Meet Me Halfway

by Anika Fajardo

“A romp of a read!” —Rebecca Balcárcel, Pura Belpré Honor–winning author of The Other Half of Happy

When new classmates Mattie and Mercedes meet and realize they have the same Colombian dad, the two team up in a Parent Trap– inspired misadventure to meet him for the first time in this sharp and poignant middle grade novel about the bonds that make a family.

Mattie Gomez feels directionless after being uprooted from her beloved Minnesota and forced to move in with her new stepfamily in California. So when she meets a girl at her new middle school who looks exactly like her, she’s not sure what to make of it.

But her doppelganger, the popular Mercedes Miller, doesn’t like it one bit.

Mercedes is used to getting what she wants, when she wants; Mattie would rather be invisible and blend into the background. Mercedes lives in a big empty house with her nanny; Mattie’s new home is packed-to-the-gills, twenty-four/seven chaos. Mercedes has a short fuse; Mattie is a planner. Though they may look alike, the two of them couldn’t be more different.

Soon enough, however, Mattie and Mercedes learn that they have at least one thing in common: a dad from Colombia that neither of them has ever met. Determined to meet the father they’ve never known, these polar opposites suddenly have to work together to fake sleepovers, evade their friends, and plot daring escapes from school field trips in an effort to track down him down.

If only they could stop bickering long enough to get the show on the road.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Latinx, Family, Childrens, Kids, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2022

About the author

Anika Fajardo is an award-winning writer, who was born in Colombia and raised in Minnesota. Her debut novel, The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore, is forthcoming in 2025. She is also the author of Magical Realism for Non-Believers: A Memoir of Finding Family and two middle-grade novels, What If a Fish and Meet Me Halfway. She lives with her family in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when Mattie moves from Minnesota to California and meets Mercedes, a girl who looks a lot like her? Neither have met their father. Is it possible that they share the same father? The two team up determined to meet Franciso/Frank (the man who they believe to be their father) at a local university, introduce themselves and find out the truth.

[Infosifter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Me Halfway is a heartwarming, adventurous romp about sisterhood, blending families, and Colombian tradition. This story follows two sisters who reconnect with each other and their estranged father, while discovering more about themselves and their families. It features a ton of Colombian pride and culture and gives a look into the logistics of blending a family. If you love fun stories with plenty of heart, this is a perfect choice.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story.

[Patti Sabik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story similar to “Mixed Up Files…” and “Parent Trap.” Fun but a little slow in parts.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book felt mediocre at best, a disappointing note on which to finish my reads for the middle grade SCASL books. Fajardo stayed on the surface while hinting at deeper issues which left the attempted resolution to the why of parental abandonment haphazard and fluffy, not a real resolution. Also, a lot of the circumstances necessary for such a set up took far too much suspension of disbelief. Life just doesn't work that way.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Mattie moves from Minnesota to California after her mother remarries, she is surprised to see a girl in her class that looks just like her. It's an intriguing distraction from her new, boisterous family, but Mattie is just trying to keep her head down and survive. Mercedes is a popular girl, so it's hard to even talk to her, much less get to know her well. However, the two soon realize that they have the same father, who lives in Colombia, and with whom they have never been in contact. There are different reasons for this, and each girl has dealt with this abandonment in different ways. When they find out he is teaching at a university their class is visiting, the scheme to sneak out and find him so they can ask him questions about their past and see how he fits into their future.
Good Points
The interweaving of Latine culture in this is quite interesting; Mattie and Mercedes discover their connection in part because they are both named for the wives of famous writers. Mattie is short for Mathilde. Of course, it is a middle school dream to have a twin, and the fact that the girls look so similar to each other will be a massive part of the appeal of this book. The adventure in "running away" to look for their father will also be enticing, although the fact that they left a field trip for a bit and weren't missed for a while struck terror into my adult teacher heart!

