Not Your All-American Girl

by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, Madelyn Rosenberg

A multicultural story full of heart and hilarity about what it means to be all-American.
Lauren and her best friend, Tara, have always done absolutely everything together. So when they don't have any classes together in sixth grade, it's disastrous. The solution? Trying out for the school play. Lauren, who loves to sing, wonders if maybe, just maybe, she will be the star instead of Tara this time.

But when the show is cast, Lauren lands in the ensemble, while Tara scores the lead role. Their teacher explains: Lauren just doesn't look the part of the all-American girl. What audience would believe that she, half-Jewish, half-Chinese Lauren, was the everygirl star from Pleasant Valley, USA?

From amidst the ensemble, Lauren tries to support her best friend. But when she can't bring herself to sing anymore, her spot in the play and her friendship are in jeopardy. With the help of a button-making business, the music of Patsy Cline, and her two bickering grandmothers, can Lauren find her voice again?

Acclaimed coauthors Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang return to the 1980s world of Sydney Taylor Honor Book This Is Just a Test with this laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Jewish, Audiobook, Historical, Childrens

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2020

About the author

My parents, who grew up in China, had no favorite books from their childhood to share with me, which left me to my own devices in the library. When I mentioned this to a friend, she was a bit stunned, and I understood this reaction. I certainly never felt deprived as a child, but as a parent, it's hard to imagine not having that link.

My own book is about finding the stories we discover about our families and how we are changed by them. I hope my book inspires its readers to find the powerful stories, both great and small, in their own families.

Reviews

[Nev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite having the best audition for the middle school musical, Lauren isn’t chosen for the lead. Her teacher explains that the audience wouldn’t believe her as an “all-American girl” because she’s half Chinese and half Jewish. This puts a lot of strain on Lauren’s friendship with Tara, who is chosen for the lead, as she doesn’t truly see the racism and microaggressions that Lauren faces.

I thought this was a great Middle Grade book and it was interesting to see it set in the 1980s. I cringed when Lauren and her friends went to see Sixteen Candles because of the horribly racist character Long Duk Dong. Having to read about her dealing with people’s reaction to that character was heartbreaking.

I really enjoyed how family was a large aspect of this book. Lauren’s grandmothers were larger than life characters that were really fun to read about. It was great to watch Lauren open up to her family and stand up for herself at school.

In the beginning of the book I wasn't really a fan of having to read a bunch about the plot of the musical and the songs they were singing. I felt like it didn’t add much to the story. Later on they do become integrated into the main plot of the book in a way that I think was more effective.

Overall I think this is a really charming Middle Grade book that explores some topics and identities that I haven’t seen much before in this age category.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five hula-hooping stars to this companion novel to "This Is Just a Test." This time little sister Rachel is the star of the story. She and her BFF Tara have decided to try out for the school musical, "Shake It Up," an all-American tale featuring hula hooping and Elvis Presley. Rachel's audition is stellar, but the director does not even give her a callback for the lead. Tara does even though her audition was good but not great. When the director explains to Rachel and Tara the reasons behind her decision we begin to see the racism lurking under the surface. Until then, Rachel and Tara have been "the Royal we," but the play will begin to put a strain on their friendship. With the help of her Chinese and Jewish grandmothers (their dialogue is hilarious) as well as big brother David and his best friend Hector; Rachel learns more about loving her heritage and being a good friend. The hula hooping scenes are also brilliant. Loved the scene where the school custodian showed off his skills and had four hoops going at the same time. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Scholastic Press and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the December 2020 NEA Read Across America pick for the theme of Identity and what a pick! I can definitely see pushing this toward kids who love music and theater, specifically grades 4-6.


** I have to admit at first I was skeptical about it being set in 1984 but it was done in such a natural way that it read pretty contemporary. Why skeptical? Well, just because I don’t love reading almost any kind of fiction set between 1950 and 2010 right now - personal preference 🤷🏼‍♀️ BUT that didn’t detract at all from the story for me and I was sucked into it

