Published: 2024
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary, LGBT, Friendship, Social Justice
Audience: Middle Grade
Triggers: Health Issues, Medical Trauma, Family Conflict, Death, Medical Procedures
Summary: Ever since a career-ending injury, former elite gymnast Eden has been feeling lost. To add insult to actual injury, her mom has been invited to present at her middle school’s career day, which would be fine except Mom’s company produces period products like pads and tampons. Having the whole school hear about it is total humiliation. And when Eden gets into a fight with a boy who won’t stop mocking her for it, she and her classmate Maribel both end up getting suspended.
Mom’s corporate executive job means she doesn’t have time to look after Eden while she’s suspended, so Eden is sent to volunteer at the food bank Maribel’s mom runs. There, she meets new friends who open her eyes to period poverty, the struggle that low-income people with periods have trying to afford menstrual products. Eden even meets a boy who gets periods. Witnessing how people fight for fair treatment inspires Eden to join the advocacy work.
But sewing pads to donate and pushing for free access to period products puts Eden at odds with her mom. Even so, Eden’s determined to hold onto the one thing that’s ignited her passion and drive since gymnastics. Can she stand her ground and make a real difference?
Review: I really appreciate the author tackling so many important topics for middle school kids in an accessible way. Eden is a relatable character and readers are able to learn about important issues that may be unfamiliar to them (period poverty, transgender discrimination) through her experiences in the book. The characters and plot overall also just normalize periods and everything related to them, which shouldn’t be groundbreaking but I feel like it still is in some cases! I imagine that any young readers who are anxious about getting first periods and/or are new to getting periods will feel comforted reading about the experiences of Eden and her friends. Some may even feel inspired to get more involved in local activism related to this issue OR any other issue they are passionate about!