Meow or Never

Part of Scholastic’s WISH line of “fun, engaging, books for kids 8-12 centered on family and friendship,” this book checks all those marks and gives us a queer, Black protagonist as well. Middle-schooler Avery is a great singer, but doesn’t like to sing in front of people and struggles with panic attacks. She has trouble making friends, but finds comfort in taking care of a stray cat backstage at her school’s theater. When her crush, Nic, overhears her singing one day, she convinces Avery to audition for the school play—and Avery gets the lead role. Can she overcome her fears, grow a new friendship with the student who wrote the play, and tell Nic how she feels? A sweet and light story of romance and gaining self-confidence that doesn’t make a big deal of Avery’s attraction to other girls. Although she comes out to a few people in the course of the story, they pretty much knew anyway, so that’s not a focus of the plot. An ultimately cheery book that lands on a high note.