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to 1984. Lauren Horowitz and Tara Buchanan have always been best friends and lucky enough to be in the same class. But now they are in middle school and the only period they share is lunch. So Tara gets the idea that they should both audition for the school musical Shake It Up, set in 1958 and involving lots of hula-hooping. And although they both want to play the part of lead, Brenda Sue Parker, it goes to Tara. Why? Because Tara is the picture of an all-American girl - reddish brown hair, blue eye, milky skin and a dusting of freckles across her nose. And despite giving a better audition than Tara, Lauren, who is Jewish and Chinese, has dark eyes, dark straight hair and no freckles, ends up in the ensemble. Or as Mrs. Tyndall, the play's director, explains it: "When people see [Tara], they won't have a hard time imagining she's an all american girl from Pleasant Valley." (pg 24)

After breaking the news to her family - dad, mom, brother David, and her two grandmothers - Lauren discovers what she thinks is a kindred soul on the radio, and decides to call the DJ, Nashville Nick, to find out who the singer is. When he tells her it's Patsy Cline, Lauren immediately thinks Klein, believing her to be a Jewish country western singer whose music about loneliness and longing she instantly connects to.

As rehearsals get underway, Lauren and Tara begin to drift away from each other. And as Lauren spends more time sitting with the other kids in the ensemble and getting to know them, she finds herself liking their company. Lauren is even doing things separate and apart from Tara. Like the singing gig her grandmother got for her at the mall and starting a button business with her button-making machine.

But when her mother announces that she has decided to go to law school, Lauren learns one of the reasons motivating her is the murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American, who was beaten to death by auto workers mistakenly believing he was Japanese and blaming him for the loss of auto jobs in Detroit. Vincent Chin becomes "like a ghost in my head, darting in and out." (pg.106) Thinking about Vincent together with the realization that she is not Mrs. Tyndall's idea of an all-American girl, causes Lauren to question just the idea of what, exactly, is an all-American. And she promptly discovers that she can no sing because it no longer makes her happy.

Will Lauren ever be able to find her voice again and speak out about the insults and the macro- and microaggressions she experiences, even from her so-called best friend Tara?

Let me begin by saying that this is a sequel to This Is Not A Test a story that focuses on Lauren's brother David and which I did not read (but which is now on my TBR list), so I can say unequivocally that Not Your All-American Girl is a great stand alone novel.

I was in college when this story takes place so I really enjoyed all the cultural references and details about daily life at the time (including the allusion to the very popular Jane Fonda workout video and leg warmers), and I am also a big Patsy Cline fan. Interestingly, I haven't watched Pretty in Pink since the 1980s and had completely forgotten about the racist references to Long Duk Dong. I can't blame Lauren for her reaction to the kid making fun of her after the movie.

I liked that Lauren had the support of her family no matter what, especially her trivia-loving brother. Both grandmothers, one Jewish, one Chinese, were very competitive where Lauren was concerned, and they both offered lots of good humor throughout the story, which it sometimes needed. I am glad the story didn't focus on what was happening on the stage as much as behind the scenes where the real and more important action was taking place. Interestingly, for all this is a story about being seen for who you are, Mrs. Tyndall never really came together in my mind, but her preconceived notions of what an all-American looks like certainly did.

Not Your All-American Girl is an serious exploration of one girl's awakening regarding friendship, race, and identity with some fun subplots readers will definitely find amusing.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was an ARC received from the publisher, Scholastic

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This MG book struck a huge chord for me when reading it today because even though this novel is set in the 1980s, it could easily have happened today. Lauren Horowitz is a Chinese-Jewish girl with an incredible voice, but when her brown hair-blue eyed BFF is chosen for the lead in the school musical over her, Lauren is told it’s because she’s not All-American looking enough for the part. Microaggressions plague Lauren throughout the book, causing her to stand up for herself and realize who her true friends are. Comments made towards Lauren in the book still happen today, 40 years later. It’s not okay and I think novels like this will help people realize how hurtful their comments can be. I loved this book. Thank you Edelweiss for providing an ARC to this follow up of This Is Just A Test. You don’t have to read the first one to enjoy this one.

[eespencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally different, in a awesome way! This book definitely deserves five stars!!!!!!!!!

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren tries out for a musical, Shake It Up. Even though everyone agreed she did an amazing job, the lead role of Brenda Sue goes to Lauren's best friend, Tara. Mrs. Tyndall, the drama teacher leading the musical, didn't pick Lauren because she didn't look like a typical person who would live in Pleasant Valley, the town the show was set in. Tara, on the other hand, was blond-haired and blue-eyed. "When people see her, they won't have a hard time imaging her as an All-American girl from Pleasant Valley." True to the theme "Shake it Up" the ensemble (where Lauren was cast) changed up lyrics for the final number, and showed that people from many different backgrounds can live in an "All-American town. Another interesting element was that Lauren created a button business, featuring cute, but also serious messages, such as making people aware of the death of Vincent Chin (a real man who was beaten to death because he was Asian American. This story was about speaking up, which is something we all should try to do, when there is injustice.

