Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly
“You’re scared of your own shadow,” Marisol’s older brother declares. She’s hurt but also admits, “Why do I have to be scared of everything all the time? No one else is.”
Sometimes, eight-year-old Marisol’s ‘what-if’-worries prevent her from doing what she wants – including climbing her backyard magnolia tree she calls Peppina since “all important things … should have their own names” (like Buster the refrigerator, Ginny her bike). Even her best friend Jada’s already pulled herself up: besides reporting on Mr. Zhang’s beehouse and Mrs. Blumenthal’s curtains, Jada’s discovered a bird’s nest! But Marisol sees herself falling more than she can scale new arboreal heights. Maybe maybe, things might change.
Newbery Medal-winning Erin Entrada Kelly (Hello, Universe) introduces her latest hero-in-the-making in the first of her “Maybe Marisol” series. Meanwhile, Amielynn Abellera returns for another Kelly title: after two successful collaborations, the third time, alas, is not the charm. Abellera heightens Marisol’s anxiety in a distracting, exaggerated performance that too often borders on hysteria. Alternatively, choosing the page offers additional benefits, including and especially Kelly’s own whimsical illustrations throughout.
Readers: Middle Grade
Published: 2021
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