I have been glad to see more stories about children navigating blended families lately, since this is something my own students frequently experience. While Mattie and Mercedes don't live together, they do explore their family connection in an interesting way, and the fact that they weren't in contact with their father adds another level of drama. While it's a different sort of family story, it has some similarities to Payne's The Thing Aboult Leftovers, Nielsen's We Are All Made of Molecules or Palmer's Love You Like a Sister.

[Amber Grell]

After her mom remarries, Mattie is uprooted from Minnesota and forced to move in with her stepfamily in California, the same town Mercedes has lived her whole life. In a Parent Trap-esq fashion, when opposites Mattie and Mercedes meet, they discover that not only are they half-sisters, but neither of them has ever met their Columbian father. After piling together what little each girl knows about him, they find him online and see he teaches at the college they have an upcoming class fieldtrip to, causing the unlikely pair to team up to finally meet the father they’ve never known.
I’m so glad to see another story about navigating blended families: Mattie with her new stepdad and stepbrothers, on top of the discovery of her half-sister; and Mercedes who is being raised by an in-home nanny because of her absentee mother. I loved the interwoven Columbian mythology that worked so well with a class project they were assigned, and I think it was essential to show how both girls wanted to learn so much more in general about their Columbian heritage.
Although I like that the two sisters have opposite personalities, they often came across a little two-dimensional and stock-like. A lot of the story focused on these opposite character traits, which limited both characters from ever feeling fully fleshed out. Additionally, the plot felt a bit repetitive, and the pacing was a bit too slow, often feeling a bit lagging.
Ultimately, though, it was a cute read with a nice story about the importance of all different kinds of families.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mattie’s mom remarries, she unhappily moves to California with her new step family only to discover that a previously unknown half-sister is already there. Neither Mattie nor Mercedes are happy with the situation, but the two girls are first paired together for a school project and as inevitable conversation ensues, they discover that each of them have key pieces to add to the almost non-existent knowledge of their dad. A big plan for meeting him follows and while some parts are satisfyingly predictable, readers in grades 4-7 are likely to be entertained by the girls’ adventure and will also learn a bit about astronomy and mythology along the way. Written in alternating perspectives, author Anika Fajardo firmly establishes two unique personalities linked together by more than just having a dad in common. Representation: step-families, absent parents, Latinx main characters as well as minor characters from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. No profanity, violence or sexual content. Recommended for collection with high circulation of books by writers such as Barbara O’Connor, Joan Bauer, and Lindsey Stoddard.

Thanks for the print arc to share among Twitter group #BookAllies, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising and enjoyable read. I didn't expect to be so moved by it! I think kids with blended families will enjoy it.

The plot of Meet Me Halfway was clearly inspired by "The Parent Trap" type family hijinks, and fellow readers, I was happy to be taken along for the ride. The first quarter of the book was a bit slow, but don't give up on my girls Mercedes and Mattie! Mattie is a bit hesitant and Mercedes is all about the spotlight which that dynamic has been done before, but after that initial hesitancy it was page-turning-how-is-this-going-to-turn-out action!

I particularly was taken in by the Colombian mythological stories that the girls learn on their journey to learning more about their dad. This read was perfectly timed after having read The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejia, and I was happy to add to my ever-expanding knowledge of Colombian folklore and mythology!

**SPOILER ALERT**
I have a half-sister that we know about because we were old enough to remember her birth, but she doesn't know about us because the relationship between her mom and my biological dad dissolved shortly after. So, the premise of the story is not unheard of. I wish our story had turned out so rosy.

[Mariana Ríos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mattie and Mercedes couldn't have more different personalities, but in the outside they look pretty much the same. How is that possible? In the beginning of the book, these two girls don't particularly like each other, but as the story progresses it turns out that they have more in common than they think. What's more, they decide to go on an exciting quest to find out more about their past, who they are, where they come from and how they are connected. By doing so, their unique bond strengthens as they develop a relationship with their father and their Colombian heritage.