This book is also available as a digital audiobook, through Hoopla.

Reviewed by: Lisa Coleman, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. It’s about a Chinese Jewish American girl who despite having the best auditions, does not get cast in her school’s play because she’s told she “does not look like an All-American girl”. Her best friend gets cast as the lead instead, and has a frustrating cluelessness to why it’s a problem.

The book has a slow and natural feel to it, especially in the main character’s racial awareness, identification, and politics are growing and changing over time. There’s not one lesson, there’s a lot of growth for her over time.

A few side stories happen concurrently with the main story, and they give the book a warmth, and make the story feel complete. I loved the homage to Patsy Cline, and the two bickering grandmas who have different ways of raising the kids, but also fierce love and protection for them.

I was surprised that the book talked so honestly about Vincent Chin’s murder, and its disregard by the police and courts. I loved the way that it led the characters in the book to challenge injustice and to question the systems that uphold them. I was not expecting it to be contained in a book for middle-schoolers, and am appreciative that it is.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The thing about questions is, at some point you have to start thinking about the answers.” In this fun MG novel friendships are questioned, social hierarchies and race relations are examined and Lauren has to decide where she fits in. What happens when her drama teacher explains that she doesn’t fit the part of the all-American girl? What audience could possibly see a half Jewish, half Chinese girl as a girl from Pleasant Valley, USA? With the help of her two bickering grandmothers, family, close friends and Patsy Cline, Lauren finds her voice and learns what it means to be all-American.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's cover and description bill it as a light, fun read full of "hilarity," and that was definitely my experience with This Is Just a Test, the authors' previous book. This is about that character's younger sister, and even though the description made it clear that the plot revolved a teacher's unjust, racially motivated casting decision in a school play, I expected this to have a similar tone and be similarly enjoyable to the other book.

That was not my experience at all. I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read it while in a different mental state, but since I picked this up with the hope of a fun escape from real life stresses, the heavy focus on racism, injustice, and painful friendship problems was more than I was prepared to deal with. The authors handle the issues well, with great nuance and insight, but I spent a lot of this book feeling sick to my stomach, anxious, and angry. Even though the issues in this book should make a reader angry, this book wasn't billed as a problem novel, so I wasn't mentally prepared for hard topics and injustice to permeate the whole story.

This book has some laugh-out-loud moments, but overall, it is a much heavier read than the cover and basic description imply, and may warrant parental conversations with younger readers to help them process the racial injustices that the story involves. In addition to the main character dealing with racism and racially insensitive slights, the story also recounts the details of a real-life hate crime that ended in a Chinese man's death. This will blindside and upset many sensitive readers of different races, and even though I don't expect the book to include a trigger warning, I wish that the cover, jacket description, and overall marketing approach warned people in advance that this book will be heavy at times, instead of just making it look colorful, upbeat, and fun.

This story was very different from the previous book in content and tone, and I also think that it is a less satisfying story. The plot jumps around a lot, with some threads that are dropped and never fully resolved, and the character arc did not satisfy me as much this time around. I can definitely see why this is published as a companion novel, rather than a series continuation, because it is a very different book. I would still recommend this to someone who is interested in the unique character of a Chinese-Jewish girl, but would never suggest this to someone without also giving them a sense of how serious and upsetting the book is at times.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren tries out for a musical, Shake It Up. Even though everyone agreed she did an amazing job, the lead role of Brenda Sue goes to Lauren's best friend, Tara. Mrs. Tyndall, the drama teacher leading the musical, didn't pick Lauren because she didn't look like a typical person who would live in Pleasant Valley, the town the show was set in. Tara, on the other hand, was blond-haired and blue-eyed. "When people see her, they won't have a hard time imaging her as an All-American girl from Pleasant Valley." True to the theme "Shake it Up" the ensemble (where Lauren was cast) changed up lyrics for the final number, and showed that people from many different backgrounds can live in an "All-American town. Another interesting element was that Lauren created a button business, featuring cute, but also serious messages, such as making people aware of the death of Vincent Chin (a real man who was beaten to death because he was Asian American. This story was about speaking up, which is something we all should try to do, when there is injustice.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

She said: Tara looks like she's from Pleasant Valley.

