A review by nerfherder86
Anything But Okay by Sarah Darer Littman

4.0

Realistic novel about the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome on a family, as well as a look at how social media can spread opinions, true or not. Also tackles divisive school elections, racism, the nature of patriotism, and the state of veterans' health care today; there's really quite a lot going on here. The main plotline is the friendship of two girls, one Caucasian and one an Iraqi American Muslim, and how it suffers when Stella, the white girl,'s brother is arrested for assault when he was coming to the defense of a Muslim teen boy getting bullied. Not everyone in town sees him as a rescuer, they accuse him of supporting terrorism. This sets off a chain of events, throws a wrench in Stella's campaign for class president, involves even local politicians, and brings up a lot of emotions in both families. Excellent book for middle school (7th grade and up)