"Meet Me Halfway" is a story about the love between two sisters connecting with their roots and wanting to find out who they are, where they come from and where they're going. It's an exciting adventure told by Mercedes' and Mattie's point of view, which makes it more interesting and engaging. The book is easy to read and understand and as you move along, flipping one page after the other, you can't help but to think about your personal story too.

[Terry Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The two girls are so different. Mattie is quiet, orderly, a scaredy-cat. Mercedes is brash, popular, messy, a great athlete. When Mattie moves to Mercedes school, and the two girls come face to face, they meet themselves, literally. They could be twins. Which is a mystery for a very short time, because it isn't long before the girls realize they have a long lost father who has had nothing to do with them all their lives. Did he abandon them, or was it their mothers who prevented Dad from contacting the girls?
The book is a little slow, but the girls don't disappoint. They have to figure out how they will cooperate and collaborate in their quest to find and meet their father. They have to recognize each other's strengths and rely on each other. They both have to stretch out of their comfort zone. In the end, they find meaning of family and friendship. And it may not be what either of them was expecting.

[K C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo is a touching tale of finding yourself, finding your people, and the unexpected surprises that happen in life. Mattie finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Growing up in Minnesota and arriving in California due to her mother's marriage brings a whole set of problems that Mattie wasn't prepared for. She's in 7th grade at a new school, she had to leave all she knew and her best friend, she has to learn to navigate in her new surroundings. The most surprising thing of all is that she finds herself in a classroom, looking at a mirror image of herself in the form of another student named Mercedes. Even though Mercedes looks like Mattie, there seem to be no other similarities between the two. One is outgoing, the other is shy. One likes to be the center of attention while the other is happy in the background. One is all about fashion and the other is all about comfort. This story is told by Mattie and Mercedes, chapter by chapter. The different perspectives and personalities of the girls shine through in each of their stories. It is a tale of rebelliousness and of great care. Together, Meet Me Halfway intertwines the story of two very different people coming together and finding out who they are, and what it means to be a part of a something special, no matter how different it could be for every person. Expertly written in two different perspectives, this story is engaging, fun to read and relatable to all middle grade readers.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Learning about the lives of others and ourselves. It's how we learn to be better humans. Through stories."
With all that is going on in our world, this line resonates with me.
Meet Me Halfway is a charcter-driven story of Mattie and Mercedes. They look identical but have never met. Even though they are very different, they have more in common than they want people to know, including a father that they've never met. Their common goal stretches them out of their comfort zones and helps them to learn about family and themselves along the way.
Anika Fajardo crafts the main characters well with their strengths and their flaws. I'm sure any reader will find a quality in one of the characters that they can relate to.
I greatly enjoyed another of her books and look forward to seeing what she will publish in the future.

This book was gifted from the author as part of Read Your World, which promotes diversity in literature.

[Shirley Freeman]

Mattie's mom has just married a wonderful man with two younger boys. Which means 12 year old Mattie has to leave all her friends and community to move from Minnesota to California. On top of that the school schedules don't jive, so Mattie has to start 7th grade a couple weeks late. On top of that, a girl in her new school, Mercedes, looks remarkably like her. Mattie likes to live under the radar and Mercedes likes the limelight... and doesn't like the fact that someone, who just might be her sister, has moved to town. When the two girls realize they have the same father, that neither of them have ever met him, and that he lives in Columbia but happens to be a visiting professor in a nearby town, things get a bit madcap. Fortunately, things work out and everybody grows up a bit along the way.

[Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mattie and her mother move to California from Minnesota as her mother is newly re-married. Mattie is trying to find her place in her new family and her new school, but she realizes that fellow classmate Mercedes looks like her. When they are put together to work on a class project, Mattie discovers that she and Mercedes have the same father, who lives and works in the jungles of Columbia, but he teaching for a semester at a near by college. So this leads them to concoct a plan to track him down and introduce themselves since they have never met. Aside form the "Parent Trap" coincidences this children novel looks at families and parent-child relationships in an honest way. Readers who experience step-families and abscent parents will relate to this story. Recommended for middle grade readers.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mattie is the new kid in her school and in her family. Her mother recently remarried and they’ve moved to California where she now has a new stepfather and 2 step brothers. When she enters her classroom, everyone is struck by how much she looks like popular student Mercedes. When they are assigned to work on a group project together, they soon come to the realization that they look alike because they have the same father who neither of them has ever met. When they find out he is a visiting professor at a nearby university, they hatch a plan to sneak out of their field trip to find their father. Their adventure on campus is funny and frustrating and along the way they learn what it means to be family.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Delightful family story with a Parent Trap start that turns out not to be twins but unknown half sisters. Love the mythology weaving throughout the story and the Colombian anthropologist father and the feel good ending. Reminds me of my year as an exchange student in Bogota. Has a bit of a Clap When You Land vibe as well. Only complaint is the print book has such a small font, more appropriate for YA or adult books than for MG. Had to buy the kindle version since my libraries didn’t have it in ebook format.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is somewhat like "The Parent Trap" except Mattie and Mercedes discover that they are half sisters. Their father is a famous anthropologist who lives and works in Columbia. The girls meet by chance when Mattie's mom remarries and they move to California. Mercedes and Mattie are in the same class. Trouble ensues when the girls discover about their shared father and find out that he is a visiting professor at a college near them.

I like how the story evolves in the book. Told in alternate voices, the author lets the story evolve. This book is a keeper.

[Stephen Rayson]

Similar to All You Knead is Love, it’s great to see another story with a complicated parent/home situation. The hijinks they pull keeping things from their parents while they investigate their mutual Columbian father are fun, and could be a way to entice potential readers. It’s also got someone acclimating to a new school, so fans of New Kid might be able to be persuaded. It’s often about finding an ‘in’ to get a kid to try a book, so having something to hook them is super helpful. This would be a fine independent reading book for grades 4-8.

[Rebecca Balcárcel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romp of a read! When the dorky new girl bears an uncanny resemblance to the hair-flipping queen of the class, all eyebrows go up. But when these girls plan a secret mission to find their father, they start an adventure that feels like a high-speed car chase -- even if the gears grind. Fajardo tells this story in two perspectives and layers in themes about the power of myth, the legacy of separation, and the uncuttable threads of love.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you more of a Mattie or more of a Mercedes? Two girls discover that they are half-sisters and work together to find the mysterious father that neither has met. On the way they discover what having (and being) a sister is all about. This charming book is filled with Parent-Trap hijinx, lovable characters, and even Colombian mythology.

[Karlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for a classroom library or to wrap up and give to someone this Christmas. If you liked the move Parent Trap, you'll love this modern-day twist. Twists and turns and relatable characters.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great middle grades read about two girls who discover they are half sisters and their adventure to find their dad. I had flashbacks to the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler (which the author nods to in her acknowledgement). Wonderful story.

[Katie Seehusen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mattie and Mercedes meet when Mattie is a new student at school. They look so alike that everyone is talking about it, but their personalities couldn’t be more different. They soon realize that they have the same father, but neither one of them has met him. They never knew about each other either. Now they both want answers.

I enjoyed both characters and how they each had family issues they were dealing with. They could each learn from each other and learn to appreciate what was good in their lives.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern parent trap. Family focused story with the addition of Columbian myth.

[Elizabeth]

This one didn’t capture my attention as much as I would’ve liked.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this beautiful big family allowed each member to be themself, or follow their compass, without resentment. This was a fabulous story.

[Puterica · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a heartwarming story about sisterhood and family, and it talks about Colombian myths too! glad to find & read this book🤍

[Season Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Long-lost sisters go on an adventure and learn what it means to be sisters. Didn’t expect it to turn out like it did. Great story!