She meant: You look like you're from someplace else. Someplace that isn't Pleasant Valley. Someplace that isn't even in the United States.

4.5 stars!

Sometimes when I read middle grade books, I say that I would have really loved the book if I was younger, and that it would have been great for me to read it when I was actually the age of the target audience. This is a rare exception where this book has resonated with me even in my twenties.

Lauren is an all-American girl - even if she, being half-Chinese and half-Jewish - doesn't "look" it. She loves to sing, so she and her best friend Tara try out for their school's musical. Although everyone agrees Lauren had by far the best audition, she is relegated to a role in the ensemble and Tara gets the lead role because according to the director, Mrs. Tyndall, Tara looks like an all-American girl, and Lauren simply doesn't, and it wouldn't be believable for the audience to see Lauren in the lead role. Lauren is disheartened, especially because she knows she is a better singer than Tara, and for once she was hoping to take the lead in something because Tara seems to get everything, leaving Lauren to feel like a side dish. Lauren begins to struggle with her love of singing and starts to feel like singing isn't for her, because her trivia-loving brother can't think of any musicals with Asian female main characters, and because she keeps hearing that she doesn't look the part of a star. She also struggles with her feelings towards Tara, between being best friends but also hating her for having everything handed to her, and feeling like Tara doesn't really care about her anymore. Lauren starts trying to carve out her own sense of self while also bonding with the other kids in the ensemble.

I really related to this book a lot as a Korean and Jewish theatre kid. Luckily, I was always in places that prioritized skill (or at least seniority) over looks, so in some cases I actually had lines describing white and blonde characters changed to reflect my Asian-ness and my black hair (and also it was the 2010s, not the 1980s). But I really understood Lauren's difficulties finding a musical where we're represented as the leads (and not in a racist way) and honestly, that's still a struggle. Even I gave up acting in college because of the feeling that there was never going to be enough work for an Asian actress in theatre. (Statistics about the race of actors on Broadway confirm this.)

I also understood a lot of the pain Lauren experienced dealing with friends who begin to show their racism in subtle ways. The most hurtful scene in the book is after the girls in the musical go see Sixteen Candles in the theater and Lauren is deeply upset at the way Long Duk Dong is treated and how everyone laughs at him. After the movie, a child, emboldened by the racist caricature, screams "Donger" at Lauren and Lauren confronts the child and his racist father who both claim the kid was making a joke. Even Lauren's cast friends try to tell her it was a joke, except for Hallelujah - one of four black girls in their school, as she describes herself - who tells them plainly that she knew it wasn't a joke from the look on the kid's face, because she could recognize it too. I loved this scene because it took a moment that really caused me great pain as a reader - because I've been in Lauren's shoes before, and I really appreciated Shang and Rosenberg showing this moment because it was very real for me and I think other people don't always fully understand how harmful it is to only see yourself in racist caricature - and turned it into a moment that gave me great comfort - the solidarity between Hallelujah and Lauren, and the knowledge that they both know what happened was not a joke but an act of racism - and in no way did this moment feel preachy or pandering. I don't think many adult books can carry off a scene like that so well.

Something else I really liked about thus book was the relationships between characters, and that conflicts between them were resolved through talking. Lauren is distressed at the prospect of her mother going to law school to because already her job as a paralegal takes her away from the family home and Lauren feels like her mom isn't there for her enough. But later, after the movie theater incident, Lauren's mom explains that she wants to be a lawyer because of Lauren and her brother, and they talk about the murder of Vincent Chin, and the fact that there was no justice for him. Lauren then understands her mother better and begins to support her decision to pursue law school. Lauren and Tara's relationship is also on the rocks, but eventually they too have a heart-to-heart about why Lauren has felt like Tara has been abandoning her and valuing their relationship less. Tara in turn tells Lauren that she has always admired her - something Lauren didn't know. They rebuild their friendship with a better understanding of one another, overcoming their hardships, and even deciding to secretly change the musical's ending number to give the ensemble the spotlight and small solos.

My favorite dynamic though was between Wai Po and Safta, Lauren's grandmothers, who snip at each other but support and love their family and Lauren very much. They're best friend goals if you ask me.

