The Magnificent Mya Tibbs (Book #1), by Crystal Allen

(Paperback, 256 pages, first published in 2016)

A hilarious and spunky new heroine in the vein of Ramona the Pest and Clementine learns important lessons about how to be a good friend.

Nine-year-old cowgirl Mya Tibbs is boot-scootin’ excited for the best week of the whole school year—SPIRIT WEEK! She and her megapopular best friend Naomi Jackson even made a pinky promise to be Spirit Week partners so they can win the big prize: special VIP tickets to the Fall Festival.

But when the partner-picking goes horribly wrong, Mya gets paired with Mean Connie Tate—the biggest bully in school. And she can’t get out of it. Good gravy!

Now Naomi is “friend-ending” mad at Mya for breaking a promise—even though Mya couldn’t help it—and everyone at school is calling Mya names. Can Mya work with Mean Connie to win the VIP tickets, and get her best friend back?

Storyglory Cautions: (1) The peer bullying in this book is central to the plot but also to the lessons illustrated around friendship and kindness; the bullying consists of teasing nicknames ("Mean Connie Tate," "Word Nerd Nugget," "Mya Tibbs Fibbs"), rumor spreading, and cold-shoulder treatment. The book ultimately affirms kindness, friendship, family, and faith but may feel heavy on peer meanness for sensitive readers. (2) The book's language is clean with the exception of one "OM-" and two "stupid" uses (and a handful of "geez" and "oh my gosh"). (3) Mya relies on her “lucky boots” for confidence, though the reader will likely notice that they are not the least bit "lucky." (4) A side storyline at the end of the book features Connie’s superhero art with one superhero character born of "Mother Earth and Father Time" and one born of "Mother Nature and Old Man Winter.“

Recommended Age: 10-12 https://redeemedreader.com/2016/09/spirit-week-showdown-by-crystal-allen/