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saramarjorie10's review against another edition
5.0
This Middle Grade novel became better and better with each page. Weaver carefully takes the reader through Lu's journey in 1970s Alabama. Lu faces so much, from being forced to sit in the middle of her class as her Argentine descent doesn't make her black or white, to her search for the voice she knows she needs but doesn't know how to use. While this book does have a happy ending, I really enjoyed that Lu had to work for that happy ending, rather than just have it handed to her.
mconant's review
4.0
"My Year in the Middle" might be set in the 70s but it covers many relevant topics in today' world. Some are racial relations, immigration, and standing up for what you believe in.
The characters are flawed, as all people are, but lovable. Lu learns and grows throughout the course of the book and matures in her relationships with the people around her.
This is a well written and engaging book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are flawed, as all people are, but lovable. Lu learns and grows throughout the course of the book and matures in her relationships with the people around her.
This is a well written and engaging book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
danyell919's review against another edition
5.0
I loved Lu and her grit! This was a fabulous book about knowing the right thing and being courageous enough to act on it. This story was a good glimpse into Wallace-led Alabama during the 60’s/70’s.
lisas_novel_idea's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really enjoyed the voice of Lu, main character. We’ll written to reflect a young girl in the late 60s/early 70s.
laurenipsum's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ms_la's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Sixth-grader Lu Olivera narrates her emotionally and politically charged school year in Red Grove, Alabama in this thoughtful and well-written middle grade novel.
1970 is the year that Lu, who's family immigrated to Red Grove from Argentina, discovers running, falls for a boy, makes the "wrong" friends, and learns about injustice and racial inequality. It sounds heavy, but the story flows naturally and is easy to fall into. As an adult reader I was struck by parallels between the politics of the time and things that are happening today. I highly recommend this one as a readable, enjoyable book, but it would also be a wonderful title for classroom discussion.
1970 is the year that Lu, who's family immigrated to Red Grove from Argentina, discovers running, falls for a boy, makes the "wrong" friends, and learns about injustice and racial inequality. It sounds heavy, but the story flows naturally and is easy to fall into. As an adult reader I was struck by parallels between the politics of the time and things that are happening today. I highly recommend this one as a readable, enjoyable book, but it would also be a wonderful title for classroom discussion.
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
jennybeastie's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent own voices fictionalized memoir set in Alabama in 1970, just after desegregation. The more the book goes on, the more Lu discovers that the middle is a very uncomfortable place to be. This is the year where she discovers her love of running, finds new friends and loses old ones, starts to think about boys and finds, in the end, that she needs to make a stand. It's an eventful 6th grade year. I like that most of her battles are social ones, and that while she is hesitant in deciding how to handle them, she learns a lot about being true to herself. The pacing is steady, and Lu's somewhat neutral social status (identifying as neither white nor black, with parents who view themselves as foreigners, outside the local politics) gives her an interesting perspective. The book is also chock-a-block with 1970s slang and music, something I think both kids and adults will find entertaining.
The one thing I wish had been handled differently -- Lu goes to a gubernatorial rally that ends up being full of anti-integration rhetoric. She very quickly realizes that she went there for the wrong reasons, and that she regrets going. When the fact that she went is found out and causes a ruction with her friend, she makes it clear that she hated being there, and later gives up a good grade on an extra credit assignment that talks about the rally, because she feels so bad about going. I think this whole situation is a missed opportunity -- to say hey, I made a mistake, but I learned from it. I listened to someone that I didn't think I would agree with, and I confirmed that I don't believe those things. I heard for myself what the opposition is saying, and I made up my own mind. -- none of those things (all of which happened) are things to feel guilty and ashamed about. That's what intelligent, critical thinkers do -- they go directly to the source and they make up their own minds. We're a country of people who have shut the door on listening to one another, and I simply wish that the positive effects of this experience had been teased out more.
The one thing I wish had been handled differently -- Lu goes to a gubernatorial rally that ends up being full of anti-integration rhetoric. She very quickly realizes that she went there for the wrong reasons, and that she regrets going. When the fact that she went is found out and causes a ruction with her friend, she makes it clear that she hated being there, and later gives up a good grade on an extra credit assignment that talks about the rally, because she feels so bad about going. I think this whole situation is a missed opportunity -- to say hey, I made a mistake, but I learned from it. I listened to someone that I didn't think I would agree with, and I confirmed that I don't believe those things. I heard for myself what the opposition is saying, and I made up my own mind. -- none of those things (all of which happened) are things to feel guilty and ashamed about. That's what intelligent, critical thinkers do -- they go directly to the source and they make up their own minds. We're a country of people who have shut the door on listening to one another, and I simply wish that the positive effects of this experience had been teased out more.