Maeve Mulvaney Has Had Enough

Mangan debuts with a spirited, layered novel centering middle school activism. When eighth grader Maeve Mulvaney moves from her liberal Vermont hometown to a small Florida community with conservative ideals, her bisexuality and “fat girl” body type draw public scrutiny that impels her to bond with other ostracized, misfit students. Maeve, an aspiring artist and the “family rain cloud,” isn’t afraid to speak her mind at home and even fights bullies on paper via her own “badass” comic book creation and superhero alter ego, Brave Maeve. Despite her can-do attitude, Maeve isn’t sure how to navigate misogynistic school dress codes and toxic masculinity in the classroom until support from a teacher, a visit to a protest art exhibit, and the discovery of social justice zines mobilize her to start an activism club—and risk friendships and academic suspension. Maeve slowly finds her footing, using her original, rallying cause and endearingly sarcastic voice to implement change. Her biting first-person POV balances nuanced discussions of feminism and American activism in this affirming, fat- positive story that validates all kinds of feelings and ways to be. The characters are intersectionally diverse. Ages 10–14. Agent: Taj McCoy, Rees Literary. (Mar.)