Serena Says
By Tanita S. Davis, Read by Imani Parks
Price: $9.99
Formats:
About the Book
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.
Product Details
Reviews
“Middle school energy forms a bustling backdrop for this clever story of navigating changing relationships and developing a sense of personal identity. Secondary characters and storylines provide humor and pathos while at the center is spirited, smart Serena, someone readers will appreciate and cheer. A delightful multicultural narrative that spotlights friendship and self-awareness.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Serena is a smart, intuitive Black girl with relatable fears and insecurities; as the book progresses, she decides she’s ready to step into the spotlight all on her own. Davis capably touches on matters of chronic illness, mental health, and friendship growing pains in this quiet but impactful slice-of-life novel.” — Publishers Weekly
“Throughout the story, Serena develops an earnest and sincere voice the world needs to hear. The dialogue is well paced. Davis intersperses day-to-day occurrences with heavier topics such as physical and mental illness and cultural representation [along with a]n appealing cast of family, friends, and classmates.” — Horn Book Magazine
“[Serena] learns to communicate her feelings, and respect her friends’ boundaries. The book also aptly depicts mental health and the importance of privacy. A diverse and lively cast of characters helps propel the story forward. While Serena is in middle school, the prose reads at a younger level and would appeal to elementary-age children. VERDICT . . . young readers will find in Serena an energetic friend working through the challenges of growing up.” — School Library Journal
About the Book
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.
Product Details
Reviews
“Middle school energy forms a bustling backdrop for this clever story of navigating changing relationships and developing a sense of personal identity. Secondary characters and storylines provide humor and pathos while at the center is spirited, smart Serena, someone readers will appreciate and cheer. A delightful multicultural narrative that spotlights friendship and self-awareness.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Serena is a smart, intuitive Black girl with relatable fears and insecurities; as the book progresses, she decides she’s ready to step into the spotlight all on her own. Davis capably touches on matters of chronic illness, mental health, and friendship growing pains in this quiet but impactful slice-of-life novel.” — Publishers Weekly
“Throughout the story, Serena develops an earnest and sincere voice the world needs to hear. The dialogue is well paced. Davis intersperses day-to-day occurrences with heavier topics such as physical and mental illness and cultural representation [along with a]n appealing cast of family, friends, and classmates.” — Horn Book Magazine
“[Serena] learns to communicate her feelings, and respect her friends’ boundaries. The book also aptly depicts mental health and the importance of privacy. A diverse and lively cast of characters helps propel the story forward. While Serena is in middle school, the prose reads at a younger level and would appeal to elementary-age children. VERDICT . . . young readers will find in Serena an energetic friend working through the challenges of growing up.” — School Library Journal
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