Thirteen-year-old Eden was an elite gymnast with Olympic aspirations when a career-ending injury sidelines her. She’s struggling to find another activity to take its place, while her divorced, executive mother has little time to spend with her and her dad, a pilot, is often out of town. Then her mother gives a talk at Eden’s school about her company, which makes menstrual products—and Eden is mortified. When a boy in her class harasses her about this, Eden and classmate Maribel stand up to him—but an accidental shove injures him, and the girls get suspended.
Because Eden’s mom doesn’t have time to be home with her during her suspension, Eden ends up spending time at the food bank that Maribel’s mom runs. There, Eden becomes more aware of income inequalities in their community, and about the struggle that low-income people with periods have trying to afford menstrual products. She also meets Will, a trans boy, who reminds her that not only women get periods. She joins several volunteers, including Will, in sewing washable, reusable menstrual pads.
As she learns more about period inequalities, she wants to do more, and comes up with the idea of taxing companies to help fund free menstrual products. Friends at the food bank, including several older teens who are registered to vote, like the idea and offer to help turn it into a ballot initiative. The only problem is, such a plan would burden Eden’s mother’s company—and when Eden’s mother finds out, she is not happy that Eden seems to be rejecting her years of hard work, positioning her and her company as evil.
The conflict between Eden and her mother, and her mother’s resulting restrictions on Eden, strains Eden’s relationships with her friends. She must figure out how to navigate those friendships and continue being a part of the only thing that’s given her a sense of purpose since gymnastics. But can Eden and her mother also come to an understanding?
There’s a fair bit of discussion around social issues and inequities, but it is organically woven into the story, and the diverse cast of well-drawn characters offer a variety of viewpoints and experiences. Readers interested in many aspects of social justice may find themselves inspired by the story, which brings up serious and important topics even as it weaves a compelling tale.
An Author’s Note offers additional resources and information on menstruation and menstrual equity. Although author Joy McCullough is not, to the best of my knowledge, trans, she thanks author A. J. Sass, who is, for feedback on Will’s character. I’m glad to see cis authors getting inclusivity reads like this.
A recommended read of young activists finding their voices.
Eden and her family are White, but other characters are of various racial identities.