I felt like the ending seemed a little sudden, and I think that the 80s references to set the time period were a little too weak at first. I realized that this wasn't contemporary soon enough, but I'm not sure if a younger reader who by now probably knows very little about the 80s would pick up on it immediately. The cultural references to set the time period only work if you actually know they're there, after all. Even so, a fantastic book!

[Julianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. When Lauren doesn't get the lead in the school musical, because she doesn't look "all american" she starts to lose her passion for singing. Lauren has to struggle with her identity and how there are no Chinese Jewish girls represented in film, plays or anywhere. Set in the 80's the story does a great job of dealing with the need for representation, microaggressions and straight up racism. With a touch of 80's tude and style. Although Lauren struggles with her feelings and others attitudes (her theater teacher never understands it) you never feel like she is a victim, she begins to feel empowered and starts to take control.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy of this at the North Texas Teen Book Festival. I finally worked my way down my to-be-read pile and read it. I knew it was going to be good because my students told me so.

My students were right. It addresses identity issues, stereotypes, and racism in a really subtle way. It also depicts what can happen when a person chooses to hide their light in order to keep others happy in their preconceptions.

I loved the book and I'm considering it for a book study later with students.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had been on my radar for a little while because of the Jewish rep, but I got the audiobook from the library today almost on a whim to have something to listen to while cleaning my room, and I'm so glad I did. It was fantastic! It doesn't shy away from difficult subjects such as the everyday racism Lauren faces or confronting friends about hurtful behavior, but the authors handle everything masterfully so that none of it feels too heavy for a middle grade. Highly recommended!

CW: racism, description of past hate crime murder

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place in the 1980's, but unfortunately things have not changed much since then. Lauren is part Chinese and part Jewish. She is passed over for the lead in the school play because the director does not feel that she looks like an "All American girl". Her best friend gets the lead which then leads to tensions in their friendship. A really fun book that raises important issues.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for @litreviewcrew

I loved this book and I think middle grade readers will too! It deals with racism and finding your identity in a unique way. The characters are dynamic and relatable, even as they fit into the typical tropes associated with this genre. Available in July!

[SamSamSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, quirky story that I enjoyed, but it didn't leave a strong impression. This title deals with very similar themes to Waka T. Brown's Dream, Annie, Dream, and I personally found Brown's novel to be more hard-hitting and engrossing.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to help kids understand microaggressions. A few incidences made me wince a bit, remembering being part of something similar. Hoping I've learned enough to be better now in similar circumstances.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t really know how to start this review. Overall I liked this book, it’s messages where good, and had a nice plot. Some parts seemed a little unrealistic, but I wasn’t around in the ‘80 so I don’t really know.

I rated it 4 stars because it wasn’t a perfect book but I still enjoyed it. :)

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Scholastic Press through Edelweiss Plus.
Who is the All-American girl? How do we feed stereotypes and break them down?
Lauren is an American girl who also happens to be Chinese and Jewish. She's also the most talented singer at their school but does not get the musical's lead because she doesn't look "all-American" to the director. Her best friend gets the role so readers see friendship concerns come into play as well.
Throughout the book, readers see Lauren wrestle with who she is and where she belongs. They will relate to the relationship and bias challenges she faces.
Character development is essential to watching this book unfold. Lauren's two grandmothers are delightful characters that steal scenes throughout the book. Her brother steps up and becomes more than an irritating older brother. Readers see how much he pays attention and how much he cares. Their parents also offer support. The Ensemble cast figures out how to be a team and celebrate their differences that make them unique and yet connected as one unit in the musical. Lauren and her friend, Tara, figure out how each of them needs to listen and share with the other. Unfortunately, the only character that does not change is the teacher who serves as the musical director. Her attitude stays the same and offers a glimpse of how some people will refuse to change their biases no matter what. However, the author leaves a glimmer of hope at the end of the novel.
Looking forward to sharing this one.

