Last Year With Maddy by Anna Rosner

What worked:

The story is told from Aviva’s first-person point of view, and she reflects on happy and troubled times with her best friend, Maddy. Aviva desperately laments about not speaking to Maddy anymore and hints at the reason. Readers will imagine what might have happened to keep best friends apart. The narrative is written using a middle-grade voice, including Aviva’s love for italics, capital letters, and poetry. Readers will understand her difficulties when she describes troubled moments, and these segments are offset by happier times together. The book’s purpose is presented as Aviva’s message to Maddy, and two pages at the end share Maddy response.

Midway into the book, the plot shifts to Aviva’s three-year-old brother. Unfortunately, serious childhood health issues aren’t uncommon, and Ethan’s development is delayed. He only says a couple of words, and he refuses to toilet train. A doctor diagnoses a physical problem, and the family hopes that surgery will make things better. However, they learn that Ethan is on the autistic spectrum, so he’s going to need to go through many different therapies to improve his deficiencies. The author shares a great deal of information and explanations about autism, and young readers will learn autistic people are different, not less.

What didn’t work as well:

Aviva states that she always says the wrong thing, but readers may disagree. She catches herself from saying things she shouldn’t, and her slip-ups don’t seem that offensive. Her worst comments arise when she’s angered, so readers can understand and forgive her for them. One of Aviva’s positive qualities is her empathy for others, and young readers can learn from her good example.

The final verdict:

The author shares an emotional tale of two close friends and the ups and downs they must navigate. Aviva acts as the narrator, so young readers can experience her rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings. I recommend this book for all middle-grade readers.