Serena Says - Paperback

by Tanita S. Davis (Author)

Award-winning author Tanita S. Davis delivers a heartwarming and humorous middle grade tale about friendship, a young girl who finds her own voice through vlogging, and learns to speak out. Perfect for fans for Wendy Mass and Lisa Greenwald and now available in paperback.

JC shines like a 4th of July sparkler. She has the best ideas, the biggest, funniest laugh, and the party starts when she arrives. Serena St. John is proud to be known as her best friend.

Everything changes when JC returns from the hospital with a new kidney--and a new best friend. In this realistic coming-of-age story, Serena is suddenly out of the spotlight of JC's friendship, and things aren't quite so sparkly in her world.

Feeling lonely and dealing with relatable middle school drama, Serena works on perfecting her vlogs, hoping to earn a shot at becoming a classroom reporter. If she can be smart and funny on video, why can't she manage that in real life? If only she could always pause, edit, or delete conversations. It would be so much easier to say the right thing at the right time . . . instead of not saying what she should, or, even worse, blurting out a secret that wasn't hers to share.

Life doesn't have a pause button--but as Serena discovers her voice through vlogging, she learns that she's not just there to reflect JC's light--she's fully capable of shining on her own.

What happens when finding your own voice means risking your best friend?

• A Powerful Friendship Story: Serena and JC have been best friends forever. But when a kidney transplant changes everything, Serena has to figure out who she is without JC in the spotlight.
• Finding Your Voice Through Vlogging: On camera, Serena can be funny and smart. Now she has to find the courage to speak up in real life, even when it's scary.
• Navigating Sixth Grade: From classroom reporters to changing friend groups, this book perfectly captures the ups and downs of middle school life.
• Themes of Empathy and Self-Discovery: A funny, warm, and honest look at jealousy, growing up, and learning how to shine all on your own.