*4.25 Stars*

This was a really short middle grade novel about Esme Sun and her summer.
I really liked this one. Esme was a great main character, she wasn't perfect, she was very layered and I loved getting to know her and seeing her grow (even for just one summer!). I loved seeing her form friendships and interact with her family. Her relation to swimming was really interesting too.
Basically, this was short but it packed in a lot and I would definitely recommend it.

Middle grade novel. Really does a good job explaining the feelings of confusion during the middle school years. Of wanting to have fun and be a kid yet have friends who want to be older. The cultural issues could have been discussed better, but again appropriate for the age.

I received a free copy of, The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun, by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Esme Sun has three older sisters who are great at excelling. Esme has never cared for winning, until she starts swimming and winning swim trials. Esme mom puts way to much emphasis on winning, when Esme just wants to enjoy swimming. Esme mom is wrong and racist. This was a good read, I enjoyed reading about Esme.

Esme goes through many emotions that lots of teens will identify with. Great positive message about admitting when your wrong, competing with compassion and drive, as well as battling parental expectations. A quick, read to encourage teens that hard work and good friends afe worth it!