and fade despite all efforts to be best friends forever but then new friends – even your arch-nemesis - come along and make you feel whole again. Mira’s family life is a significant highlight of the book, her family close knit and loving but also sensitively explores how her father’s redundancy has ‘changed everything’, especially when money gets tight necessitating difficult decisions. And of course, when Sir Fig Newton, Mira’s beloved cat and best friend, falls ill, Mira must use her research skills, her creative and scientific mind, and determination to save him – because family will fight for each other.

Mira’s story isn’t quite as linear as other middle-grade stories. Mira encounters plenty of roadblocks and setbacks - even when the reader and Mira herself thinks that she’s pulled through - which truly challenge Mira but also bring out her strength and fortitude. There are moments of vulnerability, the story holds space for her scary feelings of anxiety, fear, and anger, and there are moments where Mira makes mistakes and has big feelings that she – and any of us if we felt how she felt – struggles to handle. (Plus, I loved that she always apologised and made amends, even if apologising can be hard sometimes.)

STEM-girl power comes into full force in this story, which will delight young readers who are interested in science and, if not, may inspire future scientists and curious thinkers. Mira’s love for science flows across the story, and readers will enjoy the science jokes that the story has to offer. While Mira approaches her problems in a logical and methodical way, what shines through is how Sir Fig Newton also explores how science isn’t just cold and calculative, but also comes from creativity, imagination and curiosity of the world around us. Unexpectedly, the story also delves into honest questions and complicated feelings about the intersections of science and faith, and how the two are not so different from one another.

Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is a thoroughly wonderful story that is, indeed, about science and perfect for cat-lovers, but also offers an unexpectedly profound and emotional message about the ever-changing landscape of friendships, the joyous highs and confusing lows of family life, and determination and persistence to save someone you love against all odds. Just as importantly, Sir Fig Newton is about, above all, a story about having faith in yourself that will inspire young readers to believe in themselves and their potential and power.

Mira’s heart is pure “Miranium,” the strongest element in the universe. With “patience, curiosity, observation, and persistence,” Mira puts that heart to the test as she does everything within her power to save her beloved cat Sir Fig Newton. Fact: Young scientists will love Mira’s journey as she traverses the ups and downs of family, friendships, and Sir Fig.

An utterly charming story of friendship, the power of science, and the spirit of determination. Sonja Thomas captures the heart of the reader from the very first page with her authentic and genuine voice. Mira comes to life through every word. From a best friend moving away to a sick cat, Mira's story is relatable on so many levels. Young readers are going to fly through these pages, eager to see what happens next.

Twelve-year-old Mira Williams is experiencing one bummer of a summer. Her dad, who was laid off from a space-and-technology firm, is having trouble finding work; her best friend, Thomas, moved 901 miles from Florida to Washington, D.C., and her nemesis and science-fair rival, Tamika, has moved nearby—into Thomas’ house. Even her phone is broken, and there’s no money to replace it. When Mira’s beloved cat, Sir Fig Newton, becomes sick, her parents say they’ll need to give him to someone who can afford his treatment. But Mira begs for a chance to raise the $2,000 they need, and her parents give her a month.

Mira, a future astronaut and astrophysicist, uses critical thinking and research skills to diagnose Sir Fig’s diabetes—“the silent cat killer.” After a vet officially confirms the illness, Mira gets creative to raise money for his care.

Mira is a biracial Black girl—her dad is Black and her mom is white—who is smart, optimistic, and doggedly determined, yet also refreshingly real as she copes with frustration, doubt and fear. In fact, all the characters are well-rendered, including supporting players and Sir Fig himself. Animal lovers will appreciate Mira and her cat’s special bond.

With Thomas out of her daily life, Mira veers out of her comfort zone to forge new friendships with a small group of science-loving girls and a growing network of caring adults. Many readers will relate to the financial strain and its rippling stresses facing this loving, white-collar family. The crisis also prompts Mira to explore issues of faith. If she believed like her Christian grandmother, would Jesus save Sir Fig?

Overall, Sonja Thomas’ middle grade debut offers an inspiring story that celebrates girl-power ingenuity, the joy of science, and the life-altering magic of connection and community.

Disclaimer: I received a free Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased opinion about the book. I do not post reviews for books I don't finish or don't like!

NetGalley readers, I'll be posting this on Amazon when the book is published and likely on GoodReads when I get a new account.

