Smart Girls Don't Wear Mascara

This story was a surprise and an enjoyable read for many reasons.

Abby, the protagonist, was annoyingly confident and bossy. She bothered me so much that I wanted to see her put in her place. But as the story played out, it reminded me of what makes those middle-grade years so confusing. It took me on an emotional roller coaster that meant I changed my mind.

This wasn’t the standard ‘bully’ type situation but a genuine portrayal of what goes on in the schoolyard. There was no fairytale ending. Like life, Abby’s problems didn’t vanish. She learned how to… show more.