Life is hard when your family moves all the time. It is hard to make friends and to really get to know someone. Today I get to share a new middle grade novel that is about a sixth grader whose family finally settled down after years of moving. Sixth grade brings all sorts of new things--new teachers, new subjects, the same bullies and so much more. The book is Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign by Sara F. Shacter. It is recommended for 9- to 12-year-olds.
About the Book:
After years of moving, Georgia’ s family is staying put. What’ s the best part of her new forever home? Fellow science fan Izzy! Georgia feels lucky to be starting sixth grade with her first true friend. But when Georgia’ s science project accidentally reveals a secret— one Izzy trusted her to keep— their friendship unravels. Even worse, Georgia’ s archenemy swoops in to steal Izzy away, leaving Georgia cut off and lonely. How can Georgia fix her mess? She's surprised to find the answer in a science fact: genetically, all human beings are more than 99 percent the same. Really? Georgia can’ t believe she and the friend-stealer are even 1 percent the same! But as Georgia fights to win Izzy back, she discovers that enemies can struggle with loneliness too— and Georgia is stunned to discover why. It will take a 99 percent campaign to make things right.
From Me:
Georgia's family has finally stopped moving once or more a year. She was able to make a best friend, Izzy, in fifth grade in Chicago and spend the summer with her. Now it is time for sixth grade, but the mean girl of the class seems to want Izzy back as her friend. Georgia has to deal with the class bullies and then makes a mistake and gets everyone mad at her including Izzy. In science class they are learning about heredity and genes. Their teacher shares with them that all humans share more than 99 percent of the same genetic material. When she is having lunch for the first time without Izzy, she sits at a table in the back and realizes she is with one of the kids the class bully picks on. She finds a way to get him not to be mad at her and realizes he is fun to be with. She sees another student from her class sitting by herself and they go join her table. She uses the fact that they all have more than 99 percent the same and find things to tell them that she is the same with them. They make big plans for the next day's lunch and one of them brings in sticker buttons. Georgia brings sticky notes, and they write down things they have in common. The rest of the class want to check out what is going on and soon everyone wants to join her. Throughout the story she discovers some of the secrets the bully and mean girl have in their own lives and realizes that they are all a bit the same.
The book itself has a few illustrations that are part of the story. Things like Georgia's family tree project, the sticky notes that kids write to each other and some of the science. It is a perfect book to read as a class and discuss the biology as well as the 99 percent campaign. Like I said I would love to see classes doing this campaign and have it spread. It is also just a fun book to read for individuals. I hope you will check it out!
