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INTERMEDIATE FICTION
Swender, Jennifer

Stuck

144 pp. | Crown | November, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-101-93294-0 $16.99 | Library ISBN 978-1-101-93295-7 $19.99 | Ebook ISBN 978-1-101-93296-4 $9.99
(2) 4-6 Fourth grader Austin, who has dyslexia, is used to starting at new schools, due to his single mother's frequent moves, but his first day at this one is a surprise. His teacher, Ms. G., is especially welcoming; he doesn't have to do the dreaded "introduction" for his classmates; and he's immediately taken under the wing of the extremely talkative Bertie. Austin tentatively reciprocates her friendship but remains concerned that his mother will decide to relocate at any moment, especially if the school takes note of his learning difficulties. As he settles in, Austin hopes to become a Safety, one of the yellow-vested fifth graders who act as crossing guards and hallway monitors--but first he has to pass the Safety test, which requires him to do some reading. The characters drive this story more than the plot does. Austin is a fully realized protagonist, and Swender gives readers many paths into his thoughts--his conversations with his phone's voice-activated assistant, his discovery of Bridge to Terabithia, his tendency to identify colors by the exact names of the crayons in his box. The story will appeal to fans of quiet books who appreciate moments of growth and realistically happy endings.
Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

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