[Lupetele *inactive* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read. It includes all of the trials of racism, friendship, and buttons! I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading friendship drama.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love when Lauren and Tara had a fight or sort of misunderstanding rather, it didn't feel black and white. Because I find myself in Lauren's situation sometimes–feeling like you should be happy but something's not right. But then again, they're kids and they're bound to have mistakes and misunderstandings. Although, I'd like to point out that I didn't like how Tara was acting like she cares about Lauren when Lauren chose Vincent Chin for her oratory. It's because she doesn't know anything and that could've gotten very political but also realistic so I can't say I hated that part.
I think what I liked the most about the book was Lauren's supportive and protective grandmas- Safta and Wai Po who are also hilarious. And that Lauren tries to embrace both her Chinese and Jewish side despite struggling.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music, friendship, and the definition of “American” are humorously and realistically explored in this companion to Rosenberg and Shang’s This Is Just a Test (2017).

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Your All-American Girl is a second book told from the perspective, or POV, of Lauren, a 12-year-old girl who's half-Chinese, half-Jewish. I reviewed the first book, This is Just a Test, a while ago. It was told from her older brother David's POV and we loved it! We dubbed it the "warring grandmothers" book, as it had us quoting lines and laughing out loud over the dinner table as we quoted lines from it.

This time, the grandmas are there, but they've lost a bit of their mojo. There are still funny scenes, like when one more-or-less admits she selectively doesn't hear the other when it comes time to fold laundry, or when one accidentally-on-purpose bumps her purse into the other's rear end. So there were some LOL moments, but this is really more Lauren's story.

Lauren chafes under the shadow of her joined-at-the-hip best (white) friend, Tara. They're so joined, they've developed a "Royal We" response. Which was fine, until middle school. Now, Lauren notices that everything Tara does, she excels at, even when she's not necessarily the "best" at whatever she's trying out for. Including the audition for the school's production of its next hula-hooping musical sensation, Shake It Up, written and casted by the school's drama teacher.

Despite nailing the audition, and having a voice an angel would die for, Lauren doesn't get a solo role. She's placed in the chorus, while Tara with her less-than-stellar voice and choreography gets the lead role. Worse, the drama teacher explains it's because Tara looks the part, with her blonde ponytail and blue eyes. Tara is what the audience expects in an All-American girl. Lauren, with her Chinese eyes and long black hair, is not.

Which we know is hogwash, but this is the 80s, and having lived through it, yes, this kind of thinking was very much in place at the time. It was hard to get noticed with brown hair, much less black. Blonde was very…"in."

Lauren starts her own button business (it was an 80s thing!), and Tara inadvertently takes it over by trying to be supportive and having her mom, who's running for an elected office, place a large order for buttons.

I won't spoil how it ends, or exactly how the girls subvert the era's prevailing attitude of exclusivity into an inclusive song and dance number. You'll have to read it to figure that out.

But it was a lot of fun and I rooted for Lauren and Tara the whole way! Enjoy.

Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?

Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Not Your All-American Girl, Lauren and her best friend, Tara, have always done everything together, forming the "Royal We". When 6th grade comes around and they only have one class together, they agree to try out for the school musical to spend time together. Lauren, who loves to sing, really hopes she can get the lead role. But when the show is casted, Lauren lands in the ensemble and Tara gets the lead. When they ask their teacher why, she explains that Lauren, who's half-Jewish, half-Chinese, "just doesn't look like the part of an All-American girl". As practice for the musical begin, Lauren struggles with trying to be supportive of her best friend, but she can't even bring herself to sign anymore. With the help of a button-making business, the music of Patsy Cline, and her two grandmothers, Lauren tries to find her voice again.

“The thing about questions is, at some point you have to start thinking about the answers.”

This novel is adorable and I read it in one Saturday afternoon. My favorite dynamic is the two grandmothers and that, despite their cultural differences and nearly almost constant bickering, they always hang out to help raise their grandchildren.

I felt for Lauren and what she had to go through. Even though she was the best singer who auditioned, she didn't get the part because it "might confuse the audience" because, "she didn't look like the typical All-American girl" according to her teacher. That teacher was so stubborn and rude and sometimes when Lauren would question her I wanted to pat Lauren on the back and tell her to keep going! I'm so proud of her for what she says to the teacher at the very end of the story. I'm annoyed that the teacher was never addressed for what she had said and did - I get that it's set in the 1980's, but still...

The only other thing that I didn't quite like about the novel is it did take me a few chapters before I understood when the novel was taking place. Maybe if I knew about the book that came before this (This Is Just a Test - where it focuses on Lauren's brother, David) I might have known the time era. I was guessing either the 80's or 90's due to the lack of phones and internet usage. Having to wait until Chapter 12 to find out, messed up the settings in my head a slight bit.

