Emily Posts

Light humor and erudite insight meld in this socially conscious novel by Kyi (Me and Banksy) that centers middle school activism. White-cued eighth grader Emily Laurence hopes that leading her school’s podcast club “through the lens of environmental change” will secure her future as an eco-minded tastemaker and influencer journalist. Jealousy over a magnetic new classmate and frustrations with her newly blended family and her mother’s rigid social media rules prompt Emily to distract herself by scripting a podcast story about an upcoming climate march. But when school administration forces the podcast club to cut the story to protect corporate sponsorships, Emily counters with bold action that jeopardizes her friendships and aspirations. As Emily makes amends, bonds with an autistic-cued classmate, and cares for her stepbrother and his wheelchair-using friend, she finds inspiration to develop her online blog Emily Posts, in which she distills her experiences into punchy, clickbait-y articles (“How my life was ruined by my rabid pseudo-sibling”). Kyi scratches the surface of wide-ranging topics such as capitalistic overreliance and greed, cultural appropriation, environmentalism, Indigenous peoples’ rights, social media influence, and veganism via convenient plotting that culminates in a rosy resolution. Relevant themes, comedic family antics, and Emily’s witty, intimate first-person narration make this a smart and timely read. Ages 10–up. (Feb.)