While I liked the story overall, there were times where it felt like relevant information was being kept from the reader. Maeve Mulvaney moves from Burlington VT (population 44,528) to Gainesville (population 145,812), which she immediately derides as being a small, hick town in the middle of nowhere which seems, as best, a weird conclusion to come to. When her feelings about the town erupt publicly near the end of the novel, she is accused of belittling the South in general, something that the book simply does not depict in the prose (the book seems like it should include illustrations/comics, but they were missing in the ARC so perhaps this makes more contextual sense in the final product?). Maeve is never described physically (the closest comes is a comment about her dress arching over round belly in the last chapter of the book), but is subject to significant abuse for being overweight from both bullies and family members. The focus on her weight felt random and it made me wonder if the author had been forced to remove material that would have made that plot point seem less abrupt. Similarly Maeve's anxiety disorder seems to appear out of nowhere, which is odd given it is central to the conflict she has with her (frankly borderline verbally abusive) mother.

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Maeve didn’t want to move from Burlington to “Nowheresville” FL. But, she’s there now. In a new town, new school. Her first trip to the local comic book store leads to conflict with a local boy who insists that she can’t possibly really know comics…and information about an upcoming convention. Her first day of school leads to connecting with friends…and bullies.

Maeve’s efforts to find a spot, to connect, and to deal with a school where it seems like certain people have a pass and where others are second class citizens, where teachers are a big part of the problem, and in figuring out who to trust will ring true to young readers in this ultimately encouraging novel that gives kids ideas on how they can be activists and use their talents to create change needed in their communities. It’s the kind of books we need now. I’m adding it to my list for my little free library.

This was a funny, sweet, empowering middle grade novel about standing up for yourself and your community and making a difference. Maeve was a fantastic, realistic narrator. I absolutely loved it!