Other than that the novel was cute and adorable with a strong, independent, young girl who's figuring out her place in the world.

[✨Daphne Carrington✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. Ok.

AS I USUALLY SAY: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Girl what the hell? No offense to the authors, but DAMN. WHAT TYPE OF BOOK IS THIS? I have to say: This is the worst book I have read for school this whole year. My teacher made us read this and GOD. When I finished this book, I wanted to erase my own memory.

I’m usually the type of book reviewer who doesn’t give a crap how bad the book is, I’ll still give the book a decent review highlighting the good parts. But to this book:

I’ll make an exception.

This book is a TRASH HEAP. The problem isn’t the writing style or even basic character background and development. It’s just the WHOLE BOOK. Sure, the inclusive stuff at the end with all the “If we give solos to everyone and include the ensemble, EVERYTHING will be fine!” is good and shows Tara exhibiting a genuine feeling for those in the ensemble, but the rest of the book with Lauren and Tara just putting a band-aid on their problems and returning to the Royal We (which is stupid by itself) is complete TRASH!

Lauren and Tara have SUCH a toxic friendship, I cannot stress it enough. They literally have fights over the stupidest stuff ever, and it’s mostly LAUREN’S FREAKING FAULT.

What is even happening with Lauren? Sure, she is a teenage girl and she needs people to respect her and her feelings. BUT GOD DAMN! WHAT THE HECK IS THIS GIRL DOING? She is so annoying and sarcastic and mean and fake and if I was going to school with her, I would be so deeply aggravated with her constantly. LIKE BRO IS NOT MAKING THE SITUATION BETWEEN HER AND TARA BETTER BY BEING SO CONSISTENTLY HORRIBLE AND SARCASTIC ABOUT THINGS TARA DID NOT EVEN MEAN.

Anyways, this wasn’t a great book. Had to get it out there.

To whoever read all the way down to here: Thank you so much!!!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few pages in for me to realize this is technically historical fiction. Before it was confirmed for me that this was historical fiction, the clues were there. M*A*S*H was referenced, which made me happy. Tubular was used by the character once. The 50s and 60s were talked in away that they were closer to the characters then how would refer to them now. It was also in the way race was mentioned as well, which surprised me and made me think "When and where are we?" As far as I could tell, the book jacket did not mention a year and my library did not put a historical fiction sticker on it.

Points of Note
I love Lauren's grandmothers! They were some of the best characters in the book.

This was the first time in my life that red-brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin is deemed as the quintessential All-American Girl. Usually, I see people refer to blond hair, blue-eye, pale skin cheerleader types as the All-American Girl, which does not make a lot of sense why that is the case from a logical standpoint. The blond hair, blue-eye, pale skin is not unique to America. I mean that combination reminds of what I think of a Scandinavian or maybe a Viking. If someone thinks an All-American should be based on looks then that person could look like anyone, because Americans all look different and they are still Americans.

As far as I could tell, I do not think it was ever explained if Lauren's mother converted to Judaism or was she always Jewish.

Verdict: I thought this was a good, thought-provoking story.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited about the book my kid got this month’s book from @pjlibrary that I took it from her and read it before she even knew it was here. (I know this sounds sneaky but she always gives away the endings!) It was exactly what I needed to read this weekend. Passover is less than a week away and Jews around the world are preparing to retell the story of our struggle against an oppressive government. This is our annual reminder of where we came from so we can hold this truth tight in our hearts, less we forget our roots. Our ancestors stopped at nothing to bring about liberation and we can’t either. When we see the lives of six Asian American women taken because of systemic, racial oppression, it is OUR WORK to draw from this historical truth to bring about liberation today. Enter this book: a story of a half Jewish half Chinese middle school girl facing all of the microaggressions and internalized racism from her classmates and teachers in the 1980s. (Oh, yes. From her teachers. Sometimes it hurts when a book holds a mirror up and asks us to be accountable for our actions.) What I really love is this authenticity that comes from this being an #ownvoices book. The co-writers, @madelynrosenbergwrites and Wendy Wan-Long Shang bring their own experiences into Lauren's exploration of her identity and where she fits in the world. This story so clearly describes the hurdles that AAPI people face even at the age of 12. From Chinese caricatures in movies to unjustified hate crimes that go unpunished. It's all in this magnificent book about a truly All-American girl.