Mira is having the worst summer ever. Her dad lost his job, her best friend moved to DC and suddenly it seems like her cat, Sir Fig Newton, isn’t feeling well. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is a fun middle grade novel that touches on some serious subjects. I don’t always like Mira, she can be rather myopic in her views, but she did read like a realistic, relatable kid most of the time. I would have loved it if this book went into more STEM activities. I like the idea of the app and the “mood music” experiment. I was not a fan of the grape experiment since it is very dangerous even with parental supervision. I was surprised that not only did it touch on some scientific questions but also questions of faith and religion. I think this is definitely a book that parents and children should read and discuss together. Probably my favorite part was the way that it dealt with friendships. Long distance friendships are hard to maintain for both kids and adults. I’m also glad this book didn’t have a “bully” in it. We have plenty of books with those. Instead, it had a female friendship that started with some misunderstandings and then blossomed into something good. Overall, I would recommend this book for kids ages 8-12.

Full of STEM-girl power and inspiring persistence, this book feels like a cross between an amazing first hug from a future best friend and also pure jet fuel for imagination and hope.

Twelve-year-old Mira’s summer is shaping up to be THE WORST. Her best friend, Thomas is moving from Florida to Washington, DC. , meaning she's losing her biggest supporter right when her mother is overworked and under-available, and her father is wallowing in post-layoff-depression. Then, when her arch-rival, Tamika, moves into Thomas' old house and ends up in her group a summer STEM camp for girls, she's convinced nothing could be worse.

That's when she realizes her cat, Sir Fig Newton, is sick and in need of expensive tests and treatments.

With her family finances already stressed to the breaking point and her own sense of self teetering, Mira opens her mind to solutions and her heart to help from unlikely sources, as she tries anything and everything to save her cat, her family and her dreams of someday being a brilliant scientist who studies the universe.

Sonja Thomas pulls off the trick of making a book that feels amazingly grounded in real things kids care about (their best friends, their pets, and their far off dreams) while also opening up the readers eyes (and Mira's) to the wider world of faith, family financial woes and true loss. This book will make young (and not-so-young) readers smile and laugh, while also hitting them right in the feels over and over again as we root for Mira to just keep going until she can catch a break.

Mira is a fun, funny, science-loving girl who is dealing with her best friend moving away, her family’s money struggles after her dad loses her job, and a broken cell phone. But none of those hardships compares to her beloved cat, Sir Fig Newton, getting sick with diabetes. Mira must figure out a way to pay for the expensive vet bills on her own, and readers will root for her every step of the way as she grapples with big themes like faith, determination, and the power of asking for help. Despite all the challenges she comes up against, Mira’s spirit remains full of oomph (as she calls it), and she manages to spread high spirits around to others as well. A highly satisfying read!

This is such an enjoyable, heartfelt story about a girl’s love for her cat and the joys and struggles of navigating new and changing friendships. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence is about Mira, a science-minded girl whose best furry friend, Sir Fig Newton, gets sick. She’ll do whatever she can to help him and raise money for his treatment. Tons of cool science and American history facts are woven throughout and will be sure to keep young readers sneakily learning as they turn the pages. There’s also plenty of beautiful moments exploring economic insecurity, faith, and the lengths we’ll go to help each other. Reading about Mira and Sir Fig Newton made me want to hug my own pet a little tighter.

Spunky, stem-minded, super fun read! Fantastic portrayal of the very real way kids' friendships ebb and flow, with characters so richly drawn you'll feel like you're sitting on Gran's plastic couch next to Mira. Fantastic, factual science tidbits wrapped up in a life-or-death mystery. This will be perfect for middle grade book clubs and classroom read-alouds!

Such a sweet story of kid power in the form of a main character named Mira (nickname "Miranium" after the strongest stuff in the universe) who uses science to diagnose her beloved cat Sir Fig Newton when he becomes seriously ill. Loved all the relationships in here from the parents who felt very real to the arch-nemesis who lives across the street, and the way the whole community comes together to help save Fig, with the one big question: If curiosity killed the cat, can scientific curiosity save one??

What a charming, original, empathetic, educational and well-paced story! Sonja Thomas’s debut follows science-loving Mia on her quest to stop her parents from giving away her beloved cat when the diabetes she correctly diagnoses would be too costly for her family to treat. Readers will definitely root for Mia, who is smart and spunky with a serious side that makes her a wonderfully-drawn protagonist. I see kids reading and rereading this one with great pleasure!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC.