Lakita Wilson's BE REAL MACY WEAVER is bursting with well-developed characters and so much great voice. Macy is a distinct, flawed character from page one--you have to root for her, even as you cringe at her choices. Because the reader gets a bit of insight into Macy's friendship mistakes before Macy does, it's a perfect novel to share with middle school students in creative writing classes as a way to play with when and how information is shared with a reader. Of course, they are going to love this novel so much, it's bound to inspire their work in many, many ways.

Friendships are hard… especially when we tangle ourselves up in lies to begin them. What does it mean to actually be unapologetically ourselves? Macy Weaver discovers that and more in this unique and insightful middle grade novel. I loved it!

Incredible middle grade read. Excellent coming of age story and fun to read. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book felt very different for me in a middle grade because of the dynamics of the MC & her mom, how they handled their respective situations with family, new people & potential friendships. I was very frustrated with her mom & how she treated Macy and what she didn't teach her about interacting with others. I had questions about where Macy's manners were and why she wasn't taught better social skills. However, I do remember having a hard time with new people, making friends and learning new environments. It was a great lesson in learning coping skills, expressing yourself and being honest about your situations & feelings. I know that there will be kids that would relate to that.

This reiew is based on an ARC. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review it.

Macy wants one thing more than anything-a best friend. But her social anxiety creepy-crawlies keep her from being authentic and really connecting with her classmates, and eventually she makes a mistake and they cut her off. Is it any wonder she welcomes the opportunity to move to Maryland, where her mother has been accepted to go to school, and start over? Macy's journey, from trying to be a chameleon and blend in, to developing a true love of and talent for fashion and connecting with other kids, all of whom have their own insecurities is real, authentic, and beautiful. This is a lovely book that belongs in school and community libraries, because there is a little Macy in all of us.

Macy Weaver is convinced that the only way to make friends is to be exactly like them, so she spends a great deal of time mimicking others. However, because of this choice, Macy ends up having to lie in order to fit in, which means friendship becomes increasingly difficult to maintain. When Macy's mother is accepted to college in Maryland, Macy jumps at the chance for a fresh start since her friendships in South Carolina are not working out as well as she hoped. Maryland is filled with new potential companions, but when Macy falls back into her old habits, she gets a rude awakening that brings her face to face with the consequences that come from being untrustworthy.

This contemporary middle grade novel introduces readers to a young girl who is struggling to find her place when it feels as though everyone she has ever cared about has left her behind. Marital and financial troubles plague Macy's family at home, and while school starts out well for Macy, her lies end up catching up with her and distancing her from others. Cringe-worthy decisions make this book a cautionary tale for young readers who may choose to misconstrue their own realities, especially as a means to develop friendships. As Macy hits rock bottom, readers are able to learn from her mistakes and recognize both how their actions can affect others and how to remedy any damage those actions may cause.

Sixth grade is not an easy time, and it is common for children to do what they think will make them liked, even if it means not being true to themselves. This book provides an exaggerated look at the pain lies can cause while offering Macy a chance at redemption as she becomes more comfortable with who she really is. Short chapters and realistic dialogue keep the pacing moving forward with ease, and readers will be motivated to observe the results of Macy's actions, especially as her lies begin to unravel around her. Heartfelt and filled with an array of colorful characters, this book will resonate with any reader who has ever struggled to recognize their true personality and potential. This is a strong addition to libraries for middle grade readers.

Macy lives in South Carolina with her father, who is a postal worker, and her mother, who works at a bank but is unfulfilled and is constantly redecorating their home. Macy has trouble keeping friends, and has fallen out with Mia, Darby, and Payton during her fifth grade year. She's friends with Josie, who moved to her school late in the year, and she's excited to spend the summer with a best friend... until Josie also drops her and starts hanging out with Jazmin and Jalaya, posting pictures of the fun they are having on InstaSlam. After Macy likes too many of the posts, Josie blocks her! There are bigger problems, however; her mother has gotten accepted into a psychology program... at the University of Maryland. Even though it's expensive, she really wants to go. The university has even offered her housing, but when it's decided that Macy and her father will also move to Maryland, the housing turns out to be a single dorm room, and Macy and her father end up in a run down apartment building. There's an old Singer sewing machine in Macy's room, and kindly neighbor PJ, an older woman, offers to help her learn to use it, but Macy is angry with her family situation and resents her overtures. Starting at her new school, Macy tries hard to be friendly and does get along with Brynn and Grace, but lies and says that her mother is a famous fashion photographer when Brynn says she is interested in modeling and notices that Macy's sweater is a designer cashmere number. Grace wants to be a lawyer, and is often picked on by the boys in their class for being fat. Macy goes through her mother's clothes and accessories, and wears many of them to school, even though they aren't really appropriate. Neighbor Pax, who dresses all in black and is constantly scribbling in a notebook, finally talks to her about her fashion choices. He really likes the reality show "Stitched" and wants to be a designer, but his brothers make fun of him, and his Dominican family doesn't really understand him. Brynn plans a birthday party at a hotel in D.C. during fashion week, and Pax and Macy hope to launch their own brand, House of Anomaly, which consists of reworked, quirky garments they have fashioned, with PJ's help, from secondhand clothes and treasures from dumpster diving. When Brynn's mother loses her job and Macy overhears her telling Grace, Macy tries to be supportive, but Brynn thinks that Grace broke her confidence and is angry with both of them. Macy starts to realize that her mother is pulling further and further away from the family, and lying about the work that she is doing, which could have been all done online. Will Macy finally be able to keep friends, and will her family situation settle down? There were a lot of interesting things going on in this book that will appeal to readers who like fashion, friend drama, or ghost-free moving stories.
Strengths: Parents are a big part of tweens' lives, and their actions have a huge effect on children. It's interesting that Macy wants to move to another city to escape her friendship situation. I liked that while her mother was not at all supportive, her father was, and she had teachers and PJ to help her out. The concept of lying about oneself to others should be explored more in middle grade literature; how many of us went to summer camp and tried to reinvent ourselves, ala Kimmel's The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt? I liked that Brynn and Grace were fairly welcoming, but their friendship with Macy still wasn't entirely smooth. Pax is a well developed character; he almost deserves a book by himself.
Weaknesses: I can tell Macy why she can't keep friends; she is WAY too needy! Her relationship with Josie is just cringey. The mother is one of the most quietly horrible parents in middle grade literature; I wish that there was more of a resolution with how her mother was treating her.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who love Taylor's Sew Zoey, Schroeder's My Secret Guide to Paris, Stone's Paris for Two, Devillers' Lynn Visible, or Johnson's fun Hello, Cruel Heart. I'm a big fan of characters who sew, and while Macy and Pax's designs are a little quirky, it's a fun story with TONS of friend drama, which is always popular.

Be Real, Macy Weaver by Lakita Wilson is an awesome story about trying to make friends while still being your true self. Macy has always experienced difficulty with making and keeping friends. The summer before her 6th grade year, her family moves to a new state so that her mother can go to college. On the first day of school, she begins to tell lies such as her mother is a famous fashion photographer to impress a cool girl named Brynn. Brynn’s BFF is Grace. However, Macy hopes to be Brynn’s BFF. Meanwhile, Pax, who stays mainly to himself, sees Macy for who she really is and wants to form a friendship with her.
As the story progresses, Macy continues to lie to Brynn and Grace. However, Pax and her also form a friendship and begin to develop their own fashion line by creating unusual clothing out of old, tossed out pieces of clothing. Will Brynn and Grace find out the truth about Macy? Read to find out.
Lakita writes an interesting story that will keep children engaged. Be Real, Macy Weaver is an excellent book to use for a book group for middle school students and also to use for students who experience difficulty with making friends. I think that this book should be found in all elementary and middle school libraries.